Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Pilot groups across the U.S. sent letters urging the pilots at Flexjet and Flight Options—collectively known as OneSky—to vote against a “management supported” decertification effort of their union, IBT Local 1108. These groups included the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), Air Line Pilots Association, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, Allied Pilots Association, and Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations. The decertification vote begins for OneSky pilots on May 2 and ends May 30.
“Our Flight Options and Flexjet peers owe it to themselves to fully examine the information they receive regarding decertification to parse fact from fiction,” said NJASAP president Pedro Leroux. “Management has everything to gain, and our Flexjet and Flight Options peers have everything to lose, including job security, access to just-cause language in disciplinary matters, and the right to bargain for improvements.”
According to Leroux, pilot groups should preserve their unions because “predatory owners and managers exist, and pilots require an advocate to defend their interests.” He also warned that, if the decertification effort succeeds, “the consequences to our profession will be very damaging and far-reaching.”
Leroux pointed out that more than 90 percent of the commercial aviation workforce is unionized, as “a labor organization can negotiate and demand compliance with a collective bargaining agreement on wages, benefits, and working conditions…Approximately 95,600 professional flight deck crewmembers cannot be wrong.”

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

U.S. Pilot Groups Urge Flexjet Pilots To Keep Union

The decertification vote begins for OneSky pilots on May 2 and ends May 30.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

In this article

Flexjet

OneSky

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