American Airlines has updated some pilot training to include discussion about the automated system suspected of playing a role in the deadly 29 October crash of a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max, according to the company's pilots' union. The training updates come amid expectation that Boeing is working on a software change to address concerns with the 737 Max's manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system (MCAS). Boeing added MCAS to the 737 Max because that aircraft has slightly different flight characteristics from the earlier-generation 737NG. MCAS makes the 737 Max behave like the 737NG by trimming the stabiliser so that the aircraft's nose drops if the aircraft approaches stall with flaps up. Airlines say Boeing never informed them of the system. MCAS is at the focus of the investigation into the Lion Air crash, which killed 189 people. American is now providing pilots with updated ground school materials that include discussion of MCAS, the FAA's directive and circumstances that may have affected the Lion Air crew, says Dennis Tajer, communications committee chair for APA, which represents American's pilots. Additionally, American's check airmen "got a really informative brief on MCAS" during American's quarterly meeting with check pilots, he says. "It's being briefed from top to bottom, and all the information is flowing well," Tajer says.<br/>
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Qantas has faced heavy criticism after the airline sent an email to staff asking them to volunteer time at the airport during its busiest period over Christmas. The Australian Services Union (ASU) has described the carrier as a “disgrace” and accused it of “wage theft at Christmas”. In the email to head office staff, which was leaked on Friday, the airline asked workers to volunteer to “lend a hand” during the holiday period. “To support our airport teams at [Sydney] over the 2018 peak Christmas travel period, we’re trialling a new volunteer programme for our Campus-based people who’d like to lend a hand to the frontline in December and January,” the email said. “We require volunteers to assist at the self-service check-ins and auto bag drop area, busing gates, concourse arrivals hall and at the transfer desk. The roles allocated to volunteers will depend on their preferences, skill set and security requirements.” Qantas denied the programme was aimed at cutting costs, saying in a statement it was about “spreading a bit of Christmas cheer during a really busy period”. “We always scale up with additional paid staff over the peak holiday period. And we also asked head office employees if they’d like to lend a hand,” it said. But the New South Wales secretary of the ASU, Natalie Lang, accused the airline of displaying “shocking corporate greed” and a “Grinch act”.<br/>
WestJet has expanded its codeshare relationship with \Qantas by adding Qantas-operated flights between Los Angeles and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Itineraries connecting WestJet’s network to the destinations in Australia are available now for flights beginning Dec. 6. The airline’s WS code will be added on Qantas daily flights between Los Angeles and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and its seasonal service between Vancouver and Sydney. Calgary-based WestJet and Qantas have been codeshare partners since 2014. “WestJet, welcomes this deepened relationship with Qantas,” WestJet VP-network planning and alliances Brian Znotins said. “Expanding our partnership with Qantas provides our guests greater global travel options and aligns with the new premium products and services WestJet is developing as we continue our evolution to a global network airline.”<br/>