Number of Years Flying 35
Current Status/Employer Onshore single-pilot heli, ATPL(H), Bond Air Services
Option Selected Former member - Cancelled out of touch / not effective
Supporting Reason for Selection Joined BALPA prior to leaving the RAF on the strong recommendation of a colleague who had his career/sanity saved by BALPA's legal team after a (downright malicious) CAA prosecution for illegal low flying was virtually laughed out of court. Encouraged by the ability of BALPA and my first civvie employer to work together to produce terms of service which became pretty much the onshore industry's Best Practice norm.
Lost faith when our CC approached BALPA with a request for assistance with the "age 60" rule for single-pilot ops. After a long period with a noticeable lack of response, the CC received a typo-laden short message which showed BALPA's lack of real knowledge of the police/air ambulance/lighthouse support industry. Equalled only by the lack of any real interest.
Did some homework, realised that the onshore heli pilot workforce element of BALPA only comprised probably <1% of the membership and was therefore unlikely to make any headway against the Nigels. Further homework revealed that equivalent legal cover is available elsewhere, so left - giving reasons. Never did hear back from them, even after I wrote a follow-up email a year later to see if their policies regarding onshore heli pilots had changed.