QPC Briefing No 12 2025AFAP Scheduling Support Tool
Harnessing AI to Empower Long Haul Pilots
The AFAP is in the final stages of testing a significant new support platform for Qantas members - an AI-powered scheduling tool that will allow members to access clear, clause-linked answers to EA and scheduling-related questions - 24 hours a day, in plain language.
This initiative represents a major investment and forms part of our strategy to deliver consistent, high-quality, and timely support in an increasingly complex rostering and industrial environment.
What It Does
The tool has been trained on a comprehensive knowledge base, including:
- The current Qantas Long Haul EA (Short Haul EA will be added later in the year)
- Industrial rulings, case law, and key interpretations
- FRMS provisions and CASA fatigue guidelines
- Real-world scheduling applications at Qantas
Members will be able to:
- Ask plain-language questions (e.g. “Can I be scheduled to operate on an A day immediately following a Manila pattern?”)
- Receive clause-referenced answers with operational context
- Understand entitlements and risks across bidding, open-time, credits, etc.
- Be guided when a situation may constitute a breach or grievance
- Escalate complex matters to AFAP scheduling or legal experts
Personalised and Traceable Support
The tool connects securely to your live roster data and other personal settings to ensure advice is specific to your circumstances. It can:
Track all your questions, cases, and responses
Help you revisit past issues or confirm your understanding over time
Give you peace of mind that no issue is 'too small' or 'a stupid question'
Why It Matters
This tool is designed to reduce reliance on phone-based advice, improve the consistency and reliability of information provided, and ensure more equitable support for all members. It is designed to:
- Empower pilots with real-time understanding of their rights and obligations
- Reduce confusion and misinformation around scheduling and bidding
- Give members the confidence to challenge errors with clarity and proper documentation.
By securely accessing your live roster and relevant personal details, the system delivers support that is both accurate and individually tailored.
Identifying Trends and Supporting Advocacy
The system not only supports individual members - it also serves the collective. By detecting common errors and patterns of systematic misinterpretation by Crew Scheduling, the tool helps identify areas where the EA may be ambiguous, misapplied, or contain drafting flaws. It draws on real-time data from pilot interactions to inform AFAP’s consultations with the Company and strengthens our EA negotiation strategy with direct insight into how provisions function operationally. This ongoing feedback loop allows the platform to evolve continuously, enabling our experts to refine administrator training, flag high-risk clauses, and escalate persistent issues for further action.
Human Oversight with AI Efficiency
This is a support system that uses AI - not a total replacement for human expertise. Where the tool reaches its limit, questions are escalated to our experienced scheduling and legal teams. It augments, rather than replaces, the expert advice that pilots rely on from the AFAP. As members interact with the tool, it continues to evolve. Each interaction helps highlight:
- Areas of the EA that remain unclear or open to interpretation
- Provisions that require additional administrator training or legal oversight
- Common trends in misapplication or misunderstanding by scheduling
This feedback loop improves the tool, sharpens our advocacy, and informs the AFAP's broader industrial strategy, including consultation with Qantas and future EA negotiations.
Status and Rollout
- The tool is currently in Beta testing with internal users.
- Final refinements are underway, including scope filters and escalation pathways.
- Release to long haul members is expected shortly.
- The Short Haul EA version is scheduled for rollout later in the year.
Access instructions and user guidance will be distributed closer to launch.
Strategic Implications
This platform significantly strengthens the AFAP’s ability to provide timely, data-supported support to members, particularly as new EA provisions are implemented. It will also serve as a long-term foundation for tracking systemic rostering issues and supporting individual grievances.
This is one part of a broader strategy to modernise member access to industrial support and reduce reliance on outdated or inconsistent advisory pathways.
The platform will be available to AFAP members only. If you are not yet a member, payroll deduction facility is available and the member form can be found here.
AFAP 24/7 Scheduling Support
As outlined above the AI-powered scheduling tool will be integrated with the AFAP 24/7 scheduling support. A reminder for members this service is:
Non urgent enquiries
Email: qpcscheduling@afap.org.au
This email automatically sends your request to all scheduling team members, legal department, the Executive Director and the QPC.
Urgent/day of ops enquiries
Patrick Larkins – Senior Industrial/ Legal Officer - +61403 126 067
Simon Lutton – Executive Director - +61409 482 582
Should for any reason Patrick and Simon be unable to receive the call, please follow up immediately with an SMS to both Patrick and Simon and they will action the request ASAP (within 30mins). An SMS allows them to refer it to another team member to assist for urgent requests.
Questions and Feedback
If you have any questions or feedback please contact your AFAP Qantas Pilot Council representatives at qpc@afap.org.au, or the AFAP legal and industrial team of Senior Legal/ Industrial Officer Pat Larkins (patrick@afap.org.au), Senior Industrial Officer Deanna Cain (deanna@afap.org.au) or Executive Director Simon Lutton (simon@afap.org.au).
Regards,
AFAP Qantas Pilot Council
Michael Egan – Chair
Mark Gilmour – Vice-Chair
Rob Close – Secretary
Michael Armessen – Committee Member
David LaPorte – Committee Member
Josh Chalmers – Committee Member