According to an airline memo, Qantas pilots who returned to work following months of being away due to Covid-19 have made errors and needed more time to complete routine procedures.
Some individuals have started taking off with their parking brakes still on, while others are alleged to have misidentified altitude and airspeed.
These details were detailed in Qantas memos and were made after employees from thousands of companies returned to work following the lifting of international and state borders.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, airline heads responsible for fleet operations stated that expert pilots had lost their recency, and suffered a reduction in cognitive ability as a result.

Qantas pilots have committed errors when they return to work from months off due to Covid-19.
“Combined with reduced flight across the network we recognize a flow effect for the flight crew’s concentration and familiarity with this operation,” they stated.
The ‘routine items’ that once took little effort are now more difficult and take away from flying your aircraft.
Reliability refers specifically to pilots performing successful take-offs, landings.
Others ‘threats’ included improperly placed switches in cockpits and ‘exterior Inspection Events’.
Qantas spokesperson said that airlines all over the globe were trying to get pilots used to aircraft.
They stated that they had already recognized the need to think different about pilot recency and currency programs. Therefore, they created an enhanced return–to-work program for the industry’s unprecedented challenges.
Safety is our top priority. All data points show that pilots return with the confidence and skills to safely perform their jobs.

Qantas has identified problems with the pilots who returned to their cockpits after Covid was shut down (stock image).
Mick Quinn was the Qantas’ former head of safety investigations. He said that more training could resolve this issue and that pilots should spend time on simulators.
He stated that “We all are people and make mistakes. But the important thing is to learn how to deal with them before they become worse.”
According to him, pilots from all walks of life face the same challenges after being out of the cockpit for so many years.
He stated that training, training and more training is the only way to get there. Simulator time is also a good option.
It comes after the Federal Government announced $78million would go towards Australia’s aviation industry.
Barnaby Joyce, Deputy Prime Minister, presented an aviation recovery framework that aims to rebuild the workforce and upgrade regional infrastructure.
An advisory group for strategic aviation will provide an annual report to the federal government on the current state of the sector.
Mr Joyce explained that the government was a key enabler for economic activity and is determined to ensure the industry returns back to pre-pandemic levels soon enough.
“We have put in place regulations and policies to ensure that the aviation industry is safe, competitive and reliable so all Australians can trust it for their travels and pleasure.

Mick Quinn was the Qantas former head of safety inspections. He said that more training could resolve this issue and that pilots should spend time in simulators.