Pilots

EASA last week published a proposal to the European Commission calling for "harmonized regulation" of flight crew licensing among all EU member states. "This new regulation will ensure that the same pilot licensing requirements and related high safety levels apply in all member states," it said. The EC is expected to implement a new pilot licensing standard by April 2012, EASA said. 

Air Transat pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Assn. appointed a "conciliation commissioner" to oversee ongoing negotiations with the Canadian carrier. A 60-day conciliation period is set to expire Sept. 10 unless both parties agree to an extension. "Following conciliation is a 21-day cooling-off period that will end Oct. 1, setting a potential strike date of Oct. 2," ALPA said.

Australian Airline Pilot Academy, a subsidiary of Regional Express Holdings, signed a 3-yr. agreement with Jeppesen to provide pilot training services to Jeppesen clients.

Air Astana announced that its first group of eight pilots receiving ab initio training graduated following completion of a 2-yr. program at the Florida Institute of Technology's Pilot Training Center. The pilots will now proceed with crew resource management and A320 type rating training before being confirmed as first officers.