VIPA News Aug-Sep 2010

President’s Report

VIPA meets with the CEO

The restructuring of upper management and the merger a n n o u n c e m e n t regarding Virgin Blue and V Australia has added impetus to the need to negotiate improved conditions

within Virgin Blue and particularly V Australia, whose terms and conditions leave a great deal to be desired.It is particularly important for the V Australia EBA to contain terms and conditions that are not only equitable, but reflect the type of the flying the ‘V’ pilots undertake. Long haul operations are, by their very nature arduous, and encompass a range of lifestyle issues not always encountered in domestic operations. Perhaps more importantly, the ‘V’ EBA has particular importance in that it could set a precedent and foundations for the upcoming VB EBA, negotiations for which are due to commence in November.Members of the VIPA Executive, together with Simon O’Hara our Executive Director, have been particularly busy not only in participating in numerous meetings, but in researching a range of issues related to the EBAs.

INSIDEPresidents Report ..............................1

VIPA meets with the CEO ...................1

Executive Directors Report ................2

Long Service Leave ...........................3

Flight Safety Report ...........................3

Aviation Medicine at VIPA .................4

It’s all in the mind ............................4/5

VIPA 12 months on .............................6

Membership Application ...................8

Editorial Team

VIPA Contact DetailsAddress: PO Box 368, Tullamarine Business Centre, Tullamarine VIC 3043Phone: 1800 116 460Email: [email protected]: www.vipa.asn.au

Karl DavisWayne NewingtonBen JaenschHound Dog Graphics

Photo ContributionsGet your photo published in the next VIPA News… Submit any relevant snaps taken of the Group’s aircraft, or a view out the office window. Photos will be published with due credit. Submissions to: [email protected]

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010

The VIPA ‘engagement’ survey results were released in July. The company, including John Borghetti, was presented with the findings. Mr Borghetti expressed his appreciation and made note of some points of which he was unaware. The results were not encouraging. One can only speculate as to why no significant changes emerged from the company’s first engagement survey. The survey was completed several years ago, but the results remain secret. Perhaps those in high places should reflect on why Virgin Blue, behind the public façade, is not always what it appears.Do the negative aspects of the Virgin culture outweigh the positive, resulting in the subsequent disengagement? Is it that people just want to get on with their jobs as loyal employees without all the ‘hype’ that seems to prevail? Few pilots, by their very professional nature, seek other than a secure, well organised operational environment. Are some simply fed up with the cronyism that many believe pervades the workplace? I think John Borghetti is genuinely trying to address many of these issues. His is not an easy task and will take time. He will undoubtedly meet with resistance from those unsettled by change. I believe he does have the support of our pilot community. He is very supportive of his pilots and has probably done more in a couple of months in terms of support and respect than occurred in ten years under the previous regime. He will not be able to deliver all he would like to, overnight. We therefore must exercise patience while affording him our utmost support.Virgin Blue is essentially a good place to work and will no doubt become increasingly so if employees are treated with respect, collectively and individually. In turn, employees will perhaps engage more and try to understand the complexities of running

an airline in today’s economic environment. I don’t know the answers, but I and the VIPA CoM would certainly like to understand your views. Your views form an important base from which to formulate policy for the forthcoming EBA negotiations.VIPA membership continues to grow at an impressive rate. Membership levels are critical to our ability to bring about a successful outcome to the EBA negotiations. We encourage you to take advantage of the member referral discount (as detailed on the back page) and speak to your colleagues about whether they have considered the benefits of joining VIPA.

Continued on page 2.

At the end of June, members of the committee of management had the opportunity to meet with our CEO, Mr John Borghetti. John Lyons, Karl Davis, Andrew Hunt, Tony Dodd and our Executive Director, Simon O’Hara, sat down with Mr Borghetti for a broad ranging discussion over the course of an hour and a half.John Lyons, VIPA President, explained to Mr Borghetti the premise for the establishment of VIPA and our desire to work in collaboration with the company to achieve outcomes that are beneficial both to the pilots and the company. We also related to Mr Borghetti our

views on some of the negative aspects and drivers of the present company culture.Mr Borghetti was receptive to our ideas and expressed his desire to establish an open and honest working relationship with VIPA. He also reiterated his view that the pilots are an important part of the management and daily operation of the company.Finally, we told Mr Borghetti of the significant positive impact his email to Captains has already had on the pilot morale, and that his proposed actions over the next 6 - 12 months will build on this gathering momentum.

Continued on page 3.

ABOVE: CEO John Borghetti (Left) with VIPA President John Lyons

VIPA NEWS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 20102

Executive Directors ReportAugust marks the fourth month of my time as Executive Director at VIPA. In the short few months since I was first employed, we have been able to raise the profile of VIPA and progress our industrial interests significantly. This has meant dealing with enterprise negotiations and forays into the media regarding airlines looking to offshore for the purposes of cutting costs.Some of the matters that VIPA has been dealing with over the course of the last 6 weeks include the following:

V Australia The V Australia negotiations continue after almost 9 months of meetings with the company. VIPA had made extensive written representation to the Company prior to the last meeting of 2nd August. During that meeting the CFO presented a picture of V Australia’s financial health, which essentially reinforced management’s position that V Australia expected poor economic forecasts.

We await to see end of financial year profit, losses and forecasts recorded by the company.At this meeting VIPA were keen to reach agreement on a series of negotiating meeting dates until the end of the year in a genuine effort to reach a conclusion to bargaining and a collective agreement for all V Australia members. The next meeting date is set for an intensive two day negotiation from 24th to 25th August in Melbourne.A matter arising from the previous meeting was that VIPA sought to confirm the operative pay dates from VIPA’s claim of 1st July 2010 with V Australia. Unfortunately, V Australia believed there had been some confusion regarding the operative pay date and refused to acknowledge that they had agreed to backdate VIPA’s claim for salary increase.In addition, Richard Tanner, the head of Virgin HR, has indicated that he wishes that there be a more collaborative approach to negotiations and that the enterprise bargaining negotiations with V Australia should be concluded in an expeditious manner. VIPA appreciates Mr Tanner’s stated desire of collaboration, and would only add collaboration is a ‘two way street’.

AIPAVIPA has maintained a strong relationship with AIPA. In early August VIPA put out a media release supporting AIPA’s court action against the Qantas group over its plan to offshore some of its operations. This release was picked up by the national broadsheet, The Australian, and resulted in a substantial story in the aviation section of the paper. Aside from the legal technicalities of the case, VIPA is also concerned that the future of the Australian pilot industry is at risk from offshoring. VIPA maintains that Australian businesses need to maintain investment in training for pilots in Australia, and also a career path based on salaries and conditions that aren’t a ‘race to the bottom’ for the lowest labour cost and hence skills.

Pacific BlueA number of members have approached VIPA raising concerns regarding their job security with Virgin Blue. Members are not focussing on the future of the airline or its

ability to make money, but more so the future of Pacific Blue and how this will impact on their duties and careers. Members are especially concerned that Pacific Blue pilots have taken on some international routes previously serviced by Virgin Blue pilots.VIPA has recently written to Virgin Blue Holdings seeking a meeting regarding these proposed changes and also some clarification on how this will affect our members. Mr John Borghetti, CEO, has responded to VIPAs letter and relevantly says that he:“ ..can give an unequivocal commitment that Pacific Blue will not be conducting domestic Australian flying .. (and) .. the progressive transfer of the “wet lease” flying that Virgin Blue has undertaken on Pacific Blues behalf will not result in the loss of jobs within Virgin Blue..”VIPA will keep you posted on further developments and is watching the situation closely.

Election 2010VIPA has called upon both major political parties in the media release of last week to make a stand against offshoring of Australian pilot jobs. We will you keep you informed regarding developments arising out of this election.

MembersVIPA continues to grow quickly and with each new member, we become stronger. If you know fellow pilots who have not yet decided to join VIPA, it is worth talking to them about the benefits of membership. As Executive Director, I am happy to meet with members and potential members to discuss VIPA priorities. Each month we are looking at new and better ways of serving the needs of our membership, and for opportunities to meet with you.I welcome feedback from members regarding any improvements to VIPA and can be contacted on [email protected].

Simon O’Hara Executive Director

President’s Report Continued from front page.VIPA, as your representative body, seeks to develop a collaborative approach to industrial matters. Collaborative in the sense of outcomes that can ideally result in ‘win-wins’ with respect to issues which are important to both the pilots and the company. Of course this is not always possible. ‘Collaborative’ does not mean that VIPA will not disagree with the company nor shrink from standing its ground. The association is however really only as strong as its members. An issue that we are acutely aware of at the present time, is the threat of airlines

‘off-shoring’ crews. A battle is being fought in court at the present time between AIPA and JetStar. Allowing this practice potentially undermines the terms and conditions of all Australian pilots. VIPA has publicly supported AIPA and also taken its concerns to Canberra, seeking policy clarification from both the Government and Opposition. If you are seriously committed to your career as an airline pilot and wish to eventually retire in relative comfort, I urge you to focus on this issue together, as it affects all Australian airline pilots.

John Lyons President

VIPA NEWS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010

Long Service LeaveBroadly, long service leave (LSL) can be described as a period of paid leave for employees who have been working for the same employer for a specified period of time. LSL obligations are outlined in the National Employment Standards (the NES) of the Commonwealth Fair Work Act. NES preserves long service leave entitlements in awards and some agreements as they were at 31 December 2009. If an employee did not have any entitlement in an award or agreement, their entitlement to LSL will generally come from State or Territory laws. It is envisaged that national long service leave standard will be developed in the future.In the Virgin Blue Enterprise Agreement of 2007, LSL is set out relevantly as follows:“7.5.1 Pilots will be entitled to long service leave in accordance with the relevant State or Territory legislation applicable to the pilot’s home base at the time the leave is taken.7.5.2 Pilots will be paid Annual Salary for periods of long service leave.”As a consequence of the operation of both this agreement and more particularly the jurisdictions in each state and territory there are a few broad aspects to remember about this form of leave. LSL:

l is generally governed by State/Territory lawsl is generally covered by State/Territory lawsl is generally paid at the employee’s ordinary

rate of payl generally can‘t be cashed outl is paid out to eligible employees upon

termination of employment (minus any amount already taken); and

lmay apply to casual employees.Depending on the state in which the Virgin employee resides, employees may be eligible for a pro-rata payment of long service leave on termination – as a minimum, at their current ordinary rate of pay. This is usually after a minimum period of 5 years continuous service but sometimes will be longer. Members will need to check with VIPA to find out their long service leave entitlements. This article is not intended to constitute legal advice and for more specific information about your entitlements please contact [email protected]. See the full article at www.vipa.asn.au Simon O’Hara

Executive Director

3

Flight Safety ReportFour members of the Flight Safety, Technical, and Regulatory Compliance (FSTRC) team met in Brisbane on the 27th July to discuss a number of important issues.

Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA)This group has been particularly active in relation to the need for a formal FOQA Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) Deed between V Australia and the pilot representative unions. The group has identified a number of deficiencies in relation to the current arrangement. The FSTRC Subcommittee agreed that a formal V Australia FDM Deed, similar to the current Virgin Blue Deed, would give protection to pilots. The subcommittee felt that gatekeepers representing pilot unions should be installed as per the agreement. This will ensure that the information collected is used solely for the purpose of enhancing flight safety. The VIPA committee of management is currently taking action to have this issue resolved.

Critical Incident Response ProgramIn order to improve the help and support for VIPA members and their families the FSTRC Subcommittee has decided to develop a Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP). Pilot associations such as VIPA can play a crucial role in assisting a VIPA member who has been involved directly in an incident or accident, or who has witnessed a serious event which can trigger an unusually strong emotional reaction. Acute stress reactions and disorders if not treated can have a devastating impact on a person’s life, which can in more extreme cases lead to mental illness, loss of family and work.

Following the Hudson River ditching of the Airbus A320, Captain Sullenberger said:“Our pilots union has a volunteer Critical Incident Response Program team that began helping me and the crew the day after the Hudson landing. I had asked them for a road map of what to expect. They told me I’d be sleeping less, I’d have distracted thinking, I’d lose my appetite, I’d have flashbacks, and I’d do a lot of second-guessing and what-iffing. They were right on all fronts”Highest Duty, 2009. Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger with Jeffrey Zaslow, HarperCollins PublishersCaptains Neil Cooper and Ben Spencer will head up the new CIRP program and both members will be attending a special Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) course later this year. The group will require additional members, so if you would like to get involved write to [email protected] expressing your interest. Please be mindful that it takes a very special type of person to assist in this counselling or mentoring, which may in some cases last for long periods. All members of

the group will receive formal training in CISM. Support following an incident or accident is not just limited to your mental wellbeing, the FSTRC Subcommittee will also offer technical support and VIPA has excellent industrial legal support.

FSTRC Subcommittee Membership and TrainingOver the next 12 months members of the FSTRC Subcommittee will be heading off to attend air accident investigation and other FSTRC related courses. It is vital that all members of this subcommittee are formally trained in a cross section of disciplines associated with safety, technical, and regulatory matters. We need to expand the group to cover other areas such as; dangerous goods, air traffic services and navaids, aviation regulation, technical manuals and engineering. If you have a special skill to offer then please contact us at [email protected].

Phillip Cooper Group Leader Flight Safety, Technical and

Regulatory Compliance Subcommittee

Continued from front page.Mr Borghetti has a significant task ahead to reshape and reposition the business in line with his vision. He has expressed his support of us as professionals, and recognises the training we have undertaken, the accreditation we have achieved, and the skills we utilise in operating and managing the aircraft. In turn, we must live up to this support and conduct ourselves in a manner appropriate to our professional status.In the months ahead, we plan to meet with the CEO further, and look forward to growing our positive working relationship with Mr Borghetti and his team.

VIPA meets with the CEO

CEO John Borghetti (Centre) with VIPA Committee Members

Left to right:Capt. Neil Cooper,

SFO Eivind Eikli, Capt. Phillip

Cooper, and Capt.

Ben Spencer

VIPA NEWS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 20104 VIPA NEWS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010

Welcome to the Aviation Medical Sub-Committee. This sub-committee is available to represent VIPA members by liaising with the CASA Medical Department and their DAME to resolve any issues they may encounter to retain their Class 1 Medical Certificate. The sub-committee also monitors the Virgin Blue Group of companies Drug and Alcohol Management Plan and keeps up to date with any changes in the Regulations. Already VIPA has represented several

members and assisted them in this way.

At the moment, the VIPA Aviation Medical Sub-Committee is aware CASA is proposing changes to colour blindness standards for Class 1 Medical Certificate holders, which may affect some VIPA members. In consultation with Dr Arthur Pape, the sub-committee sees no safety benefit or other reason why CASA should change the current standards. The FAA and UK CAA are aligned with our current colour blindness standards and have

no plans to implement more stringent standards like CASA are proposing.

Please find below page an interesting article on pilot mental health.

If you have written or have found an article that may be suitable for this site, then please send the article to the Aviation Medical Sub-Committee at [email protected].

Andrew Lanham Aviation Medical Sub-Committee

Aviation Medicine at VIPA

It’s all in the mindCapt. Andy Brown

(A320 Captain, EasyJet)As pilots, we are used to dealing with stressful situations. Every six months we are invited to perform in the simulator and deal with more emergencies than many of us will face in a lifetime of flying. And, by and large, we deal with them well, otherwise we would not be able to remain in the profession. We are trained to deal with these emergencies, but what happens when we are thrown a problem for which we are not trained; for instance, redundancy, the death of a loved one or financial problems? Even the more positive life changes, such as getting married, new employment, or promotion can cause stress.

Stress manifests itself in many ways; for example, increased drinking, outbursts of temper, even reckless driving, and men in particular find it difficult to talk, often for fear of appearing weak. If untreated stress can lead to anxiety, which can in turn lead to depression. We also have a responsibility that we only fly when fit, but how would you tell your pilot manager that you feel you are drinking too much, or in a more extreme case, that you have suicidal feelings? It is no surprise that there is somewhat of a taboo surrounding mental health, particularly in the pilot profession where our livelihood depends on our health, both mental as well as physical.

Many of us take care, or are at least aware, of our physical health, but how many of us attempt to take care of our mental health? Of course it is relatively easy to measure one’s physical health in terms of heart rate or pressure, or weight loss or gain, or many other parameters, but how to measure and take care of one’s mental health?

Look at your lifestyleDavid Marshall is the Chair of the BALPA Pilot’s Advisory Group (PAG)*, which was set up to provide a confidential counseling service for pilots, and comprises seven current or retired pilots who have received specialist counseling courses. According to David, PAG receives around 50 calls per year. “The problems pilots face are very often to do with self-esteem, especially in the case of marriage or relationship breakdown” he says.

“Sometimes mental problems have money at the root, in which case I may refer them to BALPA Financial Services. We also receive calls from pilots with problems about confidence, particularly when moving to the left-hand seat, and mores so when they have spent a long time in the right-hand seat.”

Dr Matt Butler is a GP working in a practice with 16,000 patients. Around a third of his patients have problems with anxiety or depression, and of these only a very small percentage are people with severe mental illness. Statistics indicate that around one in four of the population will suffer mental health problems at some stage in their lives.

“There are many symptoms of stress, for example, insomnia, especially those on shift work, anxiety, sweating, palpitations, loss of libido,” explains Matt. “I would always consider offering a pilot a note for absence from work if he suffers these symptoms. When treating patients with stress I have a three tier system: firstly lifestyle, secondly talking therapies, and thirdly pharmacological therapies i.e. anti-depressants. It is preferable to treat a depressed patient with anti-

depressants and a break from work rather than allow an illness to continue unresolved.”

It must be reminded that any pilot who takes anti-depressants should inform their aviation medical examiner (AME)** and will be temporarily unfit for the duration of their treatment. However it is better to attend to the problem, even with a temporary suspension of one’s medical certificate, than to ‘bottle up’ the problem where things may get worse.

Blowing a fuseProfessor Gordon Turnbull started his career as a physician in the RAF and went on to become a psychiatrist.He has debriefed prisoners of war and well as former Beirut hostage, John McCathy, who spent five years in captivity. If you are suffering from stress, Gordon says that there are two philosophical strides that need to be taken first of all. These are essential and can

not be got around if the treatment strategy for stress reactions is going to be successful.1 Letting yourself ‘off the hook’. Stress

symptoms are not a sign of personal weakness. They represent the normal reaction to overwhelming experiences.

2 Full recovery should be possible. Crisis involves both risk and opportunity, and exposure to trauma affords an opportunity for personal growth. Continued over page.

Stress manifests itself in many ways.... increased drinking, outbursts of temper, reckless driving and men in particular find it hard to talk.“ “

VIPA NEWS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010

“When the brain receives alarming information that is beyond usual experience, we have been exposed to trauma,” Gordon explains. “Extremely high levels of adrenalin are generated very rapidly as part of an desperate attempt to survive. the part of the brain that processes information, the hippocampus, literally ‘blows a fuse’ to close us down and disconnect us from the danger. Very high adrenalin levels kill the hippocampal ‘fuse’ nerve cells (neurons). The hippocampal ‘fuse’ can either be nibbled away by high levels of adrenalin over a long period of time, or ‘blown’ instantly by extremely high levels of adrenalin generated in a sudden emergency. Basically, the blown fuse causes a depression of mood, increased anxiety and depression.“However, the ‘fuse’ in the hippocampus will repair itself given the right conditions and should be regarded as a temporary fault. The damage is temporary if the adrenalin levels can be brought down below the level that causes damage to the hippocampus. This can only happen if safety and control are restored. Acute stress reaction should only last about a month because that is how long it takes for the fuse to be repaired. Long-term stress reactions develop when the brain fails to grow new neurons to repair the hippocampal fuse. The main reason that high levels of adrenalin are maintained after an acute stress reaction is that the changes in emotion and behavior generate more adrenalin. In this way a vicious circle is set up and the efforts to repair the fuse are countered by further destruction of the new cells that are laid down in the hippocampus.”To help the ‘fuse’ to heal, Gordon says that pilots need to ‘decontaminate’ after each day. Eating certain foods such as fish, marmite, bananas, Brazil nuts and chocolate, which contain amino acids and anti-oxidants can also help the ‘fuse’ to heal. There is also truth in the saying that ‘fish is good for the brain’, and in particular omega-3 fish oil.

Despite being resilient to stress, pilots are in one of the most stressful occupations, and will inevitably be subject to raised levels of stress at some point in their lives. It is quite normal to suffer from a stress reaction, of which there is nothing to be ashamed. Look at your lifestyle and what you eat, don’t hesitate to talk to someone, and consider talking to a professional psychiatrist.

Mental health is something of a taboo in the piloting profession, but there are steps you can take to deal with the stress of the job, says Andy Brown.

WHAT YOU CAN DO - There are certain things you can do, and things your can avoid to help you deal with stress:

DO…l Talk about your feelings - to someone

you can trustl Eat and exercise regularlyl Try and take time off work until your

performance improvesl Speak to a doctor

DON’T…l Bottle up your feelingsl Be too hard on yourselfl Isolate yourselfl Drink alcohol or coffee, or smoke to

excessl Take holidays on your own

VIPA has in place an independent and confidential counseling service available to members.

VIPA hopes in the near future to commission academic research on stress in pilots. If you have a story to tell please contact [email protected]. All correspondence will be treated in the strictest confidence.permission of Andy Brown and BALPA.

The author - Capt. Andy BrownAndy Brown is an A320 Captain with EasyJet in the UK. He is a member of the BALPA (British Air Line Pilots Association) National Executive and has extensive experience as a pilot representative and negotiator.

In recent years, sponsored by EasyJet he, along with colleagues, has undertaken a number of challenges to raise money for children’s health charities and research into pilot depression. These include, climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Everest and undertaking a bike ride from Hanoi to Saigon in Vietnam.

This article was originally published in the BALPA ‘Log’ and reproduced with the kind permission of Andy Brown and BALPA.

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VIPA NEWS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 20106

VIPA, 12 months on …One year ago, a group of Virgin pilots registered the first Australian Virgin pilots association. Since inception, VIPA has focused on the unique needs of the pilots within the Virgin Blue Group of companies.September marks the one year anniversary since VIPA’s registration as a professional body. As such, we felt it was an appropriate time to reflect on the year to date, in terms of what we have achieved and continue to strive for. Overall it has been a busy year for all on the VIPA committee of management as we put in place the infrastructure necessary to represent your needs and began to address the issues put forward by members.

Committee of ManagementCommittee of Management Elections were conducted at the beginning of the year to elect your committee of management to oversee the daily running of VIPA and drive forward the agenda set by the members of the association.CommunicationsWe have developed a robust communication policy, adopting a multi-faceted approach to ensure members are always informed of VIPA’s activities:l VIPA freecall number: 1800 116 460 to

allow easy access to all enquiries from members

l Newsletter production – informing pilots of VIPA’s direction, member benefits, sub committee activity and other articles of professional interest to pilots.

l Email Updates – to provide regular updates to members on VIPA’s activities and in response to member queries

l Website – to act as a central repository for members to access information relating to the latest news, articles, activities, and member benefits.

RepresentationVIPA provides full industrial and legal representation for members – EA

negotiations, industrial representation, representation following incident/accident. Below are some of the issues we have worked on during the year: l At the end of last year we raised concerns

that the setup and conduct of the annual leave ballot was both inequitable and not in line with the EBA. This year we will be working with the company to ensure there are sufficient leave slots for all pilots to take their full six weeks of leave, and that there are no “zero slots” leave weeks.

l We have lobbied the company on the health and safety risks associated with pilots having to carry the full set of Jeppesens, and are now working with the company towards implementing an alternative solution.

l Discussed and resolved issues surrounding the publication of adhoc leave.

l We raised the issue of long service leave with the company, given the amount of pilots that will be due long service leave over the next few years. The company has requested recommendations and will be reviewing it’s policy to ensure that pilots will be able to take their long service leave when it falls due.

l Effectively and successfully represented a considerable number of members on confidential issues with both the company and CASA.

l Since inception, we have also campaigned vigorously on the issues of uniform, paxing, crew meals, handling of disciplinary matters, and the professional standing of pilots – to name a few. Our policy is to work with the company towards finding the best solution for both the pilots and the company.

Infrastructure & Employment Conscious of using members’ money appropriately, we have carefully begun to implement a working and cost effective

structure. This approach has established legal support, phone systems, website, office space, and the employment of Simon O’Hara, our Executive Director. More recently, we have employed an Executive Assistant to deal with membership issues and assist in the daily running of the association.Member Benefits VIPA has worked throughout this year to establish discounts and improved services for members. The range of member benefits continues to grow, now including Europcar for hire cars, tbone for headsets, and South Yarra VW and Penfolds Audi for prestige cars, just to name a few.Loss of LicenceVIPA has in place a very competitive Loss of Licence policy that requires no application form, accepts existing health conditions, has no health exclusions, and provides an excellent capital benefit for a premium that is within the company reimbursable amount.Relationships VIPA recognises the importance of good working relationships. To date, we have successfully worked with the company on a number of occasions to reach solutions on issues facing flight crew. Furthermore, we have established relationships with a number of major unions – such as AIPA, and several government departments.Sub CommitteesVIPA’s Safety sub committee has been very active through the year. Led by Check Captain Phillip Cooper, the sub committee has published a number of professional development articles, provided post incident support and analysis, and worked with AIPA on issues facing Australian flight crew.VIPA is proud to be your professional pilots association, working for Virgin group pilots on the important issues determined by members. We look forward to the next year to continue improving our service to you, and enhancing working conditions of Virgin pilots.

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VIPA NEWS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010 7

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VIPA NEWS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010

A growing membership base will allow VIPA to reduce fees, increase benefits and provide increased influence when negotiating on your behalf. Towards that end, the Committee of Management is pleased to offer a referral discount on membership fees to existing members who recruit new members to VIPA.

The discount is progressive, calculated on the number of members recruited within one membership year:

1 member: 10% discount 2 members: 15% discount 3 members: 20% discount 4 members: 25% discount

The discount is capped at 25% for four members, and will be applied to the referring members fees in the next year. Please ensure the new member records your name in the referring member field of the application form.

It is a condition of the discount that the new member becomes financial before the discount can be applied. Contact the Treasurer for further information.

Remember – The more members we have, the greater our ability to effect change for the benefit of all Virgin pilots.

Full Name: ................................................................................................................................................................

Postal Address: .......................................................................................................................................................

Home Phone: ..........................................................................................................................................................

Mobile Phone: .........................................................................................................................................................

Date of Birth: ...........................................................................................................................................................

Email Address: ........................................................................................................................................................

Employer: ................................................................................................................................................................

Base: ....................................................... Fleet: .................................................................................................

Rank: ........................................................ Licence: CPL / ATPL

Referring Member: ...................................

Employment Status: p Full Time p RO/RO Other: ...............................................................

Invoicing Option: p Annual p Quarterly

I apply for membership of VIPA.

• I am employed as a pilot, on airline services within or extending beyond Australia, by Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Ltd, or its related entities, its successors or assigns.

• I agree to abide by the rules of VIPA (the Rules) as amended from time to time.

• I understand that I remain a member of VIPA until I revoke my membership in writing in accordance with the Rules and with the Fair Work Act2009

• I agree to pay annual subscription fees in accordance with the Rules and that the annual subscription fee of VIPA is 0.8% (plus 10% GST) of my annual gross salary as amended from time to time.

• I have read the information supplied relating to financial obligations of membership and the circumstance and manner in which I may resign my membership.

• I understand that my initial invoice will include a $15.00 admission fee.

Signed: .......................................................................................... Dated: .............................................

Send this completed membership form to the Secretary, VIPA at [email protected] or by post to: The Secretary, VIPA, PO Box 368, TULLAMARINE BUSINESS PARK, TULLAMARINE, VIC 3043

Payment Options

The following options are currently available: Direct Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Cheque, BPay and PostBillpay.

Office use only

Date of receiving application:

Date of Executive Committee Meeting accepting the application:

Member Referral Discount

VIPA Membership Application Form For a free copy of the rules of VIPA, email the Secretary at: [email protected]

DisclaimerThe inclusion of advertising material on various products, services and resources in the VIPA newsletter is not to be interpreted as VIPA endorsement of the products, services or resources. Although the VIPA newsletter is the official newsletter of VIPA, the views expressed by individuals in any article included are not necessarily those of VIPA. All rights reserved. The material in this publication may not be reproduced without the expression permission of VIPA. VIPA does not accept any responsibility for any material sent to their office and will not be liable for any loss or damage to any such material.

The material and information contained is this Newsletter are for general information purposes only. You should not rely upon the material or information in the Newsletter as a basis for making any business, technical, legal or any other decisions. Whilst we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, VIPA makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the newsletter or the information, products, services or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such material is therefore strictly at your own risk

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