By Nancy Jackson, BALPA Communications and External Relations Manager Our Parliamentary Reception gave us a chance to put our views across to the ministers who matter nyone who has seen the hit musical Hamilton will know the political drama focuses often on the importance of being in the room where it happens. The phrase alludes to the importance of access to decision-makers, and of being able to influence those in power. It is a challenge that BALPA recognised even in its very early days. For BALPA to really be able to make a difference to the lives of members, we, too, need to be in the room where it happens, to have strong relationships with politicians, regulators and airline management. Building those relationships is something BALPA has been doing since its creation 85 years ago. We have built a strong reputation as a union and professional association. It means we are able to exert influence and ensure that the voice of UK pilots is being heard by powerful people. Thats why we host our Parliamentary Reception. Its a chance to speak to your MPs about the issues that matter to you and the turnout was impressive. We are the only UK pilot union that can attract high-level politicians, including the aviation minister, as well as your company managers, aviation stakeholders and journalists. The event put decision-makers from across the industry into a room where it happens, and gave us the chance to brief on a range of subjects, including how to build on the initial post Covid-19 recovery, aviation-specific effects of Brexit, diversity in the workforce, and how to ensure the future of aviation is sustainable. Delivering for members The event was opened by our Honorary President, Lord Richard Balfe, who spoke of the importance of BALPA being apolitical, working with whoever is in power to deliver for our members. We work as a union with the government, irrespective of who the governing party is, because our job is to work for pilots in the interest of the industry, said Lord Balfe. Lord Balfe welcomed the aviation minister, Baroness Vere, to the event. Shes a minister with whom BALPA has good connections, as we worked together during her previous stint as aviation minister. Baroness Vere gave a speech reiterating her commitment to UK aviation, welcomed further collaboration with BALPA, and took time to speak to BALPA reps about the challenges the aviation industry faces. I appreciate fully what the sector has been through, over the past few years, and it has been my pleasure to take on the mantle again as aviation minister six months ago to take you now though to recovery, she said. Baroness Vere listened as BALPAs Executive Vice-President, Sam Walkinshaw, gave a speech covering some of the issues we know are vital to UK aviation, and on those where changes by the government could make real, positive changes to the piloting profession. Many of the MPs were keen to hear accounts of what it has been like for the industry navigating the Covid-19 crisis. In her welcoming speech, Walkinshaw gave personal testimony of the impact of the crisis. She spoke about redundancies, furlough and uncertainty, as well as the importance of government support as the industry emerges from the pandemic, to enable it to thrive once more. Personally, I have experienced two redundancies, followed by furlough, which lead to huge job uncertainty, said Walkinshaw. I know our members will be pleased to hear you share BALPAs belief in the importance of UK aviation and your commitment to seeing the UK industry thrive again. Pilots are keen to ensure they are able to do all they can to reduce the industrys impact on the environment Click here to watch highlights of our Parliamentary Reception Navigating the industry Your reps briefed on real-life experiences with company-specific examples. With many company managers in the room, this was a chance to highlight sacrifices pilots have made, examine how the crisis has affected morale, and to look at ways of navigating the industrys return to profitability. Discussions were held about Brexit, with BALPA reps briefing MPs on aviation-specific issues, such as the importance of ensuring imbalances with licences and market access are addressed. Our licensing experts were at the event to explain to MPs the complexities that Brexit has created for our sector that prior to Brexit, pilots and airlines had frictionless borders and streamlined flexibility across Europe. UK airlines had no restrictions on access to Europe and pilot licences were fully agile, giving fantastic business flexibility and employment opportunities. We explained that this agility was lost in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, adding unnecessary operational restrictions and costly bureaucratic barriers. UK airlines also lost significant direct access to the largest aviation market in the world, with imbalanced access granted to the UK market for EU airlines. It was a chance to call for action to level the playing field. Baroness Vere was keen, in her speech, to highlight the importance of improving diversity in the industry. This is something BALPA has campaigned on for some time, and we called for the issue to be taken seriously by government and airlines. We called for a real commitment to identifying and addressing the challenges the industry faces in becoming more diverse. I know just how great this profession can be I love my job, said Walkinshaw. But what do I say when asked by someone considering a career as a pilot? I say expect debt that could take you up to 15 years to pay back before youll be able to apply for a mortgage, expect to have to accommodate your personal life by going part-time, and always, always have a back-up plan. Government, BALPA and the airlines must work together to address those points and, by doing so, make our industry diverse, because sadly, it is not currently a diverse workforce. She added: By improving terms and conditions, and ensuring the right policies are put in place, we could be the first country to achieve an equally represented aviation workforce. But the policy-makers must ensure they properly consult the affected groups when policies are being formed. We welcome any government assistance in achieving this goal. We called for the full cost of pilot training to become eligible for student loans to break unnecessary barriers to entry and address one aspect of the poor diversity of the pilot workforce. Another key focus for government is the challenge of making aviation sustainable, and BALPA highlighted that we recognise the challenge and understand the importance of tackling it. In fact, pilots are keen to ensure they are able to do all they can to reduce the industrys impact on the environment. We highlighted our environmental policies, discussed the importance of investment in green technology and called for the government to implement a large, meaningful research trial into contrail management and apply its results in airline operations. Events such as this are different from regular negotiations with airlines or even regular lobbying. It is a chance to network, to build on relationships and to ensure that BALPA the voice of UK pilots is always in the room where it happens. 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