Dirk Becker No Comments

Catering Survey

As some of you may already have read the article about the catering survey in the VC magazine,

We would like to take the opportunity and invite all of you to participate. It should be coming out next week.
This will be your opportunity to rate, comment and give inputs to the catering and for us in the catering group it will be a beneficial overview about your expectations and desires.

Please think about it and let us know what is really important for you in catering matters and what is not.
We can then act on the results to (hopefully) find the best way to improve the food and satisfy your souls.

Dirk Becker No Comments

Update on Delegation Elections 2013

As you probably have read already we were able to obtain the court victory regarding the ongoing issue of the delegation election contestation by one member of the OGB-L in 2013.

After receiving the judgement by the “Cour Administrative” of Luxembourg we initially thought that this issue was settled. However, by bringing forward bogus claims of alleged irregularities a member of the OGB-L filed yet another contestation almost four years after the deadline for such claims had expired. Unfortunately, the EVP HR, Legal Affairs and Compliance initially encouraged these proceedings by arguing that this contestation might be well founded.

As to be expected the court that had to deal with this latest lawsuit, which was brought forward by the ALPL lawyer, found these claims groundless.

We were able to obtain an injunction against David Massaro ordering him to convene the “newly” elected delegation within 15 days. This injunction is immediately enforceable, meaning that even if Mr. Massaro decided to appeal this decision, this appeal would not have any suspensive effect.

Should Mr. Massaro elect to further unlawfully delay the convention of the rightfully elected delegation we still have the possibility to seize the judge to get him sentenced to a daily fine if he does not comply. In addition, we are also ready to file criminal charges against Mr. Massaro, a step we so far were trying to avoid in order not to complicate the situation further and to give another excuse to delay the proceedings even further.

This important victory, which took almost four years, countless hours of work and substantial legal expenses, shows nevertheless, that fighting for our rights is indeed worth the effort. Although obtaining legal relief in Luxembourg sometimes is painfully slow, this outcome once again shows that patience and persistence will be rewarded in the end.

We would like to thank our members for the continued support, not only with this issue, but also regarding the numerous other battles we are being forced to deal with both at the legal and the political front. In this context, we would like to remind you how important our representation in the staff delegation is. Especially considering the upcoming CWA negotiations and possible new delegation elections your vote is of utmost importance and will have a direct effect on any future CWA.

Dirk Becker No Comments

Members Update May 2017

Please find below some information concerning “Back to Back” operation, Delegationand an update from the Hotel Committee.

Back to Back operation
On Monday 10 April 2017 we forwarded you the letter that was sent to the Chief Pilot´s Office regarding the “Back to Back” operation. Meanwhile we have followed up with a second letter to ensure compliance with EASA FTL.

The lack of standardisation of implementing the EASA rules has caused confusion and frustration amongst us crew members and poses a significant risk for flight-safety since more than a year now.

It is imperative to have this rectified so that we can actively measure the effectiveness of the EASA rules to truly mitigate fatigue in advance when operating the aircraft. This measurement is supported by continuous fatigue reports through the iQSMS or LEAF applications that you submit.

With only 4 months before the start of the traditional high season the demand for air cargo remains high whereas the recruitment of new pilots and upgrades to new captains do not keep up with this development. We are sure that all of you do not want to be exposed to disruptive schedules and operating to the limits of the regulations again, all of it with the threat of sanctions for not-complying with regulations that have not been clearly defined in the first place!

We have therefore provided a guidance on what to expect with “Back to Back” and what to do if this expectation is not supported by the Flight Operations Department. We acknowledge the fact that this normally would fall under the competency and responsibility of management, but since Cargolux elected to stay passive thus exploiting another legal grey area on the expense of their employees we decided to send out this information.

In general we advise you not to operate any flight if you feel that you will not be able to fulfil your duties as a crewmember due to fatigue.

We have not yet abandoned all hope that Flight Operations Management will meet their legal obligations to give adequate guidance and support all crew members in following these mandatory regulations.

This is not only about legal compliance with mandatory EU-regulations or the avoidance of sanctions to crew-members, this is about your health and safety!

Delegation
On Tuesday, 25 March 1017, your elected delegation representatives met with representatives of the ITM (Inspection du Travail et des Mines) to hear arguments pertaining the latest “recours” that has been filed, once again with the aim of challenging the election results of 2013.

Please bear in mind that after a lengthy legal battle we obtained a final and uncontestable court decision stating that the results are valid. Nevertheless, the current president of the delegation, Mr. David Massaro, elected to disregard this decision of the highest court of Luxembourg in January 2017 and after almost four years still refuses to assemble the lawfully elected delegation.

We showed up for that meeting well prepared, together with our two lawyers who fiercely argued the case. Without going into details, it was obvious that the argument of the OGBL lawyer – “the contestation of the results is valid and has a suspensory effect, preventing the new delegation to gather” – was groundless, ill-conceived and absurd.

Nobody in the room could follow his argument, that the original deadline that expired 10 days after the election in 2013(!) was suspended and the contestation therefore valid. Thus, it was only a small surprise that even the company lawyer of Cargolux, Maitre Castegnaro, did follow our line of argumentation.

A final decision of the ITM regarding the validity of the election results will be obtained within the next two weeks. However, we should manage our expectations. It could be possible that the opposing party will be able to further stall the process by filing bogus claims.

We already discussed with our lawyers an alternate strategy in case this risk materializes.

Hotel Committee
The past few years has seen the Hotel Committee (HC) facing various challenges to ensure standards are maintained. From the company´s side the HC has a new management team to answer to and it also welcomed 3 new members of the HC.

Currently the company is represented by Ingvi Halldorsson, Joni Greco, and Madelene Fasol. Flight Operations now no longer has any involvement with the hotel process any more. 4 pilots are also members of the HC. These are Sebastien Henry (South America), Joachim Eder (Asia), Daniel Schlim, (Middle East) and Dave Wainwright (USA and Chairman).

On behalf of the new chairman of the HC and all our colleagues we like to take this opportunity to welcome the new members and thank them for taking up the job.

They are taking over the roles that were filled by Koen Teirlinck and Pablo Alvarez, who for the past 8 and 10 years respectively have put in many weeks, days and hours to ensure that we have had a hotel standard that we deserve. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty in achieving the standards that we take for granted today. We would also like to thank Tomas Ejyolfsson, who last year regrettably had to step down as the chairman of the HC after 4 years of running a superbly good operation.

The HC is here to ensure that the hotels we stay at are quiet, safe and secure! Additionally, they endeavor to make sure that our hotel standards are maintained and that in these times of long duties and minimum rest times we are rested in accommodation that allows us to undertake our schedules safely knowing that the rest we expect will not be undermined by cost cutting threats or substandard hotels.

On the line we hear many rumors about hotels and contracts and as many of you know the HC has secured long term contract’s in both JFK and HKG. However, as the year draws on we are faced with new concerns regarding our hotel network as management seek to make further cost cutting measures into the budget. Whilst the committee is working actively with management to try and achieve the desired budget constraints, they are not prepared to see a degradation in our rest and recuperation standards. As such the challenges remain for us all.

Management has indicated that our hotel standards are secure for another year at least, but with the new CWA negotiations just around the corner, there is no indication that this will be the case for the future. We all know how important it is to achieve good rest down route under our new FTLs and we recently agreed upon the Hotel Policy, which will go a long way to ensuring that whilst we may see minor changes in hotels on our network, the quality of your rest should not, and will not be affected.

If you find issues with the accommodation of a contractual nature, or not your usual contracted hotel, please file a VR and send an email to the HC at hotel@alpl.lu. It is very difficult to achieve anything by way of rumor.

Dirk Becker No Comments

New Cargolux Divisional Board

On 25 April 2017 the Cargolux Ordinary Divisional Assembly took place. One topic on the agenda was the election of a new ALPL Divisional Board after the regular two-year term.

After serving six and respectively three years on the ALPL Cargolux Divisional Board, Dirk Becker and Frank Scheitweiler have decided not to stand for re-election. We whole hearty thank Dirk and Frank for their great work throughout the past years they served on the board representing the interests of us Cargolux pilots in difficult and challenging times.

Both will continue their work within the association – Dirk as the ALPL Executive Secretary and Frank as the Chairman of the Catering Committee. On behalf of all members the newly elected Cargolux Divisional Board wishes them all the best.

The new Divisional Board consists of the following board members:

               Bernhard Novak   Markus Neuber
     George Karambilas                 Bernhard Novak              Markus Neuber

                                                                                       
            Peter Bauer                    Heiko Fleischmann              Michael Kaiser                    


                                                                 Xavier Nolf

We are pleased that Heiko, Peter and Xavier decided to put their names onto the candidates list for the election and to actively get involved in the future work of the board. Whilst Heiko is new in this kind of business, Peter and Xavier have already gained experience in representative work – Peter used to serve on the Cargolux Divisional Board in the past and Xavier was a Delegate with one of his previous employers.

We are confident to have the right team to deal with current and also future challenges backed up by you, our members.

Thank you very much for your continued support!

Dirk Becker No Comments

Members Update on Cargolux Staff Meeting 6 April 2017

We would like to thank those of you, who provided questions to be answered by EXCOM at the staff meeting last week on 06 April 2017.

The 26 questions, that were submitted, were handed personally to the CEO before the staff meeting to allow EXCOM to provide answers to these questions.

ExCom has decided to answer the question in a video that will be produced in the coming days.

Dirk Becker No Comments

Members Update on Back to Back operation

At a recent meeting at EASA, the European Cockpit Association (ECA) highlighted many issues with the standardization and compliance of the EASA FTL.

ALPL was represented by George Karambilas and one of the issues brought up was Back to Back operations where clarification was sought and provided. 

Please find attached a letter that was delivered to the Chief Pilots Office on the 4 April 2017.

Our position has always been that these ‘Back to Backs’ must be planned and managed in advance to mitigate potential fatigue. We are also in touch with the Luxembourgish Civil Aviation Authority (DAC) to ensure that the rule is correctly applied.

Dirk Becker No Comments

Cargolux Divisional Assembly 2017

On 25 April 2017 this year’s Cargolux Divisional Assembly will be held.

Updates on different ongoing topics as well as the election of a new ALPL Cargolux Divisional Board will be the major agenda items for this meeting.

Tuesday, 25 April 2017
18.30 local time
ALPL Office
1A, rue de Trèves
L-2632 Findel
Luxembourg

The Agenda for the the meeting can be downloaded here.

For further questions or if you are willing to become a candidate for the election of the Cargolux Divisional Board please send an email to cvboard@alpl.lu.

Dirk Becker No Comments

Cargolux Staff Meeting 06 April 2017

This week Thursday 6 April 2017, ExCom has invited you to the next staff meeting.

The agenda is as follows:

  1. Introduction
  2. 2016 Results
  3. 2017 Results YTD
  4. 2017 Outlook
  5. Business Process Re-engineering
  6. Strategy and other developments (all divisions)
  7. EU fine
  8. Q and A’s

We have opened a survey to let those who would not be able to attend this meeting have the ability to ask questions that we will send to Mr. Forson (names will be withheld), to be answered in this staff meeting.

If you have questions please contact your ALPL Board at cvboard@alpl.lu.

Dirk Becker No Comments

Members Update March 2017

Please find below some important information in regards to Fatigue Reports, Delegation, EASA FTL and FFOD.

Fatigue Reports
In the past we have frequently emphasised the importance of filing fatigue reports. The functioning of several safeguards within the newly introduced EU flight time limitations, such as validating mathematical fatigue models and avoiding the rostering of red-flag flights, heavily depends on constant feedback by the pilot community.

In the recent FSAG meeting the two pilot representatives agreed with the analysis conducted by the safety department based on the fatigue reports that all of you have submitted. These results are now being communicated at the recurrent ground school and we are waiting for the flight operations department to act on the recommendations to mitigate fatigue in these hotspots.

We would like to highlight again, that any review process of rotations or FDPs by the responsible departments is evidence based only. This means that any “bar talk in Baku” will not be sufficient. It needs the effort of every individual pilot to report fatigue related events to make it tangible and comprehensible.

Due to the significant increase of long duties involving double sector augmented crew operation and operating at the limits of night duties with a standard crew this aspect needs to be reiterated.

We ask you to use the iQSMS application or the LEAF application to submit reports, both are provided on your iPad. When entering the data please be as accurate and as complete as possible. Please click here for additional guidance.

Lately fatigue report closure notes come with the following additional, standardized text:

“Further we would like to remind you that if the fatigue you experienced impacted or could have potentially impacted your ability to perform your flight duties safely, it is according to OMA Chapter 11 Section 2 mandatory to submit an ASR. In doing so you help qualifying and quantifying severe cases of crew fatigue.”

Having to file an ASR on top of the FR in such a case is inconvenient but the issue is hoped to be fixed in the nearer future. In the meantime, filing an ASR (a 72 hours deadline applies!) with reference to the FR code in question (the one to be found in the iQSMS reception confirmation email that is generated shortly after sending the FR) and a brief remark as regards to the “reportable occurrence” character of said FR will be sufficient.

Furthermore, if you are not able to perform a duty due to actual or potential fatigue, please respect OM-A, Chapter 6, Section 1, Crew Health Precautions1, report unfit to fly and write a fatigue report!

1“Crewmembers shall not perform duties on an aircraft:

  • When under the influence of psychoactive substances or alcohol or when unfitdue to   injury, fatigue, medication, sickness or other similar causes; 
  • If applicable medical requirements are not fulfilled;
  • if he is in any doubt of being able to accomplish his assigned duties;
  • if he knows or suspects that he is suffering from fatigue.
Many of you have asked how as an individual can we predict when we may be fatigued in any upcoming duty or series of duties. In the enclosed text we provide you with additional guidance that can be downloaded.

Delegation
The continuous delay of the outgoing delegation president, David Massaro, to convene the new delegation is highlighting further the lack of enforceability of laws in Luxembourg. The rights of all employees are weakened when individuals such as David Massaro and the OGB-L interpret the laws to overrule the highest court.

The ALPL delegates of the 2013 elections submitted a request in mid-March for a court referee to intervene to have the outgoing president convene the elected delegates. The initial hearing was set for 23 March where it was no surprise that David Massaro’s legal council asked for a delay. The presiding judge reconvened this hearing to the 29 March after ALPL’s legal council refused to accept the delay.

On 29 March David Massaro and his legal council did not appear for the hearing. Our lawyer was able to explain the situation restating that the judge intervenes and enforces the highest court ruling that the elected delegation of 2013 be convened. Failing that David Massaro ignores this as well, the court then appoints an external person to fulfil this function. The next hearing is scheduled on 5 April 2017.

EASA FTL
Together with our lawyers and the ECA we were able to finalize all the necessary documents to initiate the process, that might result in a law-suit against the Luxembourgish national civil aviation authority DAC. Part of these legal proceedings in administrative court is an arbitration procedure that gives the DAC the possibility to reconsider their interpretation of the disputed clause.

As communicated in previous members updates in our view the concerns brought forward have not been adequately addressed by the authority and the correct interpretation and application of CS FTL.1.235(b)(3)(i) ”Minimum local nights of rest at home base to compensate for time zone differences” will potentially be dealt with in court.

A second document dealing with the back to back operation will follow shortly. After a careful analysis of the law it is our opinion that the way Cargolux applies the EASA back to back provision is not in accordance with mandatory safety rules.

Even in other areas where the DAC openly admits a faulty implementation of the applicable legislation by Cargolux (e.g.: delayed reporting at outstations) the DAC as the responsible oversight authority has in our opinion not kept abreast of Cargolux to apply the regulation correctly. Since this results in rolling delays at outstations and thus in an increase of a already high fatigue level we are monitoring this situation closely as well and are ready to act if necessary.

However, to be realistic we have to manage our expectations. The legal process in Luxembourg is lengthy and slow-paced. The latest legal proceedings regarding the delegation-elections have shown that obtaining a victory in court does not always solve the problem, since Luxembourg apparently lacks the means of enforcing court decisions. Litigation is just one tool in order to achieve our aims on the long run.

FFOD
Although the immobilization of FOD according to the principle agreement in the CWA 37.1.3.c was introduced in roster period 1, there is still no overall agreement between Crew Planning Department/Flight Ops Management and the Pilot Representatives on the final text for the procedure document.

The purpose of this document is to define the immobilization system in more detail, to establish a review procedure and to regulate some special crew planning cases (e.g. part time). The transparent and fully automatic “two group” system offered by ALPL already in 2016 was not agreed by crew planning department, due to their demand to have the sole decision when an FOD becomes an FFOD.

The talks are presently circulating around the attempt to find a solution to monitor the correct application of at least the required CWA principles (5 instances during the first 10 roster periods and equal distribution within the respective pilot group per roster). The next JCSC meeting is planned for the 28 April.

As we come to the end of this month’s update, we are sure that you are seeing a trend that having elements such as application of our CWA and FTL’s are not being respected. We once again ask our members to remain vigilant and not take things for granted.

We as your ALPL Board are working hard to find the best way to enforce our rights and thank you for supporting our guidance.