ALAE Born again in the UK?
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IMHO if true, this is a good thing. The ALAE sets out to protect the standards of the licensing system, engineers and with that the safety of aircraft. The guys involved put a lot of work into it.
I would happily pay my ALAE subs for the above cause and rather than the prospect membership.
The protection and support of licence holders is more important than ever right now with the change in governance
I would happily pay my ALAE subs for the above cause and rather than the prospect membership.
The protection and support of licence holders is more important than ever right now with the change in governance
Well, since disappearing into Prospect virtually nothing has happened - Id gladly move out of Prospect...too big for this shrinking industry. I completely agree about the protection of LAE’s.
Thread Starter
I guess as UK LAE's we have to ask ourselves why did we allow the ALAE to shrink to the size it got to and so force it to have to 'merge' into Prospect? The idea that small Unions 'merge' into the larger ones is not new of course however most of the time it is due to reducing membership numbers that creates the need for these 'mergers' to happen.
Personally I would like to see an Association that simply looks after the interests of the 10,000 or so UK LAE's and the flying public and doesn't get mixed up in anything else.
We, as LAE's are an endangered species again and Industry will always be pushing hard to drive down costs and we need to understand that it's us, and us alone, that will look after our interests.
The flying public don't even want to consider how the aircraft they are flying on has been maintained they just hope and often pray it has been maintained correctly, we are the hidden heroes of safe flying but keep such low profiles that no one talks about us. How many times do you see LAE's on Airport TV shows? We don't exist to most people.
If I hear of anything else I will post it however it's good to talk as they say!
Personally I would like to see an Association that simply looks after the interests of the 10,000 or so UK LAE's and the flying public and doesn't get mixed up in anything else.
We, as LAE's are an endangered species again and Industry will always be pushing hard to drive down costs and we need to understand that it's us, and us alone, that will look after our interests.
The flying public don't even want to consider how the aircraft they are flying on has been maintained they just hope and often pray it has been maintained correctly, we are the hidden heroes of safe flying but keep such low profiles that no one talks about us. How many times do you see LAE's on Airport TV shows? We don't exist to most people.
If I hear of anything else I will post it however it's good to talk as they say!
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I guess as UK LAE's we have to ask ourselves why did we allow the ALAE to shrink to the size it got to and so force it to have to 'merge' into Prospect? The idea that small Unions 'merge' into the larger ones is not new of course however most of the time it is due to reducing membership numbers that creates the need for these 'mergers' to happen.
Personally I would like to see an Association that simply looks after the interests of the 10,000 or so UK LAE's and the flying public and doesn't get mixed up in anything else.
We, as LAE's are an endangered species again and Industry will always be pushing hard to drive down costs and we need to understand that it's us, and us alone, that will look after our interests.
The flying public don't even want to consider how the aircraft they are flying on has been maintained they just hope and often pray it has been maintained correctly, we are the hidden heroes of safe flying but keep such low profiles that no one talks about us. How many times do you see LAE's on Airport TV shows? We don't exist to most people.
If I hear of anything else I will post it however it's good to talk as they say!
Personally I would like to see an Association that simply looks after the interests of the 10,000 or so UK LAE's and the flying public and doesn't get mixed up in anything else.
We, as LAE's are an endangered species again and Industry will always be pushing hard to drive down costs and we need to understand that it's us, and us alone, that will look after our interests.
The flying public don't even want to consider how the aircraft they are flying on has been maintained they just hope and often pray it has been maintained correctly, we are the hidden heroes of safe flying but keep such low profiles that no one talks about us. How many times do you see LAE's on Airport TV shows? We don't exist to most people.
If I hear of anything else I will post it however it's good to talk as they say!
With regard to other shows however, the "problem " is that engineers tend not to be tele visual entertainment, in contrast to some in customer services who are in love with themselves, hence perfect from a television producers perspective.
Another "problem " is, that, over the years engineers have always been reticent to promote themselves, and the range of work / knowledge and responsibility involved to the general public. Anybody who is attracted to engineering, generally speaking, does have an interest in aviation which is a bit more expansive that visiting an air show.
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Join Date: Jul 2005
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The ALAE as it was did a sterling job of maintaining our status in the face of some very strong opposition and gave us a voice quite high up, and I think since it rolled into Prospect the availability of resources to help members increased, but they have let our profile and representation, especially with CAA/EASA be diluted - well I never hear much of it anyway, not even a newsletter covering aircraft engineering aspects and articles as per "Tech Log" did. I would potentially like to see the association as a representative body come about again, but I think one of the problems the ALAE had was getting people like us to step up and take on some of the roles on what I believe was an unpaid/voluntary basis. I seem to remember most of the team was at the higher range of the working age bracket (no offence intended!) and I think it would have to be on a far more full time and paid position to give us the full resources that Prospect provide whilst specialising in the knowledge of what we do and being able to represent us with the regulatory bodies and employers where agreements are in place, so essentially a stand alone Union again with a good sized membership.
It would have been interesting to see if the old ALAE would have made any difference to the current CAA-EASA licensing equivalency mess post Brexit.
It would have been interesting to see if the old ALAE would have made any difference to the current CAA-EASA licensing equivalency mess post Brexit.
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The ALAE as it was did a sterling job of maintaining our status in the face of some very strong opposition and gave us a voice quite high up, and I think since it rolled into Prospect the availability of resources to help members increased, but they have let our profile and representation, especially with CAA/EASA be diluted - well I never hear much of it anyway, not even a newsletter covering aircraft engineering aspects and articles as per "Tech Log" did.
I would potentially like to see the association as a representative body come about again, but I think one of the problems the ALAE had was getting people like us to step up and take on some of the roles on what I believe was an unpaid/voluntary basis.
I think it would have to be on a far more full time and paid position to give us the full resources that Prospect provide whilst specialising in the knowledge of what we do and being able to represent us with the regulatory bodies and employers where agreements are in place, so essentially a stand alone Union again with a good sized membership.
It would have been interesting to see if the old ALAE would have made any difference to the current CAA-EASA licensing equivalency mess post Brexit.
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Well alae2021, it appears you may be a bit more involved in the whatever is going on with a resurrected ALAE. Not being sure of what the intent of a new ALAE would be, I'll answer the questions you put.
1. Cost wise, a website would do the job, but a printed newsletter may provide a new association with a visible presence to members and for those members to put copies in the crew room at work. To get a new membership in numbers, the associations profile will have to be raised quite quickly.
2. Not being sure of what the intent of a new entity would be, Union or Association, I can't answer. I did say Prospect have provided expanded services to members and negotiated workplace agreements in some companies. Are current Licensed Engineers under these agreements happy with the outcome or services provided by Prospect or would they prefer a new Union under an ALAE identity that would be more specialised. Maybe a more inclusive organisation giving full membership to Licensed and Unlicensed Engineers would be attractive also? Personally I'm overseas so not party to any of agreements or any local discussions regarding Prospect satisfaction.
3. Would a new association be formed with the intent of engaging with the CAA and AEI and EASA, even if it was not going to be a workplace representative Union?
I'd be potentially interested in joining a new ALAE, but what would it's purpose be? I think Prospect has let our profile slip and not sure at what level they engage with authorities, certainly they don't keep us informed of any of their activities at this level if they do. The old ALAE was really good at this, so would potentially like to see something like that, whilst I kept my Prospect membership for any workplace or legal issues I may encounter?
1. Cost wise, a website would do the job, but a printed newsletter may provide a new association with a visible presence to members and for those members to put copies in the crew room at work. To get a new membership in numbers, the associations profile will have to be raised quite quickly.
2. Not being sure of what the intent of a new entity would be, Union or Association, I can't answer. I did say Prospect have provided expanded services to members and negotiated workplace agreements in some companies. Are current Licensed Engineers under these agreements happy with the outcome or services provided by Prospect or would they prefer a new Union under an ALAE identity that would be more specialised. Maybe a more inclusive organisation giving full membership to Licensed and Unlicensed Engineers would be attractive also? Personally I'm overseas so not party to any of agreements or any local discussions regarding Prospect satisfaction.
3. Would a new association be formed with the intent of engaging with the CAA and AEI and EASA, even if it was not going to be a workplace representative Union?
I'd be potentially interested in joining a new ALAE, but what would it's purpose be? I think Prospect has let our profile slip and not sure at what level they engage with authorities, certainly they don't keep us informed of any of their activities at this level if they do. The old ALAE was really good at this, so would potentially like to see something like that, whilst I kept my Prospect membership for any workplace or legal issues I may encounter?
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Well alae2021, it appears you may be a bit more involved in the whatever is going on with a resurrected ALAE. Not being sure of what the intent of a new ALAE would be, I'll answer the questions you put.
1. Cost wise, a website would do the job, but a printed newsletter may provide a new association with a visible presence to members and for those members to put copies in the crew room at work. To get a new membership in numbers, the associations profile will have to be raised quite quickly.
2. Not being sure of what the intent of a new entity would be, Union or Association, I can't answer. I did say Prospect have provided expanded services to members and negotiated workplace agreements in some companies. Are current Licensed Engineers under these agreements happy with the outcome or services provided by Prospect or would they prefer a new Union under an ALAE identity that would be more specialised. Maybe a more inclusive organisation giving full membership to Licensed and Unlicensed Engineers would be attractive also? Personally I'm overseas so not party to any of agreements or any local discussions regarding Prospect satisfaction.
3. Would a new association be formed with the intent of engaging with the CAA and AEI and EASA, even if it was not going to be a workplace representative Union?
I'd be potentially interested in joining a new ALAE, but what would it's purpose be? I think Prospect has let our profile slip and not sure at what level they engage with authorities, certainly they don't keep us informed of any of their activities at this level if they do. The old ALAE was really good at this, so would potentially like to see something like that, whilst I kept my Prospect membership for any workplace or legal issues I may encounter?
Any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by alae2021bm5; 27th Feb 2021 at 18:13. Reason: spelling
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Good evening all,
We are now in a position to see if there is interest in an association for licensed engineers -
https://alae2021.co.uk
If you are interested, please take a few minutes to have a look.
We are now in a position to see if there is interest in an association for licensed engineers -
https://alae2021.co.uk
If you are interested, please take a few minutes to have a look.
Thread Starter
Great news now maybe now we can have a common voice to look after the interests of the 15,000 or so UK LAE's like no one else does. I hear it's not a trade union but an association with only the interests of the UK LAE's and safety of the travelling public at heart.
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I was in ALAE for decades and found them useful and very informative as a LAE.
When they were absorbed into Prospect, I felt the aviation related communications were gradually diminished until virtually non-existent, whilst their fees increased greatly.
The only time I contacted Prospect for help & guidance with a compensation claim, I was given conflicting and inaccurate advice.
Despite them saying the claim wasn't valid, I successfully submitted the claim myself, which the courts awarded.
It would be good to have a knowledgeable Association representing LAEs, especially in these challenging times.
When they were absorbed into Prospect, I felt the aviation related communications were gradually diminished until virtually non-existent, whilst their fees increased greatly.
The only time I contacted Prospect for help & guidance with a compensation claim, I was given conflicting and inaccurate advice.
Despite them saying the claim wasn't valid, I successfully submitted the claim myself, which the courts awarded.
It would be good to have a knowledgeable Association representing LAEs, especially in these challenging times.