Members Update – July 2024

by Cargolux Board No Comments

We would like to update you on the following topics:

  • FRM Survey
  • PBS Working Group
  • Company Visits
  • Rest Area at the Airport
  • Cargo Aircraft Only Restriction
     

FRM Survey
Thank you for participating in our recent FRM Survey 2024. We received 381 responses, providing a clear picture of our members’ opinions on the company’s Fatigue Risk Management and the role of the Aviation Safety Department (ASD). The feedback highlights areas of dissatisfaction and indicates the need for necessary changes to improve the Fatigue Risk Management.

The results were presented to Senior Management during the Joint Delegation Meeting (JDM) on July 3, 2024. We had a long but constructive discussion, and management emphasized the importance of receiving Fatigue Reports containing factual information. Furthermore, we were informed that a new fatigue investigator has started work at the Aviation Safety Department. We will keep monitoring the quality of the feedback of the Fatigue Reports.

Since safety is a shared responsibility and essential for safe aircraft operations, we promised to inform our members in future updates about the importance of filing reports and the do’s and don’ts when doing so. 

Click here to see the survey results shared with management.

Additionally, we would like to share the correspondence between the delegation and the ASD. Please click on the links below. We are still awaiting a response to our last letter sent on June 12, 2024.

PBS Working Group
In the last PBS working group, statistics confirmed a drop in the bidding success rate for off days in July 2024. First Officers achieved a better success rate for off days than Captains. A similar scenario is expected for August, mainly due to booming business and summer vacation periods. Management plans to increase the number of upgrades and continuation of hiring new pilots, which was well received from our perspective.

Regarding the implementation of additional bidding options and required technical changes to improve the PBS as per CWA 36.20, we are pleased to report that according to CPO and Crew Planning everything is on track for the introduction latest on November 30, 2024.

Company Visits
During the last JDM, we were informed that company visits will be possible again soon. Visits to the CMC will be available on specific days and a dedicated booking system will be installed. It is also planned to make the simulators available for visitors during a fixed timeslot when no training will be scheduled. 

Visits to the HQ should be possible with minimal restrictions. Further details will be communicated by the company in due time.

We are pleased with this development and confident that visits to the hangar and simulator will be appreciated by our colleagues and their families.

Rest Area at the Airport
Some colleagues have raised concerns about the lack of a rest area for pilots at the airport. We brought this up with management, and they are working on a solution. As the new office park may be too noisy, management hopes to find a suitable space in the existing airport terminal building.

Cargo Aircraft Only Restriction
Unfortunately, two countries rejected the proposed text change at ICAO level, which would have lifted the CAO restriction for private travel on company aircraft.  As to our knowledge the principle was not rejected, and a new text, developed by an ad hoc working group of the ICAO Dangerous Good Panel, will be presented in the next working group meeting in October 2024. The vote on the new text is scheduled for November 2025. 

Management is now trying to develop a more robust way to predict available flights without CAO DGR. We know this is not what we have hoped for, but it will be again a step in the right direction.

We will keep you updated on any further developments.