Background
About BeCA
The first Belgian pilot association was created in 1940 to defend the interests of commercial aviation pilots. Until 1998, two associations represented pilots and flight engineers in Belgium (BFCA and ABPNL). In early 1999, these associations merged to create the Belgian Cockpit Association (BeCA).
Today, BeCA is the only recognised professional association representing airline pilots based in Belgium. It is self-funded and politically independent. BeCA works in close cooperation with other Belgian stakeholders and unions to provide them with its large expertise on matters linked to the pilot profession and aviation safety.
BeCA represents some 600 pilots working for the following companies: Air Belgium, ASL Airlines Belgium, Brussels Airlines, Challenge Airlines, EAT/DHL, Ryanair, and TUIfly Belgium, as well as expatriate members, job seekers, and student pilots.
The association represents its members at the European and international levels, through its active involvement in the European Cockpit Association (ECA). Since the advent of the Single European Aviation Market, air transport is no longer a purely national domain. European policies are made in all areas of aviation that affect pilots, such as safety, flight crew licensing, air operations, fair competition, international air traffic agreements, employment conditions, etc… ECA and BeCA strive to ensure safe and sustainable growth of air transport with quality jobs.
BeCA is also a founding and active member of the International Federation of Air Line Pilot Associations (IFALPA). Besides running a worldwide accident assistance network, which BeCA can benefit from through its hotline service, IFALPA is also active at ICAO level and has different working groups that help promote and enhance the pilot profession.
The association has also developed a close cooperation with APPN for individual Loss of Licence insurance (temporary & permanent) whose sole purpose is to give better coverage to our members, offering them a special discount. Members can cumulate their company group insurance with the APPN one
Through its membership, BeCA also supports the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) and benefits from its expertise in aviation safety.
As an active member of the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive (GCAQE), a global coalition of health and safety advocates, BeCA is committed to raising awareness and finding solutions to cabin air quality issues in aircraft.