A new revision of the EU regulation on pilots’ background checks introduces an “intelligence pillar” as of 31 Dec 2020. The new requirement to include and analyse intelligence information will become a mandatory element of the thorough background checks which pilots undergo every 5 year.

The way we screen and recruit pilot cadets in Europe is an issue that lately has been raising eyebrows amongst industry experts. Today, the bulk of training schools screen their future clients – the cadets ¬– themselves. The industry has turned a blind eye to this conflict of interest for

Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers should be familiar with the best practice “Drone Sighting Guidelines” (developed by BALPA and GATCO and widely endorsed), and follow them.

“Bigjet 141, Go Around, I say again, Go Around, acknowledge.”

Outwardly: “Groan…” 

Inwardly: maybe a little bit of a startle, perhaps a certain amount of adrenaline.

“Go Around.” These words, and the reactions to them, are some of the most important to a pilot, whether initiated

Wet-leasing is the practice of airlines hiring aircraft with crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) to either cover an unforeseen short-term need or when business needs a longer-term (seasonal) capacity increase without necessarily buying and manning new aircraft. Wet-leasing is growing

2018 was a pivotal year for Ryanair and its pilots and cabin crew, engaging in the previously unchartered territory of social dialogue. As negotiations on Collective Labour Agreements (CLAs) continue at varying speeds throughout Europe, Ryanair persists in using threats as a bargaining

Was the EU Employment Commissioner Marianne Thyssen right to tell Michael O’Leary that the “EU internal market is not a jungle” and there are rules that employers should abide by? Her statement was indeed correct. But it was also a highly optimistic representation of reality on the ground

The European Parliament (EP) introduced an important amendment that could ban P2F schemes. This amendment, which is in line with various EP Resolutions (see further down) is currently being negotiated between the Council of Ministers, the Parliament and the Commission. It is a good

The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations, IFATCA, and the European Cockpit Association, ECA, are extremely disappointed to learn of the conviction of two Air Traffic Controllers in Switzerland. In April and December 2018, two air traffic controllers were

We all agree that European aviation needs skilled, talented flight crews to underpin the growing aviation sector. But where to find and how to attract them? The question is even more pressing now that airlines have woken up to the fact that the pilots queuing at their doorsteps, coming