The first problem stems from the primary focus on passenger boarding and punctuality, often at the expense of important tasks like crew briefings, security checks, and inspecting the aircraft and its onboard equipment. When these protocols are rushed or overlooked, it puts crew members and passengers at risk. Cutting corners on safety can have dangerous consequences, and at best, it can lead to serious legal implications for crew members.
The increasing pressure on crew members not only compromises safety but also significantly impacts their working conditions and schedules. Some of our members have been experiencing changes in reporting procedures, with airlines shifting from a designated reporting point inside the airport (such as the office or departure gate) directly to the aircraft. This change directly affects when the crew’s duty time officially begins, which further impacts their maximum allowable duty time for the day and their pay.
However, there’s a clash between two realities. Pilots can get some of their work done while passengers are boarding the aircraft, but cabin crew must complete important safety and security checks before letting anyone on board. The problem is that commercial pressure often pushes crew members to rush these steps, especially when passengers are already waiting at the door, expecting to board.
Allowing crews the time they need to perform their pre- and post-flight duties properly isn’t just the responsible thing to do, it’s essential for preventing errors and ensuring every flight operates as safely as possible.
Secondly, there are also a lot of myths and illusions surrounding how crew members are paid. The truth is far less glamorous. Pilots and flight attendants do a lot of unpaid work. Many tasks are just part of their base salary. In fact, their flight pay only starts when the aircraft doors close and stops when the engines shut down.
Some days, they fly four sectors, which means four takeoffs and four landings. But what about all the time spent getting the plane ready, boarding passengers, dealing with delays, deplaning, and setting up for the next flight? Well, that’s not paid. The work is real, the responsibility is huge, but the hours just don’t count.
A Canadian aviation trade union estimates this adds up to as many as 35 hours of unpaid work every month. At the end of the day, crews deserve to be paid for all the work they do, not just the time spent in the air.
FPU Romania is ready to support crew members across Romania and Eastern Europe to change the industry practice of unpaid work and rush culture. Speak to us privately via social media or email, or share anonymously your experiences with rush culture and unpaid work through this survey: https://forms.office.com/e/186AGf4c80
Read also: Mandatory E-Learning: the hidden duty time disguised as ‘self-paced training’
