Join Balpa

BALPA wants to see a thriving future for the aviation sector in the UK, one that provides jobs for our members and mobility for our population.

Yet we are in the midst of a climate crisis and have a moral and legal obligation to ensure our future is a sustainable one. A careful balance needs to be struck.

To achieve further carbon savings in a timely way an unprecedented rate of change and innovation is required. It is imperative that the UK Government act quickly and decisively to place the UK at the forefront of this change and avert the risk of enforced limits on flying.

In the short term, we should focus on issues that quickly improve sustainability without undue burden on a recovering industry, especially mitigating the non-CO2 effects that aviation has on global warming. BALPA sits on the Jet Zero Council Non-CO2 Task & Finish Group and hopes to add its practical operational experience to the Government’s research into the area.

While the Government’s Jet Zero Strategy lays out a credible pathway to decarbonising the aviation sector, one which we support, many unknowns remain.

Our response to the Jet Zero Strategy can be found here.

BALPA’s Position

Our key recommendations to UK Government are:

Take rapid action in areas that have immediate effects such as contrail avoidance and work with unions to identify airline operational efficiencies
Make additional substantial investments to ensure the UK is at the forefront of technological change in aircraft design, power plant design, SAF technology and renewable energy generation. The 10% mandate for Sustainable Aviation Fuels by 2030 is a welcome initial step, but does not go far enough and must be increased.
Enhance the UK’s Emissions Trading Scheme to incentivise airlines to address non-CO2 effects of aviation and create an investment case for greater use of SAF
Draw upon the massive body of knowledge and practical experience built up by UK’s flight crew and use it to inform and improve the Jet Zero Strategy
Campaign via ICAO to strengthen CORSIA and widen its remit to include non-CO2 effects
Work closely with EASA and the EU to ensure our regulations remain compatible with Europe’s – and at least as ambitious – to provide security for operators and ensure a level playing field

BALPA’s response to the Jet Zero Strategy can be found here.

Our interim environment position paper (published prior to the Jet Zero Strategy’s publication) sets out in more detail what we believe must be done to achieve these goals.

More Campaigns.

Reduced Crew Operations: #SafetyStartsWith2

Safety Starts With 2 BALPA pilots believe the safety of every airline flight always starts with at least two well trained, qualified and rested pilots on the flight deck. Removing pilots from the flight deck is a gamble with safety. That is why BALPA is joining pilots from around the globe to engage in a […]

Protect trainee pilots from flight school collapses

Following the collapse of several flights schools, resulting in some students losing tens of thousands of pounds, BALPA is campaigning to protect trainee pilots from similar situations.

Fighting the Strikes Bill

Government is trying to curb the right to strike for transport workers. Under new proposals, the Secretary of State for Transport would gain sweeping powers to set minimum service levels during strikes, removing or curtailing their effect.

This is unacceptable to BALPA and the entire trade union movement.

Supporting Pilot Licensing

The new and unfair post-Brexit licencing system means UK pilot licences have been seriously degraded in value and utility. The new state of play has actively prevented UK pilots, including those made redundant due to Covid-19, from securing UK jobs.

BALPA continues to campaign for a reciprocal Flight Crew and Engineer Licence agreement between the UK and EU, which would benefit all UK airlines. This would address the imbalance following Brexit and the Government must address it urgently.

Environment and Sustainability

BALPA wants to see a thriving future for the aviation sector in the UK, one that provides jobs for our members and mobility for our population. Yet we are in the midst of a climate crisis and have a moral and legal obligation to ensure our future is a sustainable one.

Fighting Pilot Fatigue

Fatigue has for many years been a worrying issue for pilots and it continues to be a huge concern across the industry today. Pilots have told BALPA they believe fatigue is now the biggest single threat to flight safety.

Maternity Pay for Female Pilots

For women, the viability and attractiveness of a career as a pilot is significantly affected by the ability to balance working as a pilot with maternity and childcare commitments. At its most fundamental level lies the issue of maternity pay. The financial support available to a woman following the birth of her child has a […]

Pilot Pensions

Pilots feel the current pension system – including the existing tax relief framework – works. They want stability and fear any changes could undermine the system and put people off saving for their future.