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  • The new EU Accident Investigation Regulation is significantly better for air travellers, both crew and passengers, than it would have been without the strong stance taken by ECA and similarly minded organisations (see article elsewhere in CN).
  • The ‘inadequate’ pilot fatigue prevention regulation, the so-called ‘EU-OPS sub part Q’ would have been imposed across all of Europe without the Day of Action organised by ECA last October right across the continent – ECA is currently fighting for EU fatigue prevention rules to be based on the latest scientific knowledge.
  • The ‘Open Skies’ agreement liberalising the trans-Atlantic air transport market would have ignored the highly corrosive effects on the pilots’ profession - had it not been for the effective stance taken by ECA, in concert with our American cousins.

These are just 3 of the myriad examples of how the working environment of the European Professional Pilot has been protected or enhanced by their representative body at European level, ECA.

ECA is the only European level voice for Professional pilots, representing close to 39,000 pilots from 38 European countries. This fact gives us the strength and coherence to ensure that our voice is not just heard, but cannot be ignored. A single voice, supported by democratic structures representing the largest single group of Professional Pilots anywhere in the world, and working within the Global IFALPA family which represents well over 100,000 pilots worldwide. ECA represents the collective wisdom and expert knowledge of one of the best trained and most professional group of workers – not just in our industry, but in any: which other profession willingly undertakes at least 6 days of training and checking every year to continually prove their competence? Our language, health and attitude are all regularly trained and checked!

Solidarity and unity means that Management of Airlines cannot ignore their most influential group of employees (see the article re. Malév pilots elsewhere in CN). Solidarity and unity means that regulators and legislators will hear the collective requirements of the Profession to organise, agree and enforce collective agreements at the most appropriate level – or it will be the solidarity and unity which will force them to listen.

For a safe flight, for the professionalism of pilots and for the ability to negotiate with our employers – solidarity and unity are our best friends.