Below the report by your BeCA Vice-President of the main events that happened in EAT/DHL since the last edition of our Cockpit Flash.

Alcohol, drugs and medication controls

German legislation imposes random alcohol testing on 8% of the crew force, employed by EAT. Leipzig pilot representatives have signed an agreement with management on modalities. The good point is that testing does not take place aboard aicraft (like in SAFA inspections) but before the flight. This allows the pilots to be redirected to a support program, and this whether s/he refuses to take a test, or if the test is positive.

Health Safety and Equipment Leipzig vs. Health and Safety Brussels?

EAT being one single transnational airline (German AOC with two bases – LEJ and BRU -, but one single OPS management in Germany), coordination issues regularly arise between the LEJ and BRU health and safety committees creating confusion between German and Belgian social legislation. Decisions are often done upstream in Leipzig without consultation, leaving BRU representatives in a permanent “complaint” position, which is not the spirit of Belgian Health and Safety legislation. BRU and LEJ based pilots deserve the same treatment. This problem was raised at DP DHL European Works Council and is under progress.

Brussels Base CLA in progress

Since 2007, there is no more Collective Labour Agreement as EAT BRU pilots have been left down to their individual contracts. In April 2017, the principle of a new CLA was accepted by EAT and discussions are in progress between EAT BRU representatives and management.

Can a pilot be personally fined for a noise violation?

A single event has brought into light the very interesting question of personal liability in case of legal action by an external party (e.g. Environmental Authorities) against a pilot. This comes from the fact that the German noise enforcement system puts responsibility on the PIC and not on the AOC holder. For BRU representatives, there is no discussion that if the violation was due to an “honest error”, the fine should be supported by the company as foreseen in Belgian Labour legislation. The Leipzig CLA partially protects LEJ based pilots on this subject.

Alain Vanalderweireldt, VP EAT/DHL
Vinciane Cabaret, BeCA/VC Representative