Page 34 - InterPilot 2018, Issue 4

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Founding MAs: then – far from it – we can be proud of week’s employment tribunal case be-
the contribution we have collectively fore us.
made to improve the safety of our
skies. That would not have happened Perhaps we are at the dawning of a
by itself. It is the collective power of new aviation age once again; one
our knowledge, expertise, and profes- whose debates are open, and direc-
BALPA is our organisation that ensures the the role of the pilot will be challenged
sionalism that lends credibility, but it tion is still to be decided? One where
voice of the pilot is heard.
like never before? One where employ-
ers will go to extreme lengths to de-
Many of the issues we were grappling professionalise and casualise the pilot
with 70 years ago are still obstinate- workforce? One where becoming a pi-
ly relevant today. At that first IFALPA lot will become an impossible feat for
conference there were 14 motions the vast majority who come from or-
carried on topics such as pension dinary means? One where pilots’ role
BRITISH AIR LINE PILOTS’ ASSOCIATION
schemes, seniority, hours of work, li- to preserve flight safety will become
censing requirements, and the “au- subservient to managing directors? Or
thority and prerogative of the pilot”. perhaps we are already there.
Do any of these issues sound familiar
from our modern national and inter- Will we define this new age and pick
“It is the collective power of our knowledge, national conferences? up the challenges as we did in the
past? It is our responsibility at least to
expertise, and professionalism that lends Will we be fighting these same fights try. Together we need to ensure we are

credibility, but it is our organisation that in another 70 years? Indeed, what will focussed on the future, in celebration
be the role of the pilot then? Mak-
of our undoubted past achievements,
ensures the voice of the pilot is heard.” ing sure we are collectively focussing and recognising our ability to effect
on the future is a constant challenge real change. That is the challenge for
when we have today’s pay claim, to- every Member Association and for IF-
morrow’s industrial dispute, and next ALPA. I think we can do it.

Reading through the archives at BAL- First IFALPA Conference London, 1948
PA HQ dating from the time of IFAL-
PA’s founding 70 years ago, you get
the sense of how pilots then were at
the dawn of a new and exciting age.
Commercial air travel was in its infan-
cy, rules and standards were not yet
First IFALPA Conference London, 1948 tary, Denis Follows, (later to become
set, the role of the pilot was up for de- Sir Denis, and Chairman of the British
bate, ICAO’s role was being defined, Olympic Association) became IFALPA
and organising the pilot workforce secretary as well.
around the world had, in many areas,
yet to even begin.
His report from that first conference
included the note that a subscription
That new age has been hugely in- rate of six pence per member had
formed – and made safer – thanks to been agreed, totalling £25 in all, as
the organised efforts of pilots through far as BALPA was concerned, but that
IFALPA and its national Member Asso- colleagues on our National Execu-
ciations.
tive should not worry, as, “it would be
some years before a further call would
Fifth IFALPA Conference Brussels, 1950
It is a matter of considerable pride
From left: Captain Ormonroyd (UK), Captain Upton be made upon the finances of BALPA
for BALPA to have been one of the 13
(UK), Captain Frost (UK), Captain Floren, in that respect.” Although I shudder to
original Founding Member Associa-
Captain Knutsson think how much the reception at The
tions of IFALPA. Indeed, that first IFAL- Savoy must have cost to host!
PA Conference took place in London,
organised by BALPA, and our Secre-
It was poignant to read through the
report from that first IFALPA meeting,
during the proceedings of which was a
significant air disaster involving a BEA
BY CAPTAIN BRENDAN O’NEAL airliner and a Soviet military jet. Al-
EXECUTIVE PRESDIENT though we cannot claim to have elimi-
nated all flight safety threats since