Pilot sues Virgin Australia over injury

A Virgin Australia pilot is suing the budget airline for more than $1 million in lost earnings and medical expenses because he had to carry flight charts instead of having them provided digitally on an iPad.

David Linton Kloster, 57, claimed he injured his back lifting his 18kg flight bag which contained aviation charts and manuals, after catching the work shuttle bus on December 29, 2009.

In documents lodged in the Queensland Supreme Court, Mr Kloster alleged the injury would not have occurred had Virgin Australia stored the information electronically on an iPad, rather than requiring pilots to carry the information.

"The defendant (Virgin Australia) exposed the plaintiff (Mr Kloster) to a risk of injury which could have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable care," documents said.

"(Virgin Australia) failed to have in place a system of work whereby charts and rules could have been left on board its aircraft or kept electronically on an iPad."

As a result of the lower back injury sustained by Mr Kloster, the first officer was facing a future economic loss of $817,546, medical expenses of $112,182 and special damages of $76,080, said the affidavit. He is also claiming $65,000 in general damages.

Among special expenses are the cost of lawn mowing, car washing, housekeeping and tree lopping, activities he was unable to do because of injury.

He underwent surgery in June 2010 and was suffering a "major depressive disorder" as a result of his injuries which diminished his ability to sleep.

Virgin Australia is yet to formally respond to the lawsuit filed last month and corporate affairs manager Emma Copeman said they were yet to receive notification of the legal action.

"However Virgin Australia takes its obligations with respect to protecting the health and safety of those involved in its operations very seriously," Ms Copeman said.

"Virgin Australia is committed to creating a workplace that is free from accident and injury by diligently promoting healthy and safe management and work practices and by extensive and ongoing training of our people."

A spokesman for Qantas pilots said the airline was planning to introduce the digital storage of maps and aviation charts later this year.

He said most pilots did not consider carrying the material to be "particularly onerous".

Source:  http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au