Aviation has always had some creative ways of setting up employment contracts. Many of our members are in contractual setups that are anything but typical—such as having, for example, a contract through an agency in Hong Kong, governed by UK law, while working for a company with an AOC (the airline operating certificate or license) in Romania.
At this point, nothing can supersede how airlines handle labor contracts.
We often talk about setting stricter rules, but someone will still take a job offer they’re not fully comfortable with. We’re not judging, as many of us may have been in that situation.
But here’s what really matters: do these atypical contracts affect a pilot’s or cabin crew member’s ability to make independent, safety-driven decisions on the job? It’s not just about whether this should be the new ‘normal’—the real question is whether it’s safe.
While some answers may seem obvious, Ghent University must assess the impact on the entire community of pilots and cabin crew across Europe. Among other critical questions, they want to know if a crew member can confidently say “no” when safety is at risk without worrying about their job or contract.
If you’re dealing with this—or know someone who is—take 15 minutes for this anonymous survey. Share it with your groups and with colleagues, and let’s get some real insights on what’s going on.
Link for pilots
Link for cabin crew
The aim of this study is to present a clear overview of the employment landscape in the aviation industry, 10 years after the pilot University of Gent study on ‘Atypical forms of employment in the aviation sector’ (2014), so as to be able to motivate and steer further legislative changes if needed.
