Union: Flight Options Fired Pilots for Traffic Violations

The Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 1108, which represents pilots for fractional provider Flight Options, said this week that some pilots were fired for their inability to receive Canpass authorization. According to the union, Flight Options management recently fired or otherwise forced out approximately six pilots over what it said amounted to simple traffic violations. Canpass eligibility, which allows a foreign aircraft to enter Canada with fewer restrictions if the crew and passengers are pre-qualified, “is required of our pilots in order to provide the highest level of service and efficiency to our customers,” a Flight Options spokesman told AIN. In addition, the union told AIN it offered management a simple workaround that would have allowed the fractional provider to offer the same level of service, but was turned down. According to the union, management instituted the requirement as a form of leverage, as the two sides are engaged in a contract negotiation. Flight Options declined to comment on the alleged firings or the contract negotiations.