IFALPA NEWS

77th IFALPA Conference

The International Federation of Air Line Pilots (IFALPA) holds an annual general assembly in the form of a fourday conference where participants, representing their Member Associations, meet with other professionals in the commercial pilot community to discuss current developments and recommend policies to promote the highest level of flight safety.

This year, the 77th IFALPA Conference was held over 4-7 May 2023 near the Federation's headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

The city of Montreal is a recognised international hub for aerospace and aviation. With world-class aerospace manufacturers and the global headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and other industry associations, our delegation was afforded opportunities to meet with key players.

Following official welcomes from the Canadian Minister for Transport Omar Alghabra, and outgoing IFALPA President Captain Jack Netskar, there were a number of plenary sessions, including presentations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) where Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano and Air Navigation Bureau Director Stephen P Creamer covered various topics including ICAO's response throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The keynote address was delivered by Professor Sidney Dekker PhD (Director of the Safety Science Innovation Laboratory at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia and Professor at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University, Netherlands).

Prof Dekker presented on ‘The Seven Habits of a Safe Airline’ - a lively and truly passionate speech about Positive Safety Culture.

There was also discussion of IFALPA’s position around proposed single pilot operations; pilot mental health and peer support programs; how IFALPA can best assist member associations; and updates of regional ICAO meetings attended by IFALPA delegates.

Topics covered in the regional meetings included briefings from each member association of issues affecting countries in their areas. Through AusALPA, the AFAP was involved in putting forward a safety request to our regional chair in order to alert international pilots to our growing concern with ATC deficiencies in Australia.

Around 300 pilot leaders from around the globe stood in solidarity with Sindicato Español de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas (SEPLA) members at Air Europa and Air Nostrum who have strike action starting on 19 June across Spain.

Outgoing IFALPA President Capt Jack Netskar warmly welcomed new Member Associations - Sindicato de Pilotos de LAN Peru (SIPLAP) and the Emirates Aviation Association (EAA) - growing IFALPA further from the original 13 founding member associations (including the AFAP) in 1948.

Capt Netskar (Norway) awarded five Scrolls of Merit in recognition of the distinguished work of Capt Evan Cullen (Ireland), Capt Tanja Harter (Germany), Capt Peter Beer (Germany), Capt Heriberto Salazar (Mexico), and Capt Glen Finch (Canada) and and thanked them for their "dedication and brilliance".

He also congratulated all the newly elected and returning officers - including the AFAP's very own Anna Wakelin and Matt Nielsen - and thanked the outgoing officers who have completed their terms.

Regional Vice-Presidents Asia & Pacific

South of Pacific – FO Anna Wakelin Australia

North of Pacific – Capt Hideaki Matsumoto Japan

Asia East – Capt Nickolas Lagouros,Singapore

Asia West – Capt Shavantha Pedris Sri Lanka

US/Central East Pacific – Capt Ron Hay USA