Fair Work Australia (FWA) favoured Qantas in the air carrier's row with aircraft engineers on the need for maintenance checks on newer jets before takeoff. Instead of engineers performing the check function, it would be done by the pilots.

Covered by the policy are Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A330 jets. Due to the policy, Qantas plans to axe 30 engineers whose numbers would be added to the ranks of the 500 Qantas workers declared redundant in May when the company shuttered its heavy maintenance facility at Melbourne Airport.

In response to the Qantas directive, the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) told its member to ignore the company order and instead continue with the pre-departure checks. It led Qantas to seek FWA intervention by asking for an order for the engineers to follow the new procedure.

Qantas insisted that the new system was approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, but the union argued that the pre-flight safety checks are vital. Qantas Domestic Chief Executive Lyell Strambi pointed out that the same system is used by Jetstar and Virgin Australia.

"Our cars don't get repaired the same way as they did 20 years ago and the same goes for our aircraft," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Mr Strambi.

Paul Cousins, an ALAEA official, said pilots should not do the engineers' job. He stressed that the engineer's task is to perform maintenance checks while the pilot's job it to fly the jet.

"Qantas don't want engineers checking aircraft anymore before they take off so they can save seven cents per air ticket.... We think it's an absolute disgrace that this management team can come out and put profits before safety and it is certainly going to make travel in this country less safe," ABC quoted ALAEA head Steve Purvinas.

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