ASOCIAȚIA PROFESIONALĂ ”FLIGHT PERSONNEL UNION” - Uniunea Personalului Navigant de Zbor

EU Legislative Interests

The association closely monitors EU legislation and policy developments related to the working conditions, safety, health, and employment rights of aircrew, including pilots and cabin crew. This includes regulations on working time, mobility, fatigue management, aviation safety, occupational health, and the social dimension of aviation market liberalisation. Council Directive 2000/79/EC Concerning the European Agreement on the Organisation of Working Time of Mobile Workers in Civil Aviation. Commission Regulation (EU) No 83/2014 Lays down detailed rules on flight and duty time limitations and rest requirements for aircrew. Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 On common rules for the operation of air services in the Community – with relevance to employment and mobility of aircrew, access to the market, and licensing. Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 (Basic Regulation) Establishes EASA's role and powers; includes essential requirements for aircrew, safety, training, and working conditions. Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 Lays down technical requirements and administrative procedures for air operations, including provisions related to crew responsibilities, fatigue, and safety. Directive 89/391/EEC (Framework Directive on Health and Safety at Work) Applies to all workers, including mobile workers; establishes the fundamental principles for occupational safety and health. Directive 2003/88/EC (Working Time Directive) Although partially adapted for mobile workers, still relevant for overall working time standards and legal debates. EU Labour Mobility and Cross-Border Employment Policies Relevant for cabin crew and pilots working under contracts in multiple jurisdictions, including issues related to social security, taxation, and recognition of qualifications. EU Green Deal and Sustainable Mobility Strategy Includes future legislative developments potentially impacting aircrew via decarbonisation efforts, flight efficiency rules, or restructuring of short-haul services.

Communication Activities

The association engages in regular communication and awareness-raising activities aimed at promoting and defending the interests of aircrew in relation to EU legislation on working conditions, health and safety, and labour mobility. These include: Direct communication with EU officials and institutions: Dialogue initiated with the EU Transport Commissioner Ongoing communication with Romanian Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on legislative issues affecting aviation workers, including Regulation 1008/2008, working time, and social rights. Digital outreach and content publication: Official website: https://fpu-romania.dk/news-from-fpu-romania/ – regularly updated with news, analysis, and policy commentary related to EU aviation developments. Active presence on social media platforms: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), WhatsApp Channel – used to communicate with members, raise public awareness, and promote union campaigns relevant to EU aviation policy. Participation in European-level platforms and stakeholder events: Regular participation in events, working groups, and congresses organised by ECA (European Cockpit Association), ETF (European Transport Workers' Federation), EASA, ERA (European Regions Airline Association), and FPU Denmark. Attendance and contributions to consultations, webinars, and conferences on EU social and transport policy. Organisation of key events: The Register organised the first aviation-focused conference in Romania addressing social dumping, fair mobility, and aircrew representation in the EU context. Continued coordination of roundtables and workshops involving national and European-level stakeholders. Affiliations and strategic partnerships: The association is a member of ECA and maintains close cooperation with ETF, FPU (Denmark), and other European aviation unions and professional bodies to contribute to EU-level policy debates and joint campaigns. Policy monitoring and advocacy support: Development of position papers, press releases, and policy briefs on topics such as fatigue risk, labour contracts, cross-border employment, and the need for social regulation enforcement in aviation.

Interests Represented

Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members

Member Of

The association is a member of or affiliated with the following national, European, and international organisations relevant to the representation of aircrew and the development of aviation policy: Flight Personnel Union (FPU) Flyvebranchens Personale Union Website: https://flyvebranchen.dk The association is part of the Flight Personnel Union, which operates in Denmark and represents aircrew across several airlines and sectors. The Aviation and Railway Industry Organization (BLJ) Brancheorganisationen for Luftfart og Jernbane Website: https://brancheorganisationen.dk FPU is a constituent member of BLJ, a Danish confederation representing professionals in the aviation and railway sectors. European Cockpit Association (ECA) Website: https://www.eurocockpit.eu/our-members-benefits The association has been affiliated with ECA since 2023. ECA is the representative body of European professional pilots at EU level. European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) (in process of affiliation) Website: https://www.etf-europe.org The association is in the process of becoming affiliated with ETF, which represents transport workers across Europe, including aviation workers. International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) (in process of affiliation) Website: https://www.itfglobal.org The association is in the process of formal affiliation with ITF, the global federation of transport trade unions, of which ETF is the European regional organisation. Romanian Standardisation Association (ASRO) Asociația de Standardizare din România Website: https://www.asro.ro The association is a member of ASRO and has collaborated on an international campaign to develop a technical standard (based on a report) on cabin air quality and fume events in aviation. This has been adopted as a Romanian national standard.

Organisation Members

Asociația Profesională FLIGHT PERSONNEL UNION – UNIUNEA PERSONALULUI NAVIGANT DE ZBOR (CIF RO44999901) was founded in 2020, this is a professional association operating at the national level in Romania. The association represents individual professional members, primarily pilots and cabin crew working in commercial aviation. Due to the sensitive nature of labour relations and worker protection, the association operates in strict confidentiality with regard to individual member identities and does not disclose names unless legally required. Members are currently employed across various airlines, including but not limited to: Wizz Air, Malta Air, Tarom, Animawings, FlyLili, Legend Airlines, HiSky, HelloJets, Jet2, Marabu Airlines, SmartLynx, and other carriers operating in Romania and across Europe under different contractual schemes (direct employment, agency contracts, or cross-border operations). In addition to individual members, the association includes one organisational member, as outlined below: The trade union: FLIGHT PERSONNEL UNION ROMANIA (FPU Romania) (CIF 33668643) Established in 2014 under the original name Sindicatul Aerolimit Professional, this is an officially registered Romanian trade union representing pilots and cabin crew. It is currently a member of ASOCIAȚIA FLIGHT PERSONNEL UNION – UNIUNEA PERSONALULUI NAVIGANT DE ZBOR (CIF RO44999901) and works closely with the association on matters of policy, representation, and advocacy. FPU Romania also acts as the official representative body for Malta Air employees in Romania, with the trade union FPU Romania having concluded the first collective labour agreement (CLA) in Romania’s private aviation sector.

Additional Information

FPU Romania project is supported by https://flyvebranchen.dk/ Through our close cooperation with Flyvebranchen Personale Union (FPU), we want to stop social dumping and redefine social dialogue in Eastern Europe. The association is primarily funded through membership fees paid by individual members. Additional operational and organisational support is provided through a partnership with Flight Personnel Union (FPU) Denmark, which contributes to the sustainability of core activities. Certain events and conferences, particularly those related to EU aviation policy and aircrew representation, are organised in collaboration with and supported by the European Cockpit Association (ECA). No commercial funding or income from lobbying services is received.