26/06/2025
This month of June has been particularly busy for the BeCA team, as several critical issues have required our attention.
Federal Minister Jan Jambon Meeting: Pilot Pension Challenges in Belgium:
We met with Federal Minister Jan Jambon to discuss the complex situation surrounding pilot pensions in Belgium. There is a fundamental contradiction between the new Belgian pension legislation and EASA FCL.065, letter (b), Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 (in application of Regulation (EU) No 216/2008, PBL dated 25/11/2011, pp. 1–193).
Key points of discussion:
1. Forced unemployment at age 65: Pilots must stop working at 65, even though the legal retirement age is set to increase to 67 by 2030. This could mean being unemployed for up to two years.
2. As pilots are highly skilled professionals, retraining at age 65 for a period of one or two years is neither realistic nor financially viable—for the individuals nor the airlines.
3. BeCA’s request was clear: Align the retirement age for pilots with EASA FCL.065, which sets a clear and functional age limit for flight crew.
4. The Minister’s response was that the transitional measures introduced in 2012 still apply and are currently a solution for many pilots. For those who worked in Belgium before 2012, their qualifying years count 1.5 times. But BeCA’s concern is that several pilot cases are not covered by the transitional measures, and this number is expected to grow in the coming years.
5. Therefore, we are launching a call for action: The Minister has requested concrete examples. We urgently need feedback from affected pilots—both members and non-members. If you’re concerned by this issue, or you know someone, please contact BeCA directly at [email protected].
6. BeCA launched a petition to back our negotiations with the minister: Our petition received 815 Belgian signatures and 930 in total.
ECA Statement on Conflict Zones
1. Tel Aviv / Middle East: EASA currently allows airlines to assess the risks and make their own decisions (go/no-go). BeCA and ECA have already engaged with EASA and DG MOVE on this matter.
2. A Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) has been issued and remains valid until further notice (UFN).
3.Some airlines require their pilots to fly into these zones, raising several issues:
• Disrespect the Captain’s authority and crew’s risk assessment.
• Crews are poorly informed and placed in uncomfortable situations, while other airlines choosing to avoid these areas face unfair competition.
4. ECA’s Position: Risk assessments must not be left solely to individual operators. In Belgium, flying into conflict zones is still on a voluntary basis, except for operators like RYR and DHL (opt-out system). Please read the ECA statement here: https://beca.be/eca-statement-on-geopolitical-conflict-flight-safety-risks/
Air India 171 Incident – Deepfake Reports
Deepfake “accident reports” regarding Air India 171 have been circulating on WhatsApp and other platforms. We would like to post a reminder about how investigation reports work:
• The Preliminary reports are typically released within 1 month.
• The Final report may take up to 2 years, especially when wreckage reconstruction is required.
The investigation involves official authorities, including aircraft and engine manufacturers, FAA, EASA, and India’s national investigation bureau. In Belgium, the authority is AAIU.
While the desire to know what happened—especially if it involves an aircraft type you fly—is understandable, speculation and misinformation are counterproductive. If you share any information about such incidents with colleagues, please verify your sources carefully.
If you have any questions, concerns, or input, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Stay safe and fly safe,
The BeCA Team
This conference demands that the risks to civil aviation arising from geopolitical conflicts
