Alliance NewsMay 14, 2025

OCCC Members Meet in Washington to Advance Pilot Safety Agenda

OCCC delegates gathered in Washington, D.C. on May 13–14, 2025 for the coalition’s biannual summit, hosted by the Allied Pilots Association at the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations.

Written by First Officer Rick Brown

The Oneworld Cockpit Crew Coalition convened its biannual 2025 summit in Washington, D.C. on May 13 and 14. Hosted by the Allied Pilots Association at the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA), the meeting brought together delegates from across the OCCC member network.

Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA).

The summit provided a face-to-face forum for member associations to coordinate on the safety, professional, and industrial issues that affect pilots throughout the Oneworld alliance.

Working discussions focused on the exchange of safety information, industrial relations, and cross-border representation. Delegates shared perspectives from their respective operating environments and identified areas where coordinated advocacy can strengthen the pilot voice.

A central purpose of the coalition is to help member associations learn from one another while preserving the local expertise that informs each group’s work. The Washington meeting supported that mission through practical discussion, relationship-building, and a shared view of the profession’s long-term priorities.

The gathering also reinforced OCCC’s commitment to high professional standards and to flight deck operations that protect the safety of crews and passengers. Member representatives continue to work together on issues that require a unified, international response.

The coalition will carry the work of the Washington summit into its next meetings and ongoing engagement with aviation stakeholders, regulators, and partner pilot organizations.

AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1 began with updates from the Allied Pilots Association and the OCCC Secretariat, including improved digital collaboration tools, budgetary considerations, and critical updates on threats such as Reduced Crew Operations (RCO) and the European Cockpit Association's (ECA) position on flight deck staffing.

A standout moment of the summit was the guest speaker panel on social and medical sustainability in aviation, featuring:

Professor Geraint Harvey (Western University), who provided research-based insight into how employment models and labor structures are shaping the airline industry.

Portrait of Professor Geraint Harvey — Professor Geraint Harvey

Captain Rondeau Flynn (American Airlines), who shared vital updates on cabin air quality, mental health policy, and his work with the FAA's Mental Health ARC and GCAQE.

Captain Rondeau Flynn wearing his pilot uniform — Captain Rondeau Flynn

Dr. Stuart Levine (UCLA/Stanford) explored pilot wellness from a population health perspective, identifying systemic medical risks in the context of automation and RCO proposals.

Portrait of Stuart Levine, MD, MHA — Stuart Levine, MD, MHA

Following a working lunch, member associations shared lessons from recent negotiations, communications strategies, and experiences with flag-of-convenience operations, wet leases, atypical employment models, and cross-border labor challenges. President Nick Silva of the Allied Pilots Association presented on Representative Structure and AA Earnings Financial Analysis:

Day 1 concluded with the OCCC Benchmarking Report Review and a group photo, followed by a team dinner at the historic Monocle Restaurant.

Day 2 resumed with industrial reports from additional member associations, including:

The Japan Airlines Flight Crew Union (JFU)

Sepla, representing Spanish pilots

The Airline Pilots' Guild of Sri Lanka

IALPA of Ireland

The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA)

These updates underscored shared global concerns, especially around eMCO/RCO, cabotage threats, atypical labor models, and occupational health.

The coalition also heard from SkyTeam Pilots Association Chair Capt. Sang Song, Star Alliance Pilots Association Capt. Craig Malcolm, and observers like Capt. Nick Bordes, reinforcing inter-alliance cooperation.

Captain Gavin Tade of APA presented additional safety data and operational concerns regarding remote piloting and reduced crew staffing, maintaining focus on the operational risks inherent in current regulatory proposals.

The summit concluded with a final round of information sharing on benchmarking, industrial strategies, labor health initiatives, and planning for the Fall 2025 meeting in Dublin, hosted by IALPA from November 23 to 25, 2025.

Washington, D.C. · May 2025

Inside the summit

A look back at the delegates, officers, and working sessions that shaped the OCCC’s Washington meeting.

OCCC delegates seated around tables during a working session — The OCCC meeting in progress at CAPA in Washington, D.C.

OCCC summit attendees posing with an OCCC coalition banner — Attendees pose with the OCCC banner during the May 2025 summit.

Four incoming OCCC officers standing together after the election — The incoming OCCC officers following their election.

Incoming OCCC officers holding an informal meeting together — The incoming officers hold an impromptu first meeting after being elected.

Three outgoing OCCC officers standing together at the Washington summit — As their final term concluded, outgoing OCCC Chairman Akseli Meskanen, Vice-Chair Kyle Johnson, and Secretary-Treasurer Rick Brown gathered for a final photo at the Washington summit.