Tribunal hears of 2nd wording error in Aer Lingus report

A senior Aer Lingus manager has told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that a second passage in a disciplinary investigation report, which seemed to support a pilot later demoted, was only worded that way due to a spelling mistake.

Captain Conor Barrett testified that a finding in his report, stating "A review of the safety manual and the operating manual indicates a strong structure to believe this viewpoint," contained an error. He explained that the word 'believe' should have been 'belie.' This finding related to the complainant pilot Declan McCabe's view that the company's safety manual allowed his judgment on filing a report after an incident on a June 2023 flight into Dublin Airport.

“

That is a spelling mistake on my part, and it should have said 'belie'.

Adjudicator John Harraghy noted the significance of the first "typographical error," questioning why it wasn't flagged earlier in the disciplinary or appeal processes. Captain Barrett clarified that when he used the word "belies" elsewhere in the report, it carried a different meaning.

“

It's a fairly significant error, you know… I’m at a loss to understand why this wasn't highlighted at some stage in the subsequent disciplinary process or the appeal process by someone from the respondent.

The tribunal is hearing the 11th day of evidence in a case brought by Mr. McCabe under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and other safety and wage acts. Mr. McCabe disputes Aer Lingus's assertion that he was required to file a safety report after his Airbus A321xlr failed to connect with a radio navigation beacon during its approach to Dublin Airport. The airline ultimately classified the event as "low severity."

Captain Barrett confirmed that he was satisfied Mr. McCabe "failed to submit a safety report" within the 72-hour deadline and provided inaccurate information to Air Nav Ireland. Consequently, Mr. McCabe was demoted from an A320 captain with trainer duties to a first officer, with restrictions on future command responsibility and training roles. "I do stand over my conclusions," Captain Barrett stated.

“

I do stand over my conclusions.