QPC Briefing No 1 - 2026
Pulse Check: What Pilots Are Asking AVA
One of the most significant advances now available to the pilot group is the AFAP’s ability to take a genuine, real-time pulse check on what pilots are actually asking, testing, and scrutinising.
These insights are not drawn from anecdote, informal networks, or repeated individual enquiries consuming staff time. They are drawn from live, de-identified data generated as pilots independently interrogate the current and proposed Enterprise Agreements through AskAFAP.
Every question asked through AskAFAP provides meaningful information: where uncertainty exists, which clauses are being stress-tested, what provisions are relied upon, and where concern or ambiguity remains. Taken together, this creates a valuable and objective picture of how the agreement is being examined by pilots in practice.
Because AskAFAP allows members to explore the EA without needing to email, call, or wait for an individual response, it encourages deeper engagement with the detail. The result is an honest and unfiltered dataset that reflects the practical concerns of the operation and the real-world functionality of the agreement.
This capability materially changes how the AFAP prepares for the next stages of the EA process and future negotiations. For the first time, the AFAP can ground its position in objective, de-identified, aggregate evidence of how the agreement performs in practice. AskAFAP reveals how pilots are challenging the EA in real operational scenarios, where drafting or interpretation creates ambiguity or operational risk, and which provisions are relied upon to protect pay, rest, and pattern integrity. This insight allows emerging pressure points to be identified early, before they manifest as disputes or grievances, and ensures the AFAP enters the next stages of the EA process supported by practical, real-world evidence rather than assumption or anecdote.
Outlined below is a summary of the themes emerging from questions submitted to AskAFAP over the Christmas and New Year period. The clear takeaway is that pilots are engaged, asking informed questions, and actively pressure-testing the detail.
Key Themes Emerging from Member Queries
Contactability and Call-In Obligations
A substantial proportion of questions relate to when pilots are required to be contactable and how call-in windows operate. Common areas of enquiry include distinctions between Blank Line Holder (BLH), Pattern Line Holder (PLH), and ATA requirements; the final DDFD/X-day call window; RM60 release processes; whether WebCIS checks satisfy call-in obligations; and how MBTT or sign-off times modify contactability.
Pattern Protection and Offsetting
Pilots are frequently seeking clarity on pattern protection types (offsetable, fixed, date-limited), how protected hours are calculated and apportioned between bid periods, one-for-one offsetting mechanics, the distinction between offers and assignments, and the circumstances in which refusal of assignments results in loss of protection.
Minimum Base Turnaround Time (MBTT) and Rest Calculations
Many questions focus on how MBTT is calculated, including the interaction between local nights, days away, and credited flight hours. Members are also examining how MBTT interacts with sign-off times, FRMS overlays, and the resulting impact on earliest permissible next sign-on and contactability.
FRMS versus Enterprise Agreement Duty and Rest Rules
There is recurring uncertainty about the relationship between FRMS requirements and EA rostering provisions, particularly where planning or operational minima differ from historical EA figures. Questions commonly address precedence, planning versus operational relief rules, and application to ULR and extended duties.
Pay Mechanics, Divisors, Company/Crew Max and Overtime (AFDP)
A significant volume of queries request explanations and worked examples covering MGH, bid period divisors, Company Max and Crew Max thresholds, personal divisors, when AFDP applies, +5 payment mechanics, pay reconciliation across pay periods, and the impact of proposed changes on pay progression.
Rostering Allocation Processes and Priority Rules
Members are closely examining open-time allocation order, early and late close procedures, roster allocation codes, circumstances in which seniority may be bypassed, and the limits or exceptions that apply during late changes or operational disruptions.
Simulator and Training Credit Treatment
Questions frequently arise regarding whether simulator and recurrency training days, and associated travel, are credited as active duty toward MGH or treated as passive training credits, and the extent of company discretion under the rostering provisions.
Sick Leave, Medical Certification and Administration
Repeated enquiries relate to medical certificate requirements versus uncertificated sick leave, the non-applicability of statutory declarations, the effect of certificated sick leave on pattern crediting and protection, and administrative issues such as incorrect time-zone stamping of notifications.
Blank Line, Low Line and ATA Status Implications
There is ongoing scrutiny of BLH and low-line entitlements, including X-day grouping and counts, the mechanics of electing or dropping ATA or a personal divisor, resulting changes to open-time priority, and the downstream effects on pay protection and assignment obligations.
What This Tells Us
Two points stand out clearly.
First, the questions being asked demonstrate informed scrutiny rather than background noise. Pilots are engaging deeply with the agreement and testing how it operates in realistic scenarios.
Second, AskAFAP is being used exactly as intended: to check assumptions, explore consequences, and understand rights and obligations before issues arise.
Every question asked improves collective understanding and reduces the information gap that often disadvantages
pilots in practice.
Members who have not yet used AskAFAP may wish to start by exploring questions such as:
- Key differences between EA10 and the proposed EA11
- Pattern protection following a disruption
- When and how contactability applies
- How medical certification affects pattern protection
AskAFAP is available 24/7 and is built around the agreement and real pilot questions. The AFAP scheduling team has full visibility of the platform, including escalation alerts where queries require expert review.
Remaining engaged, informed, and prepared is how we protect ourselves and each other.
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
Rob Gilmour – Committee Member