Arbitration Update – Final Submissions Filed
As of today (Friday 23 May) all parties involved in the Workplace Determination process have now lodged their final materials with the Fair Work Commission. This includes detailed submissions from the
Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP), AIPA,
TWU and the applicant
Network Aviation.
The AFAP’s final submission includes updated analysis, following the Full Federal Court's recent ruling (relating to Corporate Air Charter) which confirmed that reserve and standby must be treated as duty under the Air Pilots Award. The AFAP supports the principle that reserve is duty and should be reflected in Better Off Overall Test (BOOT) assessments.
Our submission shows that the company’s proposed Workplace Determination does not meet this standard. We have used real pilot rosters, verified duty patterns, and operational data to demonstrate where the company’s model under-represents the work performed by pilots — particularly those with high-reserve combined with high flight duty rosters.
It’s disappointing — though perhaps not surprising — that the company's submission continues to show a disconnect between Network Aviation's leadership and the operational realities faced by its pilots.
It’s also worth noting that while the Commission asked all parties to explain how their proposals meet the BOOT, the company has gone further — asking the Commission to override an agreed clause and make airport standby mandatory for all reserve pilots. This would remove an opt-in protection that was explicitly negotiated, without any additional compensation. The AFAP strongly opposes this.
While the company has suggested that further scrutiny may delay the process, it was Network Aviation that initially sought an extension for its submission — first requesting to delay until 15 May. The Commission later directed that materials be filed by 6 May. The AFAP met all deadlines and made every submission professionally and on time.
The Commission now has all material ahead of the scheduled hearing on 23 June 2025. We are confident in the strength of our submission and welcome the opportunity for these matters to be fully tested, as the Commission has requested.
We trust all parties will now allow the process to conclude without further disruption — and that a final, fair determination can be made. We are now in the final phase, and the AFAP Network Aviation Pilot Council stands ready to see this through.
We also remind you to please take ten minutes to complete the:
2025 Membership Survey
Results from this survey will help the AFAP determine the issues that are most important to you, which services could be improved and how we can better communicate with the wider membership. Responses will be aggregated and remain completely anonymous and confidential.
Thanks again for your continued support and patience.
AFAP Network Aviation Pilot Council
Stephen Maughan:
smaughan@iinet.net.au
Ben Walmsley:
ben.walms@gmail.com
Joshua Sheldon:
Josh.b.sheldon@gmail.com
Sasha Leavy:
sasha_leavy@hotmail.com
Matt Atkinson:
matkinson209@gmail.com
Eman Zimmerman:
mano01@hotmail.com
Mark Levitt:
ml.network.pilotcouncil@outlook.com
Geoffrey Aro:
flyingaro@gmail.com