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New Flybe pilots ‘face tight confidentiality rules’

Pilots being recruited to the reborn Flybe reportedly face “unusually aggressive” confidentiality rules.

The regional carrier wants to prevent them from sharing information about working conditions with external parties, ahead of services restarting from Birmingham airport this spring.

They claim the restrictions are tighter than is normal for an airline, the Telegraph reported, citing industry sources.

Martin Chalk, general secretary of the pilots union Balpa, said: “Pilots are key safety professionals who spend their entire careers seeking to turn the complex process of flying passengers, freight and mail to their destinations safely and efficiently.

“Over decades, by sharing information and collaborating with other aviation system professionals, pilots have contributed to the creation of the safest form of travel ever.

“Any airline who offers such restrictions as part of the employment of professional pilots has clearly failed to understand this, and will not go far in our industry.”

Flybe, which aims to create 200 direct jobs, declined to comment to the newspaper.

A Flybe recruitment advert for a non-flying role at its Birmingham airport base said: “We’re on a journey as a new company taking the much-loved Flybe brand into a new era. Putting our customers and colleagues at the heart of everything we do, our motto is ‘smile and go the extra mile’..

“We are in the business of serving the demand for faster and easier connections in a friendly, responsible, and sustainable way.

“Our talented colleagues are the key to our success and future ambitions, come and join our super hardworking and friendly team.”

The airline was acquired by Thyme Opco, renamed Flybe Limited, after collapsing in March 2020 as the pandemic hit.

It took delivery of the first of a planned fleet of 32 Dash 8 turboprop aircraft in November.

MoreFlybe to be resurrected from Birmingham airport

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