New Aircrew Act in Brazil (originally published on SNA’s website in Portuguese)

September 1, 2017

The National Aircrew Union (SNA) is pleased to announce to the profession and to society as a whole that the Presidential Approval of Act 13.574/2017, the New Aircrew Act, was published in the Brazilian Official Gazette (DOU) on Tuesday 29th August 2017 without a veto of any kind. Thus, the act comes into force in 90 days’ time, on 27th November.

The new act, the result of more than six years’ work at Congress [Brazilian parliament], will modernise the working relations of pilots and flight attendants, whose regulations had not changed for more than 30 years. Mainly, however, it will guarantee greater flight safety for everyone.

Among various issues addressed in the legislation, one of the most important is the establishment of the human fatigue risk management system – which is already implemented in the most advanced countries. As a result, pilots and flight attendants will be able to enjoy better working conditions and will therefore be able to ensure safer flights for everyone.

In addition, the increase in the number of days off per month, again in line with practices already applied in the world’s leading aviation markets, is another factor improving the lives of crew members and simultaneously bringing great benefits to society as it correlates directly to flight safety.

Another highly beneficial aspect of the new act is its protection against the outsourcing of the work of air crew.

“This is an act that will benefit not only pilots and flight attendants, but also society as a whole, as it is based on principles that protect flight safety. We are bringing Brazilian legislation into line with legislation applied in the most advanced countries in the world, thereby raising our aviation to a new level”, said the SNA President, Rodrigo Spader.

The SNA, alongside the Abrapac, Asagol and ATT unions, as well as numerous crew members, has worked tirelessly over the past six years to get this legislation passed.

“It was an endeavour that involved years of work at Congress, working with parliamentarians to produce good policy and convincing MPs and Senators of the points of our case on technical grounds. It is a victory achieved thanks to a great effort by the profession and for that all those involved deserve our congratulations”, said the SNA Director Tiago Rosa.

Once again, the union would like to thank those pilots who travelled to Brasilia on numerous occasions and all those who lent their support throughout the process, always demonstrating the strength of the profession and making clear the need for change. Without the participation of each of them, this triumph would not have been possible.

Entry into force

According to a particular legislative provision of the draft New Aircrew Act, the law will come into force 90 days after its publication, except for articles 31, 32, 33, 35, 36 and 37, which come into effect after a period of 30 months from publication date —articles relating to the daily limits on flights and landings, monthly and annual limits on flying hours and limits on the working day.

Thus, the act comes into force on 27th November 2017, with the exception of the articles mentioned above.

Click here to read the full text of the act: https://goo.gl/tzF5h3

History

The draft New Aircrew Act is of exceptional importance to society in order to address not only the professional regulation of pilots and flight attendants, but also the issue of flight safety.

Processing of the draft by the Brazilian parliament began in 2011. It was initially put to the vote in two stages at the Senate’s Social Affairs Committee (SAC) and then at three other committees of the Chamber of Deputies: Traffic and Transport (TTC); Labour, Administration and Public Service (LAPSC); and Constitution and Justice (CJC).

It was referred back to the Senate SAC, where it was approved once more before being brought before a plenary session of the Senate, the final legislative phase, completed last Wednesday.

The proposal specifies the duties of aviation professionals and amends the regulations governing days off, limits on daily working hours and early morning flights, among other issues.

It also establishes rules for intelligent work rotas, improved productivity and, most importantly, the introduction of the human fatigue control system already in use in developed countries, which ensures better operational safety.

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You can read the original story from here: https://goo.gl/x11u1y

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