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Join Balpa

Become a
BALPA Member

With more than 85% of pilots, winchmen and flight engineers in the UK on board, we provide a variety of membership options to suit your position.

  • Legal Advice & Representation

    Access to BALPA’s Legal Services is one of the most highly valued benefits among our members. In an uncertain world it provides peace of mind and superb value for money. We offer legal representation to members in cases with good prospects in matters arising from your employment, assistance with personal injury claims at home and abroad and 24 hr emergency assistance when on duty.

  • Industrial Support
    Being a BALPA member means you’ll have a say in your pay and benefits. Our team of expert negotiators and Company Council reps work to protect the piloting profession, your working conditions and your quality of life. We offer bespoke support to pilots though issues such as grievance and disciplinary action and scrutinise working conditions across the industry.
  • Personal Support

    When things get tough professionally or personally, BALPA is here for you. Our Pilot Advisory Group (PAG) is a peer group of experienced, professional pilots, who are also trained counsellors and can assist you through difficulties. PAG volunteers work quietly from home on the telephone and are available to talk confidentially to any BALPA member whenever you need them: 365/24/7.

  • Community

    By joining BALPA you’ll gain access to our network of more than 10,000 pilots and our expert staff. You’ll be part of the BALPA community, directing our work and helping us ensure the voice of UK pilots is heard. You’ll be able to access all our in-house expertise including all the services listed below. You’ll also receive regular updates on BALPA activity and receive our award-winning Log magazine.

  • BALPA Careers and Elevate

    Whether you are just starting out or are an experienced pilot, BALPA Career Services has numerous resources that can help you manage your career. Hear about the latest aviation opportunities and access bespoke advice, webinars and guides from our aviation specialist career experts. BALPA has recently expanded this service with ‘BALPA Elevate’. This initiative provides member education on a range of subject areas such as pensions and professional upskilling, providing added value to your BALPA membership.

Membership FAQs

Membership
Packages

 

If you are looking to re-join BALPA, please get in touch with us directly.

 

Who can apply
Pricing
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3 onwards
Benefits
Legal advice & representation
Industrial support
Employment issues advice
Careers advice
Access to member portal, news & apps
Log magazine
Working Pilots
membership Apply Now

Pilot
0.5% of salary
0.75% of salary
1% of salary
Class B
Membership Apply now

Helicopter Winchman
AEWO
Ground instructor
0.5% of salary
Class A Associate Membership Apply Now

Overseas (non-UK)
Retired
Military
Unemployed
RPAS / Drone pilots
£24 / year
Trainee
Membership Apply Now

Trainee
Free

Thoughts from
Our Members.

Testimonials

BALPA helped to avoid any compulsory redundancies during covid through innovative voluntary part-time working scheme. BALPA’s creative thinking and collective bargaining saved so many jobs.

EasyJet Member
Testimonials

BALPA campaigned hard to remove the PPF compensation cap, as a result my pension is substantially higher than it otherwise would have been.

Ex-Monarch member
Testimonials

In the aftermath of Norwegian UK’s collapse, BALPA helped ex-NAR UK pilots secure alternative employment with Norse Atlantic and negotiated a substantial increase to pay. Thank you BALPA.

Norse Member
How is my subscription calculated?

For full members, subscription is based on annual pensionable pay on the date of joining and, if nothing about your employment has changed, is revised annually to reflect your salary on 1st January each year. First time members benefit from 50% reduction fee in year one, and 25% reduction in year two.  If your employment information changes during the year, you must inform us so this can be reflected in your membership.

How do I pay for my subscription?

Once you’ve joined you don’t need to do anything, we will collect subscriptions by Direct Debit at the start of each month.

Can I claim any of my subscription back?

Yes! You can claim 67% of your BALPA subscription back against your taxable income. You may also be able to claim FREA (fixed-rate expense allowance) of £1022. You can find more details of how to claim this in the members portal after joining.

I’m just starting my pilot training, can I join?

Yes! You can join BALPA for free as a trainee member whilst you are training towards a commercial license. You’ll be able to connect with other trainee pilots as well get career advice such as applying for your first flying job and tips for an airline interview.

What qualifications do I need to join as a working pilot?

To qualify for full membership you must hold a current Professional Pilot’s Licence or a Flight Engineers Licence issued by the UK or any of the JAA countries, be engaged in British commercial flying and be based in the UK, or employed by a UK company abroad.

What qualifications do I need to join Class B membership?

You should be a ground instructor or helicopter winchman employed in British commercial flying.

What legal advice and representation do BALPA provide?

BALPA’s legal assistance scheme is for work related issues and is one of the most highly valued benefits among our members. In an uncertain world, it provides peace of mind and superb value for money. Members are not usually eligible for legal support until they have been members for more than 3 months.

The cost of taking legal action on members’ behalf can be expensive, which means in general a case would need to have good prospects of success to be supported (i.e. more than 50% chance of success). However, on issues of policy or where cases have an industry-wide importance, these may be pursued, even if on occasions our chance of success is rated at less than even. Ultimately, it is a matter of sound judgement, but the policy has paid off over the years with millions of pounds in compensation and costs being awarded to our members.

What access do I get on the BALPA website?

You will have access to our BALPA members portal, here you will find the latest news and events, connect with other pilots as part of the BALPA community as well as access to resources and guides relating to employment, personal finance, flight safety and much more.

Becoming
A Pilot

For many, becoming a pilot is a lifelong dream. But are you aware of the whole picture before you make such an important life decision?

BALPA hopes to support you throughout your entire flying career, and so we want to ensure that you make an informed choice about the start of your career too. Every flight training organisation has its glossy brochure which perpetuates the public perception and makes enticing promises about how your training will pan out and how your career will kick-start. These promises are not always delivered!

We have put together the Inside Track to Becoming a Pilot which gives a realistic guide to flight training and how to choose the right path for you.