News in brief

Pilots reject national ID card

Airline pilots will become the first group to refuse to take part in the national identity scheme. The Home Office plan to use this group as the first compulsory test group for the scheme due to start in the autumn and includes crew based at Manchester and London City airports.

The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) is concerned about forcing pilots and other airport workers to hold the new National Identity card. If the regulations are approved and pilots have refused to register for an ID card, there is concern they will be denied airside access and their aircraft.

Latest news at: www.balpa.org

64 years on, 'Nightingale' honoured

One of the few remaining Flying Nightingales was recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ministry of Defence. This award is bestowed by the Military and Civilian Health Partnership which recognises people who have played a unique part in the history of military health care.

The Flying Nightingales were nursing orderlies who, during World War II, flew over occupied France, Belgium and beyond to bring back the injured. Flying on RAF aircraft, they risked their lives to help evacuate more than 100,000 wounded soldiers, treating their injuries as they went.

However, despite their bravery, these women were not eligible for medals because they held no official rank. This has now been rectified and they can proudly be classed as the forerunners of today's military aeromedical evacuation personnel.

Long distance calls

Ryanair launched their in-flight mobile phone service early this year. Never known for missing out on any chance of increasing profits, the airline is charging between €2 and €3 per minute for a call. The service can only be used at cruising altitude and so for a short hop across the Irish Channel, would only be available for 15 minutes. It will be interesting to see if the idea "takes-off" with other airlines …

Thomson bows to pressure on O2

Thomson Airways will no longer charge customers for supplementary oxygen on its flights. Previously they charged up to £250. Passengers will also be allowed to bring their own oxygen concentrators and oxygen supplies (subject to conditions). See Nursing Standard (26 August) for more.


Poster winner

IFNA Chair Alan Sheward attended this year's RCN Congress and proudly displayed the poster developed by our bursary winner. It ensured many more registered nurses and student nurses were able to read about the role of the flight nurse.