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FÍA supports Aer Lingus pilot group
FIA supports Aer Lingus pilot group
The IALPA members who work for Aer Lingus have been in collective bargaining negotiations with their employer for around 22 months. The talks have not brought the expected results, and therefore Aer Lingus pilots started short strike action on 29 June. It has not been possible to recover the quality of life and wage cuts caused by the COVID 19 pandemic.
FÍA sent them a statement of support on the eve of the strike,see below:
June 24th 2024
Dear Mark Tighe CC: Sebastian Curras
This letter is written on behalf of the members and board of the Icelandic Airline Pilots Association (FIA) and fully reflects our combined opinion on the matters at hand.
Regarding the issue of the Aer Lingus pilot group and the Aer Lingus management.
As the pilot group has consistently worked to ensure the continued operational stability of the airline during the Covid pandemic and indeed has taken unprecedented cut in life and working conditions and undertaken extraordinary operational flexibility to ensure continuity, it is inexplicable that now the airline is in resurgence that the management would not seek to readdress this imbalance and work with the pilot’s group to find a mutually acceptable outcome.
The voluntary and generous measures that many members took during the Covid pandemic to secure the futures of their respective airlines is not to be used as a means of now downgrading their contracts or conditions to a new low. This kind of management strong arm technique is an opportunistic and disgraceful tactic, especially given the very significant efforts and degradation in living/work standards that the crews endured to secure the airlines continuity.
We, the Icelandic Airline Pilots Association (FIA) are fully in support of IALPA working to secure a mutually acceptable outcome and if necessary, any industrial action that is needed in support of this effort.
The Icelandic Airline Pilots Association (FIA), are committed to working with IALPA to ensure that all members can expect and receive the right to open and constructive negotiations. It is clearly not an effective solution for any management group to dismiss, out of hand, any sensible negotiations by their employees.
With best regards,
Jonas Gudmundsson
Director of International Affairs
Icelandic Airline Pilots Association
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Pilots take a stand against Single Pilot flights
Pilots take a stand against the idea of reducing the number of pilots in the cockpit
If the plans of the aircraft manufacturers go according to plan, certain types of European aircraft could be operated by a single pilot, but there are ideas that this could be the case by 2027
In order to express their position on the matter, European pilots, led by the European Cockpit Association (ECA), have launched a campaign and in the process launched a new website www.onemeansnone.eu
The aim of the campaign is to inform the general air passenger about the risks associated with reducing the number of pilots in the cockpit of an aircraft.
FÍA encourages members and other stakeholders to study the issue. Aviation safety concerns us all!
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Here you can see a message from the European Cockpit Association about Single Pilots flights:
Pilots take a stand against Single Pilot Flights: "One Means None"
Brussels, 1 July 2024
European planes could be operating with only one pilot at the controls as soon as 2027, if moves by aircraft manufacturers are successful. To take a stand against this, European pilots led by the European Cockpit Association (ECA) have launched a new website: OneMeansNone.eu. The platform aims to inform passengers about the significant safety risks associated with reducing crew from two pilots to one.
Captain Otjan de Bruijn, ECA President, said: “One pilot in the cockpit during an extensive period of a flight is a gamble with the safety of our 200 to 400 passengers in the back of the plane and those on the ground. Pilots do not just fly a plane – we monitor each other and all flight aspects, manage aircraft automation and swiftly address any safety, security or operational risks in a very complex and fast-changing environment. As a pilot, I am convinced that single pilot flights are an inherently dangerous concept driven solely by the commercial interests of manufacturers and airlines.”
Having two pilots at the controls of a large commercial plane is not just an operational necessity but is also mandated by regulation and industry standards. Aviation authorities worldwide stipulate crew composition standards for commercial flights. But at least two manufacturers, Airbus and Dassault, are actively pursuing the elimination of one pilot from the flight deck during the cruise phase.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is currently evaluating the safety implications of the proposal for “extended Minimum Crew Operations” (eMCO) submitted by those manufacturers. If approved, it would lead to one pilot leaving the flight deck for several hours during the cruise phase of the flight, while the other remains at the controls.
The purpose of "One Means None"
The website, “One Means None,” details the vital roles that two pilots play in ensuring safe operations, particularly during unforeseen emergencies and complex situations. The purpose of the website is to emphasize several key safety arguments:
- Complex Task Management: Flying an aircraft involves numerous tasks and decision-making processes that are best managed by two qualified professionals.
- Cross-checking and Mutual Support: Two pilots provide essential backup for each other, ensuring that if one pilot is incapacitated or overwhelmed, the other can take over.
- Emergency Response: In crisis situations, having two pilots in the cockpit allows for an effective and coordinated response, ensuring the overall safety of the flight.
Even if the technological advancements and automation have contributed to improving flight safety and efficiency over the last decades, human oversight of these failure-prone systems remains paramount. Two pilots are indispensable not only in averting crises and ensuring optimal outcomes in emergency situations but also during normal operations. While replacing pilots with automation could possibly increase aviation manufacturers’ profits, it will not make flights any cheaper or safer for passengers.
Pilots Unite for Safer Skies
Pilots remain at the forefront of the action for flight safety – a petition in the Netherlands has gained almost 50,000 signatures while pilots across France and Italy have demonstrated at airports. Thousands of pilots worldwide expressed their opposition to removing pilots from the flight deck through a coordinated global campaign on World Pilots’ Day. The launch of the website supports a global movement against Reduced Crew Operations, supported by European Pilots, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations and the biggest Pilot union in the US – Air Line Pilots Association.
About ECA:
The European Cockpit Association (ECA) is the voice of European pilots within the European Union. It represents over 40,000 pilots from national pilot associations across 33 European states, with 3 Associate Members. ECA advocates for enhancing aviation safety and promotes social rights and quality employment for pilots in Europe.
Visit www.onemeansnone.eu to learn more about the risks of single-pilot flights
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Reykjavík Flight Safety Symposium
The Icelandic Airline Pilots' Association organizes the annual Reykjavik Flight Safety Symposium. The seventh conference will be held on October 12th 2023 in Gullhamrar.
The goal of the conference is to share information and create a platform for discussion on the safety issues that concern the aviation industry. The conference attracts a diverse group from the aviation industry, from all over the world. Participation in recent years has exceeded our expectations and it is clear that the subject matter appeals to a diverse group of listeners, i.a. air traffic controllers, pilots and members of the administration.
The topics are varied in accordance with the spirit of the conference, but confirmed speakers are:
Petter Hörnfeldt - Mentour Pilot (TRE B737)
Sævar Birgisson from ISAVIA ANS - Remote towers
Snædís Sigurðardóttir, psychologist - Stress and burnout
Haukur Gunnarsson, Icelandair - flight training
The entrance fee will be modest as before and a lunch buffet will be included in the price.
Tickets available here: https://tix.is/is/event/16151/reykjavik-flight-safety-symposium/
A more detailed program will be announced later.
If you have any recommendations, suggestions, questions or comments, feel free to send us a line at fia@fia.is. The event is held in English, and admission fee is quite modest.
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