A HELICOPTER pilot sacked after a ''wheels-up'' approach to a North
Sea oil platform has lost his claims of unfair dismissal and racial
discrimination.
Captain Pushp Vaid, one of only two survivors of the Chinook disaster
in 1986, took his case against British International Helicopters to an
industrial tribunal in Aberdeen.
The hearing in October lasted for four days and concentrated on an
incident in December last year, when Captain Vaid's helicopter
approached Shell's Dunlin platform off Shetland.
Captain Vaid, 52, of Westhill, Aberdeen, told the tribunal he had
resigned rather than accept downgrading to co-pilot with a loss in
salary of #14,000 a year.
It was in these circumstances that Captain Vaid, an ex-Indian Air
Force pilot, claimed constructive unfair dismissal and racial
discrimination. Yesterday, his lawyer, Mr Peter Sharp, announced in
Aberdeen that Captain Vaid had lost his case.
Mr Sharp said he had just received advance notice of the decision and
was unable to comment until he had seen the full reasons in writing. He
said: ''The advance notice says all applications by Captain Vaid have
been dismissed.''
Mr Steve Glennie, for BIH, said: ''My clients are delighted their
position has been vindicated but disappointed that it had to go to a
tribunal.''
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