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Michael O'Leary Steve Parsons/PA Wire

"We don't want boy racers flying our planes" - Michael O'Leary hits back

The Ryanair boss said that the airline has a “29-year safety record” and has no concerns over its fuel policy.

RYANAIR CHIEF EXECUTIVE Michael O’Leary has moved to defend the company’s safety procedures after a Channel 4 documentary aired last night.

In ‘Ryanair: Secrets from the Cockpit’, details of the airline’s fuel usage were outlined, with pilots interviewed saying that they have concerns over the amount of fuel that they carry.

The programme contained details of three Ryanair flights which issued Mayday fuel alerts in the one incident. The planes had been diverted from Madrid to Valencia but had all either entered, or were close to entering, into their reserve fuel tanks. This would give them less than half an hour of flying.

O’Leary, speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, said that despite the incident, the company had not altered policy.

“[Policy] hasn’t changed because, as the official IAA (Irish Aviation Authority) report confirms, all of our aircraft  take the required extra hours worth of fuel and fully complied fully with EU rules on declaring a fuel emergency.

“These are 3 planes in the last two years of over 1.2 million flights. These are unusual cases.”

O’Leary said that the IAA has “no concerns” over Ryanair policy.

“The IAA said to Channel 4, but Channel 4 omitted to broadcast, that Ryanair’s safety is on a par with the safest airlines in Europe. Not the average, the safest.”

A current Ryanair pilot, John Goss, was interviewed about a Ryanair practice of keeping league tables on which pilots consume the most fuel. Under the practice, pilots who use the most fuel are sent letters at the end of the month.

O’Leary, however, says that the tables promote safety.

“It’s like if you drive to Cork. It doesn’t matter whether you start with a full tank or a half tank. Fuel consumption is based on whether you’re going 100 miles an hour or 50 miles an hour. We want our pilots at 50 mph. It is is the safest way to fly. It means you have smooth takeoffs and landings and control consumption.

“90 per cent of the time, pilots are using more fuel because of flight speeds.

We don’t want boy racers flying our planes. We don’t want guys flying in hard, slapping on brakes. We want them slower, smoother and safer.

O’Leary added that Ryanair pilots are the ones who choose the fuel load and that decision is “at their discretion”.

Read: Ryanair to sue Channel 4 over Dispatches programme on pilots and safety

Read: Ryanair pilots reveal serious concerns about passenger safety

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    Mute frank_1916
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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:18 PM

    my favorite actor in peaky blinders !!rest in peace

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    Mute Brian Farrell
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    Apr 16th 2021, 8:04 PM

    @frank_1916: she stole most of the scenes she was in.

    And how she tamed Aberama Gold.

    RIP.

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    Mute Ross
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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:18 PM

    Very sad news, So young to be dying, a beautiful woman who was a brilliant actor.. I particularly loved her character in peaky blinders. R.I.P

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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:25 PM

    Brilliant Actor RIP

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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:28 PM

    Such a sad loss.thinking of her family

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    Mute Dawn Harvey
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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:32 PM

    Such an amazing actress and a beautiful soul, she was so gripping to watch. The scene with the nuns, talent. Sadly gone too soon, RIP

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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:30 PM

    She was brilliant in Penny Dreadful.

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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:54 PM

    @S J king: great series. She was class.

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    Mute E
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    Apr 16th 2021, 6:32 PM

    @Dearbhla O Reilly: Penny Dreadful was one of the best series on television ever yet it’s criminally underrated and unknown. Her performance was sublime

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    Mute S J king
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    Apr 16th 2021, 6:47 PM

    @E: it has a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes to be fair. Brilliant series and a really good cast. Eva Green in particular was outstanding.

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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:42 PM

    I’m really saddened to read this. She was mesmerising n Peaky Blinders

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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:43 PM

    She was wonderful in Peaky Binders. What a dreadful disease cancer is .. RIP and strength to all her family in the coming weeks and months

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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:38 PM

    Amazing actor, RIP

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    Mute Jenny
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    Apr 16th 2021, 6:41 PM

    Such sad news. Have only started watching Peaky Blinders in the last few weeks and absolutely love her character. She was a fantastic actress. Love to her husband and children. Rest In Peace.

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    Apr 16th 2021, 6:14 PM

    Terrible news. May she Rest in Peace.

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    Mute David Grey
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    Apr 16th 2021, 6:21 PM

    As a Brummie and Birmingham City Supporter I love Peaky Blinders.
    Great cast, she’ll be sadly missed.
    RIP

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    Apr 16th 2021, 6:35 PM

    So sad to hear this, what a brilliant actress. God bless her family

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    Apr 16th 2021, 5:44 PM

    She was great in Hugo too

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    Apr 16th 2021, 7:46 PM

    OMG that is so sad, never knew she was ill. Two brilliant actors, RIP Helen, way too young to go.

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    Apr 16th 2021, 6:26 PM

    Shocking news, brilliant actor and so young to lose her life to that awful disease. RIP

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    Apr 16th 2021, 7:32 PM

    Another 1 gone God Rest Her and Sincere Condolences to her Husband and Family x

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    Apr 16th 2021, 10:29 PM

    Loved her as an actress and was my favourite character in Peaky Blinders. Gone to early as all the good ones seem to do. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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    Apr 16th 2021, 10:58 PM

    Rip. Great actor. She did a lot of charity work as well above and beyond what others do. She also had a great sense of elegance and style. Condolences to her husband and children.

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    Apr 16th 2021, 9:59 PM

    So sad, held the Peaky Blinders family together, Rest in peace.

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    Apr 16th 2021, 10:43 PM

    Very tragic news. Brilliant actor and said by all, to be a lovely person. My deepest sympathy to her family and friends. May she rest in peace.

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    Apr 16th 2021, 10:39 PM

    Very sad news great actor R.I.P.

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    Apr 16th 2021, 11:43 PM

    Superstar. RIP

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    Apr 16th 2021, 11:53 PM

    Very sad news. Brilliant actress

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    Apr 17th 2021, 7:56 AM

    Such a talented actress . Very young to have died . Terrible disease cancer

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    Apr 17th 2021, 9:45 AM

    I so looked forward to her scenes in PB. A great actress and gorgeous looking woman. Thoughts and prayers to all her family

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    Apr 17th 2021, 2:19 AM

    Great actor rip

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    Apr 17th 2021, 11:10 AM

    Very sad news, RIP Helen. She gave an unforgettable performance in Penny Dreadful!

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    Apr 17th 2021, 7:26 PM

    Wonderful Actor. Very Sad. RIP.

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