AFAP April 2025 AIC Update
EA Implementation Update
Infringements
The AFAP was aware that system coding to support the new infringement methodology was nearing completion. However, Virgin did not provide the AIC with a proposed implementation date as required under clause 4.1(d) of the Narrow Body EA.
Despite this obligation, Virgin issued an email to pilots at 2204 Brisbane local time on Sunday, 30 March, advising that infringement payments under clause 37.4 would commence the following day.
The AFAP immediately raised our objections with Virgin, citing the Company’s failure to comply with clause 4.1(d) and noting that the extremely short notice, particularly late at night, did not allow pilots adequate time to familiarise themselves with this significant change or its practical application.
Virgin has since acknowledged our concerns and confirmed that the commencement of infringement payments will now be delayed to the start of RP5. The Company has also issued updated communication to pilots reflecting this change.
Pilots are encouraged to take this time to review the AFAP guidance material issued during EA negotiations, which can be accessed in
EA Update 17 and Infringement Payment Examples
here.
If you have any questions, please post them on the AFAP Forum, or contact your AIC representatives via the details below.
SSM7 Work Rule Changes
Virgin has advised that any work rule changes requiring both system and CASA approval are able to be accommodated within systems and now sit with CASA for approval. These changes, which include the Back of Clock and Charter work rules are expected to be implemented around the middle of this year.
SBY18 and Full Standby Rosters
SBY18 is available from a systems standpoint now and is awaiting on Flight Operations processes around opting in to be finalised and communicated to the AIC and pilots.
Virgin raised with the AIC that opt-in for SBY18 was not practical roster to roster and had instead suggested pilots opt-in for the remainder of the EA24 (with a single opportunity to opt-out).
From our point of view this was not acceptable as pilots’ circumstances and bidding preferences change over time. We proposed a 6 Roster Period opt-in period which would provide flexibility for pilots and sufficient certainty for Virgin.
We are awaiting Virgin’s response, but based on discussions to this point the compromise will likely be a fixed opt-in date each year for 13 Roster Periods (12 months).
The system changes for full standby rosters (as well as opt-in process for 1000 hours in 365 days) have not yet been made within the PBS. These changes will allow pilots to bid for full standby rosters and to be optimised at the same time as composite standby rosters.
We expect an update on this progress at the May AIC meeting.
Fatigue Removals & Fatigue Review Committee (FRC)
In February Virgin advised that RP1 had seen 39 fatigue removals with 17 of those reviewed by the FRC, of those 6 were deemed as personal removals.
The AFAP FSAG reps have reviewed examples of reports assessed by the FRC and were generally satisfied with the judgement applied. However, they noted that Virgin has so far taken a fairly lenient approach in cases where reports lacked detailed. Moving forward, pilots should expect the company to classify fatigue as personal if operationally fatiguing factors are not clearly identified–for example, reports that simply state “fatigued” without further explanation we expect will be inadequate.
When a pilot removes fatigued and this impacts the following days duty, both days are daily credit protected for an operational removal. When a removal is reverted to personal fatigue through the FRC process, the daily credit protection is also removed however Virgin has agreed with the AFAP position that the Roster Credit Protection should remain unchanged and not be reduced under clause 36 for any disrupted duties on subsequent days.
Crew Sign Off (Check Out)
Virgin has advised that a small number of crew are not signing off from duty as required under Work Rules clause 18.3. This has led to situations where pilots with standby the following day have not acknowledged assigned duties that were visible in the roster system prior to sign off, and have subsequently been uncontactable.
While it’s important to note that a pilot cannot be required to accept a duty advised during their rest period, if the duty was assigned and visible prior to sign off, the requirement is that pilots acknowledge that duty at sign off.
Virgin’s position is that where a crew member fails to sign off and is uncontactable for an assigned duty the following day, they may be marked as non-contactable without pay. While this outcome is unfortunate, this approach is compliant with the EA.
To avoid issues, we strongly encourage all crew to ensure they sign off duty in accordance with clause 18.3 and check for any rostered duties visible at that time, particularly when on standby the next day.
Perth Base PDO and Available Leave
The AFAP has requested Virgin undertake a review of the Perth base PDO and ad-hoc annual leave availability now that the base has grown substantially in size. Virgin has agreed to undertake a review however to date this has not occurred. Whilst we cannot force Virgin to increase the availability in line with other bases, the last review took place in October 2024.
Melbourne PBS Satisfactions
RP4 saw a significant increase to the published roster satisfaction scores in Melbourne. Virgin advised they believed this was due to the large reduction in the volume of training occurring along with the peak roster containing 11 DDO minimum. There has also been a slight reduction in the number of crew requiring 15 hours home base rest.
For the PBS to function at its optimum, it relies on adequate pilot resourcing and minimal pre-assignments. This has been evident in RP4, where block hours have been well resourced from both a headcount point of view as well as days available to roster (due to 11 DDO RP) coinciding with reduced training demands and minimal pre-assignments. As a result, many pilots experienced improved bid satisfaction.
The AFAP has asked for further data on how pilots are bidding, for example DDOs on weekends. Once we receive RP5 data we will be in a position to make further analysis and data requests on whether RP4 was an anomaly in bid result outcomes.
URTI Leave Requiring a Certificate
Virgin has advised that they will be amending the personal leave policy, for any URTI leave that requires a certificate, to require that medical certificates for URTI leave state the reason ‘URTI’. Certificates are only required for periods of URTI leave for periods of leave in excess of 2 days in a row.
The AFAP advice is that this is a reasonable request given that the leave entitlement being taken is specifically for URTI.
Do Not Call Register
The AFAP has again raised the issue of cold calls occurring at early hours of the morning. Virgin has advised that nothing within their systems would support a do not call register, however the order of callout is being followed prior to resorting to cold calling. Within other airlines that the AFAP represents we have been successful in implementing do not call registers and will be advising Virgin further on how this functions to assist in their analysis of the viability of a do not call register.
At this point in time pilots are advised to continue to use do not disturb functions within smart phones where they can allow family members to break through but not crewing.
Overpayments
Virgin advised that through their process of making payroll script changes they identified overpayments being made from RP11 2024 onwards. Clause 27 of the EA addresses overpayments and Virgin will need to contact any impacted pilots to discuss any relevant personal circumstances in recovering any overpayment made.
Offline Days
When a pilot swaps an Offline Day with a DDO, Virgin has identified that the credit script was maintaining the Offline Day credit of 2.39 hours on the day where the Offline Day was moved from, as well as applying it in the new location. Effectively, the script was treating the Offline Day in a similar manner to annual leave. As a result, an overpayment may have occurred when a pilot is above the CHT for the roster period. Virgin advised this will take some time to identify those impacted.
Perth Late Sign Off
Virgin has identified a problem within the payroll script relating to sign off prior to DDOs within the Perth base. The script has erroneously been using Brisbane local time for the assessment of sign off after midnight infringing into DDOs. As a result, signing off after 2200 local time in Perth has had some pilots paid drafts for infringing a DDO in error.
V-Learn/Pelesys Volume
During EA negotiations the AFAP made claim to increase the 0.75 credits applied per roster period for V-Learns as a claim on the increasing time spent completing these. Whilst we were unsuccessful in achieving this the Company made a commitment to review and provide completion times for all V-Learn and Pelesys training.
To this date, Virgin has only provided inaccurate lists of courses and the AFAP continues to pursue Virgin for this data.
Removal of Age Restriction on Bali
The AFAP has provided Virgin with the details of how other operators crew Bali flying with no age restrictions. Virgin advised that they have written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (Indonesia) to request a similar relief on the age restriction.
We will update pilots as further information is provided.
Questions
Should you have any questions regarding the above, please feel free to contact your AFAP AIC representatives directly, or AFAP legal industrial team of Senior Legal/ Industrial Officer Patrick Larkins (
patrick@afap.org.au) or AFAP Senior Legal/ Industrial Officer Deanna Cain (
deanna@afap.org.au) at the AFAP dedicated AIC email address
virginaic@afap.org.au, or alternatively by posting on the VPF Forum (
https://afapvpf.discussioncommunity.com/) or by calling the AFAP office on (03) 9928 5737.
AFAP AIC Representatives
First Officer Steve Hungerford – Chair
Captain Brad Wilson – Vice-Chair
Captain Mark Bannister – HOTAC