Australian Federation of Air Pilots
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afap.bsky.social
Australian Federation of Air Pilots
@afap.bsky.social
The AFAP's mission is to represent and promote the interests of Australian professional flight crew and to champion the highest possible standards of aviation safety.

// Protecting Australia's pilots since 1938 //
The AFAP participated in the UNSW Global Challenges Showcase on 2 October. This initiative was in addition to our ongoing partnership with the UNSW School of Aviation where we offer a #scholarship to 2nd &d 3rd year students working towards achieving a commercial pilot licence. #pilottraining
October 11, 2025 at 6:24 AM
AFAP offers a 50% subsidy so 12 members can access our career development program at a reduced rate.
✈️ Full & financial member for 12 months
🚁 Committed to development of non-technical competencies
How would you would benefit from the #ResilientPilot subsidy funding? Email to technical@afap.org.au
September 1, 2025 at 5:47 AM
The AFAP has asked Qantas to explore inclusive facial hair policy options and communication strategies, such as beard-length limits, grooming guidelines, and alternative mask fit-testing methods, rather than imposing one-size-fits-all bans on #beards at #JetstarAustralia, #QantasLink & #Qantas.
August 27, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Happy World Photography Day to all the #aircraft spotters out there - including David Rose from the RFDS SA Adelaide base who provided this fantastic shot for AIR PILOT 2025 Issue 1. Access and read our publications at: lnkd.in/giyu7dp
#avgeek #aviation #WorldPhotographyDay #RFDS
August 19, 2025 at 12:54 AM
The High Court of Australia has upheld a ruling recognising ... standby duty counts as “work” and must therefore be included in calculations of #pilots’ average weekly work hours. This is a “watershed moment for Australian #aviation”, with no further avenues left for the company to appeal. 👇🏽
Pilot standby duty is work, High Court affirms
In a brief judgment, Australia’s highest court rejected an appeal by Corporate Air Charter Pty Ltd of a ruling by the Full Federal Court that standby duty counts as “work”, and must therefore be inclu...
australianaviation.com.au
August 13, 2025 at 12:01 AM
The AFAP Executive Committee's July meeting is underway at the Brisbane office today. Pilot council committee chairs/representatives are presenting their pilot council reports.
#Rex #NJS #Eastern #Sunstate #NetworkAviation #Jetstar #Virgin #Qantas #GeneralAviation #RFDS #Helicopters
July 30, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Congratulations to the student pilots receiving the AFAP & MBF prizes awarded at the Uni of NSW Wings Night for graduating students of the Bachelor of #Aviation & Grad Diploma in #Flying:
- Dux Volans (3rd year) Riley Lunz
- Best Safety & Teamwork (2nd Year) Karl Smith & Edward Shi (joint winners)
July 25, 2025 at 5:32 AM
"A third of workers under 30 are experiencing workplace exploitation." The AFAP helps #pilots to understand - and if necessary, recover - their entitlements. If you have a query about your conditions under the Air Pilots Award - or want us to look over your contract: industrial@afap.org.au
Young workers falling victim to 'toxic work culture' and exploitation in huge numbers
Jarod Graham says he is owed nearly $10,000 in unpaid superannuation from his former boss. He's not the only one.
www.abc.net.au
July 15, 2025 at 12:24 PM
AIR PILOT I 2025 Issue 1 is now available for you to access or download for your weekend reading from AFAP Publications: afap.org.au/news-events/publications
July 11, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The AFAP's 850 members at #Virgin Australia support plans to increase the airline fleet size & expand flight networks ahead of re-listing on the #ASX next week.

#Pilots support the wet-lease as a temporary measure for VA to demonstrate the business case for operating its own WB #aircraft in future.
June 17, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Reposted by Australian Federation of Air Pilots
The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) has given the thumbs-up to Virgin Australia’s upcoming IPO and its wet-lease deal with Qatar Airways. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4jOipMh
Virgin pilots’ union will support IPO as Qatar flights take off
The union, whose approximately 850 Virgin Australia members make up the majority of the airline’s pilot workforce, said it supports Virgin’s plan to expand its fleet and route network and will work with management to prepare for next week’s ASX relis...
bit.ly
June 16, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Our thoughts are with those affected by the fatal accident of Air India #Flight171. We support the Air Line #Pilots Association of India & call for an investigation guided by #ICAO Annex 13.

afap.org.au/media-releases / alpaindia.org/
#AirIndia171 #AviationSafety #Dreamliner #AirIndia #IFALPA
June 13, 2025 at 3:32 AM
#Onthisday 1928, over 300,000 Sydneysiders watched the ‘Southern Cross’ land at Mascot Aerodrome, now @sydneyairport.bsky.social , after the first trans-Pacific flight.
crewed by (Lto R: Harry Lyon (navigator) Charles Ulm (co-pilot) Charles Kingsford Smith (pilot) & John Warner (radio operator).
June 10, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Boeing has reached an agreement to avoid prosecution for two fatal #B737MAX jet crashes. Of the $1.1b settlement, $455m will go toward strengthening tits #compliance, #safety & #quality programs. #Boeing also admitted to conspiracy to obstruct the FAA's aircraft evaluations. #AviationSafety
737 Max: US-Boeing deal over crashes 'repugnant' - lawyer for victims' families
The plane maker has agreed to pay $1.1bn to avoid prosecution over two fatal crashes that killed 346 people.
www.bbc.com
June 6, 2025 at 2:39 AM
More than 100 Qantas freighter pilots are threatening to strike which could disrupt the delivery of goods bought online, baggage and medical supplies.

“Qantas has not changed its industrial relations approach at all,” Mr Lutton said. His #union represents about 80 of the #pilots concerned.
www.theaustralian.com.au
June 5, 2025 at 5:24 AM
" ... despite recent rhetoric to the contrary, @qantas-official.bsky.social has not changed its #industrialrelations approach at all ... EFA pilots are sending the company a clear and unequivocal message that its offer is simply nowhere near good enough and they are prepared to fight for more.”
Qantas freight pilots on the verge of strikes after ‘insult’ pay offer
After six months of negotiation, both the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) and Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) have filed Protected Action Ballots at Express Freighters Australia, pushing com...
australianaviation.com.au
June 5, 2025 at 5:20 AM
📢 Shout-out to members - Membership Survey closing soon! Results are already showing some interesting trends and giving great ideas. Thanks to the AFAP members who have already provided feedback!
May 30, 2025 at 5:35 AM
@icao.int has found Russia violated the Chicago Convention, that mandates countries refrain from using weapons against civil aircraft in flight. Malaysia Airlines #FlightMH17 was shot down on 17 July 2014, using a Buk missile supplied by #Russia.
#CivilAviation #MH17 #Ukraine @ausgov.bsky.social
UN aviation council finds Russia responsible for downing of Malaysia Airlines flight
A UN body has found that Russia was responsible for the 17 July 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine that killed all 298 people on board.
news.un.org
May 14, 2025 at 2:14 AM
It was great to catch up in Perth last night with AFAP Pilot Council representatives and members - and a few other hashtag#pilots. If you couldn't make it, be sure to join us online on 29 May for the next Leading Edge group mentoring workshop.

For more info or to RSVP: events@afap.org.au
May 2, 2025 at 5:14 AM
All domestic flying should be conducted under Australian employment law—with fair conditions for Australian crews and a focus on long-term industry sustainability. Let’s keep Aussie skies fair.
#NoToCabotage #AFAP #SupportLocalPilots #AustralianJobs #AviationMatters
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...?
The Coalition has a plan to lower Darwin airfares, but can it work?
The Coalition has promised to allow overseas airlines to fly domestic routes between Darwin and the east coast if it wins government. But would that reduce prices?
www.abc.net.au
April 24, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Civil Aviation Safety Authority PMO Dr Kate Manderson is presenting on CASA's approach to medical decisions on mental health and other medical conditions at #AvalonAirshow 2025 next week.
Wed 26 March - Conference Centre Room 1, 14:00PM - All welcome - Tickets: 👇 airshow.com.au/event-detail...
Connecting Mental Health and Wellbeing with Aviation Safety, Performance and Medical Standards | Avalon Australian International Airshow
airshow.com.au
March 20, 2025 at 12:46 AM
The US Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) has reversed #notam terminology from the Dec 2021 'Notice to Air Missions' (FAA Order 7930.2) to the previous 'Notice to Airmen'. In 2021, the term was changed to be gender-neutral & to account for the growing number of #drone operations. #aviation
US reverts to ‘Airmen’ for NOTAM, FAA adopts Gulf of America
The United States has reverted to using “Airmen” for the NOTAM acronym after former President Joe Biden changed the wording to “Air Missions” in 2021.
www.aerotime.aero
February 12, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Aus #safety pioneer Dr Rob Lee AO coined the term #swisscheese to describe how the barriers in Reason’s theory had metaphorical holes that opened, closed & moved ... ‘Australia was first jurisdiction in world to use the Reason model in an aviation accident investigation.'
#aviation #aviationsafety
The absent-minded professor who made a safer world
James Reason, the originator of the Swiss cheese theory of accident causation died on 5 February.
www.flightsafetyaustralia.com
February 10, 2025 at 12:48 AM
SmartGates has been crippled by technical failures, even as the contract with one provider, IDEMIA, surged from $22m to $113m over 5 years. The system's roll-out has been coupled with a reduction in staffed desks, delays during peak arrival times & technical outages at #airports. #melbourne #sydney
‘Bali is more seamless’: The passport processing headache greeting Australian travellers
Long queues are forming at Australia’s airports thanks to a digital processing system that is riddled with faults.
www.theage.com.au
February 10, 2025 at 12:13 AM
“In flying, you have to identify all the threats and avoid them. But in music, it’s the opposite. We have to get as close to destruction as possible.”

On the #AirFrance flight was the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia ... Daniel Harding was the #pilot and the new music director.
January 22, 2025 at 2:55 AM