Assertions of Increased Call-Outs, Maintenance Cancellations Heat Up Battle

The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots continues its public brawl with their employer, firing back after the company alleged that pilots were engaging in higher rates of fatigued call-offs.

The union represents 3,200 pilots in the firm's service. The NJASAP response said that the company "did not provide any evidence to substantiate its extraordinary allegations". NetJets execs apparently believe that pilots are finding any excuse possible to stop flights, from calling in sick or fatigued or finding more faults than usual with aircraft before dispatch. The latter is especially chafing to the union, given the vital nature of the brand's competence as a safe or functional carrier in the public eye.

NJASAP vice president Paulette Gilbert said that threats about the frequency of pilots reporting maintenance issues on the aircraft they fly "represents a grave threat to the safety culture at NetJets – the very safety culture that aircraft owners, passengers and flight crewmembers depend upon for their lives every day."

"At a time when aircraft safety is receiving heightened scrutiny – and deservedly so – it is outrageous that NetJets would question its pilots' dedication to prioritizing safety and their informed decisions when it comes to documenting identified aircraft maintenance issues or determining they are too tired to safely fly an aircraft," NJASAP President Captain Pedro Leroux said. "NJASAP pilots have a long and established history of ensuring that safety is the number one priority as they provide private air travel to owners flying with the luxury carrier."

NJASAP says the apparent maintenance increase is just the natural result of "the company's own inability to overcome sustained challenges that have negatively impacted its maintenance infrastructure."

 "For almost two years – and well before the start of midterm bargaining – the NetJets COO has lamented to pilots attending recurrent training the hardships posed by increasing maintenance issues and the time-consuming process of addressing them since the COVID-19 pandemic," Leroux explained. As 2024 begins, the blame for those continuing challenges has found a new source: the NetJets pilot group. "My members and I will not be used as scapegoats because NetJets is unable to solve long-standing maintenance issues," Leroux said.

FMI: www.njasap.com