Is Europe's enviable record for flight safety being undermined by the political desire for quick regulation? Are our jobs being undermined by liberalisation which has little thought for the social consequences? Are the Pilot Associations across Europe ready for the changes predicted following the "completion" of the European Aviation Market?
ECA has been addressing these more strategic questions at regular intervals over the last couple of years to ensure that we are "ahead of the game" and able to represent the interests of our members most effectively at the European level.
The mandate of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is being extended through proposed legislation currently being considered by the European Parliament and the European Council of Transport Ministers. The legislation will extend the powers of EASA to encompass civil air operations (EU OPS) and the licensing of aviation personnel. There seems little opposition to the common sense need for EASA to become responsible for these areas - and as soon as it is practically possible. However, in the desire to legislate quickly, ECA is concerned that some fundamental cornerstones of safety will be eroded!
ECA has addressed these crucial issues as the legislation passes through the system, bringing the weaknesses in the proposals to the attention of the decision makers. We have also developed a broad safety strategy to enable us to lead developments at European level in all of the areas where safety is a factor - from crucial areas like fatigue, licensing and operations through to long term conceptual planning such as the future Air Traffic Management SESAR project.
ECA has also been strongly supported by its MAs in ensuring that our voice is heard at every level of the Agency. Members of the ECA Team here in Brussels are fully active on the EASA Advisory Board. Pilot experts are involved in the working groups, shaping the future regulations. ECA is playing its full role - practical day to day influence, and long term strategy.
Our recently organised seminar entitled "Trans-national Collective Representation and Bargaining in Europe - The Pilots' Approach", which was financially supported by the European Commission, successfully examined the current difficulties faced by our members. The number of airline companies which employ or base cockpit crew in different member states of the EU is growing. At the seminar, the need for a coherent framework to enable the right for those pilots to associate and bargain collectively was clear. However, plans within the EU Institutions to provide for ordered industrial relations were not clear.
As I said at the Seminar, it is very obvious to anyone who has examined the history of industrial relations that the most productive economies with the lowest levels of industrial conflict are those where the law balances the powers of the management and the union using carefully thought through employment regulation. In Europe, we currently run the risk of ever increasing worker frustration which results from the denial of a basic human right, leading to industrial strife. ECA is today coordinating the work of our Member Associations in their efforts to fully represent the interests of all professional cockpit crew, whilst lobbying for improved employment regulation. Practical day to day support - and long term strategy.
