We are really happy to be able to share some news about a case that FPU has been working on for a long time.

As described in a previous membership email, FPU has during the corona crisis aimed to get financial help for all you pilots who have lost your jobs since March. Last month, we finally managed to get the Danish government to set aside 20 million Danish crowns for certificate renewal for you. Since then, FPU has had several political meetings to speak your case and provide input and knowledge regarding the implementation of the agreement so as many of FPU’s members as possible can benefit from the funds.

Now the content of the agreement is finally published, and we are very pleased to announce that commercial pilots residing in Denmark, who have lost their jobs in the aviation industry after 11 March 2020 will be able to apply for funds to cover the certificate renewal.

We know, of course, that some of you FPU members do not reside in Denmark. You will also be included. Cross-border commuters who have had their most recent employment as a pilot in a company with a Danish CVR number and who have lost their jobs in the aviation industry after 11 March 2020 are also part of the agreement.

In addition, newly trained pilots will also be able to apply for the funds if they have completed their training between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Each pilot can apply for support of up to DKK 15,000. This amount can be used to cover certificate renewal, potential travel costs and medical.

In FPU, we have worked hard to make the authorities aware that many of you members have been out of work and have had to renew your certificate using your own funds this year. Fortunately, the authorities have listened to FPU so if you have renewed your certificate after your notice of termination expired, you will be able to apply for the funds retroactively. Even if you have found employment outside the aviation industry.

FPU will administrate the funds, and we expect that it will be possible to apply for the money in early 2021, but all relevant information will of course be announced here on the membership email so you will be completely updated.

We would like to thank the FPU members who have helped us in this process – both in appearing in the media, sharing your stories and providing professional and technical input, which we have taken to the authorities. It has really made a difference.

We hope that as many of you as possible can benefit from these funds. It has been a difficult year in aviation, and you deserve to be seen and supported. Hopefully, the funds mean that we can get one step closer to getting you flying again and so that good jobs covered by collective agreements will continue to be the norm in Denmark.

What should you do now?

Pilots who meet the criteria cannot yet do anything actively to apply for the funds. It is expected that the pool will not open for applications until the end of January, and FPU will communicate it clearly when you need to do something actively.

As soon as we have knowledge of when the applications should be submitted and what elements a successful application should consist of, we will share it. We encourage you to keep an eye on the membership email, and you can also follow us on our Facebook page and read news at www.flyvebranchen.dk and www.luftfart.nu, so you are completely updated.

We know that you probably have a lot of questions and you are welcome to contact us. We will do what we can to respond.