12Punto investigates the cause of consecutive flight delays: What is 'Working Without Initiative'?

12punto.com.tr/EXCLUSIVE

AJet, the regional airline subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, experienced delays exceeding 7 hours yesterday on flights scheduled to depart from Trabzon to Istanbul and Ankara.

Pegasus Airlines' Gaziantep flight was postponed for 10 hours last week due to adverse weather conditions. An argument broke out between the passengers, who could no longer bear the situation, and the cabin crew.

Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin stated that the delays in flight schedules were caused by abnormal weather conditions in Europe.

Long-term delays are occurring at many airports across the country, particularly at Antalya Airport. Planes are circling in the air for minutes. When the plane lands, passengers wait for hours for their luggage. So, what is the root cause of the delays? 12Punto investigated the solution to the problem.

Although bad weather conditions are cited for the flight delays, the root cause of the problem is something else: “working without initiative”…

“WORKING WITHOUT INITIATIVE”

What is this “Working Without Initiative” system?

Before explaining this, it is necessary to mention air traffic controllers.

Air traffic controllers are the invisible managers of the entire process of aircraft takeoff, navigation, and landing…

Air traffic controllers are responsible for the safe dispatch and management of all types of aircraft, including civil, military, UAV/SIHA, and VIP traffic in Turkish airspace. Their entry requirements, professional proficiency exams, training process, licensing, and health criteria are equivalent to those of pilots.

Air traffic controllers have launched an action to make their voices heard.

The costs of air traffic controllers employed under the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ)—including their salaries, retirement premiums, the shuttle services they use, and their training—are all covered through an organization called the Brussels-based European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL), of which Turkey is also a member. They are public servants who not only place no burden on the budget but also contribute to the budget through taxes deducted from their salaries. This situation is also confirmed by Court of Accounts reports…

The Air Traffic Controllers and Other Transportation Workers Union made the following statement to improve the conditions of air traffic controllers and increase foreign currency inflow to the country:

“Although Turkey has the second-largest airspace in Europe, it ranks at the bottom in terms of cost per unit. (While peer countries receive an average of around 80 EUROS per flight, Turkey receives around 20 EUROS.) Because the recommendations of the Court of Accounts are not implemented, our country is deprived of foreign currency revenue reaching 1 BILLION EUROS every year. Instead of being brought into our country, this amount remains in the pockets of foreign airline companies using Turkish airspace and provides them with benefits.”

The Air Traffic Controllers and Other Transportation Workers Union switched to a new working system to make their voices heard. Air traffic controllers, who previously showed initiative and worked overtime, have switched to a “Working Without Initiative” system that complies with the laws.

What is this “Working Without Initiative” system? Let’s hear it from the Air Traffic Controllers and Other Transportation Workers Union:

- Our air traffic controllers aim to improve their personal rights, put an end to the loss of our country and our treasury, and take a step that will carry our country, which is at the peak of Europe in the field of aviation, even further.

- In this direction, in order to create public awareness regarding our country's loss, activities of working without initiative will be carried out on various dates until legitimate demands are met, by strictly adhering to ICAO International Aviation Rules and Civil Aviation Laws, DHMİ Turkey AIP, Letters of Agreement, and other national legislation.

- Air traffic controllers provide direct routes to aircraft, increasing their own workload and risks even though they are not professionally obliged to do so, in order to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions of companies and shorten transportation distance.

- The activity of working without initiative is by no means a strike or a slowdown; it consists of suspending the direct route application, which is at the discretion of our air traffic controllers, and strictly applying the rules to create awareness.

- Facilitating practices such as priority landing and takeoff, providing direct routes, and all other initiatives within the scope of discretion continue for VIP and ambulance aircraft, military flights, and UAVs/SIHAs, and traffic declaring an emergency within the framework of aviation rules.

DEMANDS OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS

Air traffic controllers have 3 demands to end the “Working Without Initiative” system, which is considered a strike in a sense. Here are those demands:

1- In line with the recommendations of the Court of Accounts, in order to bring the personal rights of our air traffic controllers to the standards of peer countries, air traffic controllers should be kept in a separate classification along with pilots, who are a professional group equivalent in importance and prestige working within the institution, in navigation (aviation) compensation payments, and necessary updates should be made in compensation rates. Thus, foreign currency inflow will be provided to our country, and the Treasury's revenues will be increased.

2- Considering the difficult recruitment conditions and professional qualifications, the additional indicators of our air traffic controllers, who are in a status equivalent to the expert staff, should be increased to 4200. (Currently, their additional indicators are at the minimum level.)

3- Implementation of regulations that will allow for career planning for our air traffic controllers.

So, what are the rights of those experiencing flight delays?

If the air carrier expects a delay from the scheduled departure time of the flight; of two hours or more for domestic flights up to 1500 km (inclusive), of three hours or more for all domestic and international flights between 1500-3500 km (inclusive), and of four hours or more for flights over 3500 km;

- For delays between two and three hours, reasonable hot and cold drinks,

- For delays between three and five hours, breakfast or a meal according to the time of day along with hot and cold drinks,

- For delays of five hours or more, it is obliged to offer hot and cold drinks, breakfast or a meal according to the time of day, additional hot and cold drinks, and an additional light snack.

In case the delay in the flight occurs within the next day or days;

- Accommodation in a hotel or a suitable accommodation facility,

- It is obliged to provide transportation between the airport and the place of accommodation.

- In addition, regardless of the duration of the delay, it is mandatory to provide two phone calls, fax messages, or email services without time restrictions.

Again, in case the delay is at least five hours;

- In case the completion of the passenger's planned travel no longer makes sense with the unperformed part of the travel,

- The entire ticket price for the performed part of the travel must be refunded within seven days at the latest at the price at which it was purchased,

- In addition, a return flight must be provided to ensure the passenger returns to the initial point of departure at the first opportunity.

??12punto EXCLUSIVE

??12Punto investigated the cause of consecutive flight delays.

??What is this “Working Without Initiative”

??Here is the solution to the problem at airports

??What are the rights of those experiencing flight delays?https://t.co/mNVmNBoSZP pic.twitter.com/iTdKlTTehs

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) July 7, 2024

News Source: 12punto