SNPAC SAYS THERE WAS DISTORTION OF THE FACTS ABOUT THE DELAY OF THE SAN VICENTE-LISBON FLIGHT
"SNPAC, having become aware of the news published in one of the local newspapers "O Pais", entitled "commander delays Tacv flight to Lisbon due to breakfast", hereby clarifies that the information presented is incorrect and does not correspond to the facts.
The crew in question, upon becoming aware that the catering service to be provided on board did not comply with the standards established in the catering regulations and manuals, promptly notified the company in advance, requesting that the service be regularized, in order to guarantee the conditions for the flight to operate.
The action was taken with the sole aim of ensuring the safety of the operation and the well-being of the crew, which are top priorities in any flight operation.
We emphasize that operational safety is and must always be put first and that any measures taken by crew members are based on current regulations and the highest safety standards.
Catering is a duly regulated service that establishes the conditions and methods for serving meals on board aircraft.
If there is evidence that the service does not comply with the regulation's directives, it is up to the crew to request the necessary corrections to safeguard operational safety.
In this specific case, we inform you that the company's management was asked to make the necessary correction the day before the flight, in São Vicente, given that, upon learning about the catering service to be provided, the crew found that it did not comply with current regulations.
The request was made as a way of avoiding constraints in the operation of the planned flight, a situation that can be duly proven.
It is important to highlight that, according to current aeronautical legislation, any crew that neglects to communicate non-conformities that may put flight safety at risk is subject to severe administrative offences applied by the civil aviation authority.
Given that on the island of São Vicente, despite many demands from the class, there is no catering service that complies with the regulations and catering manuals, the crew was waiting for the company's position to be able to have the minimum conditions to operate the flight.
We take this opportunity to highlight that the improvement of the catering service that complies with the regulations is one of the class' demands and is included in the list of demands that guide the negotiations between SNPAC and the company in favor of better working conditions, a demand that is known to AAC, DGT and IGT and that to date has not been regularized by the company.
We regret the distortion of the facts disclosed and reiterate our commitment to operational safety and compliance with all regulations governing the aviation sector."
