Vereinigung Cockpit

Vereinigung Cockpit e.V. (VC) is the professional association of cockpit crew in Germany, representing around 10,000 pilots from all German flight operations, including those still in training. Founded in 1969 as a professional body for pilots, flight engineers and navigators, it represents its members' professional, policy and collective bargaining interests towards airlines, authorities, lawmakers and the public, and its stated purposes are to contribute to the wellbeing of civil aviation, above all by promoting and raising air safety, to protect and pursue members' professional and pay interests, and to support and assist members.

History

• Set up in 1969 under first president Hans-Dieter Gades; founding members made contact with international colleagues at the IFALPA conference that same year and organised an international symposium two years later
• Collective bargaining for pilots initially sat with the ÖTV union; a 1970 agreement separated pay matters from professional policy, but it was dissolved again in 1972 as differences grew
• Since its founding the VC has worked to improve flight safety by improving pilots' working conditions, advancing their qualifications and encouraging cooperation across the aviation industry

Structure and activities

• The members' assembly is the highest body; it elects the board, which is chosen every four years and consists of the president, vice president and at least five further board members for administration and finance, public relations, international relations, flight safety, personnel and membership, with an advisory council representing the membership towards the board
• Expert working groups cover the different aspects of flight safety, identifying weak points and publishing policies and position papers, and the association acts as the pilots' union in collective bargaining with German airlines
• VC Support offers pilots medical advice after fume events, an emergency telephone after operational incidents, peer support and psychological help
• Its newsroom publishes press statements, the VC Info magazine with interviews and member surveys, and a 2026 series marking 100 years of Lufthansa

Leadership

The association is headed by president Dr Andreas Pinheiro; in 2026 Oliver Löwe succeeded Katharina Dieseldorff as vice president. Images on its website come from Adobe Stock, and it offers a careers page, membership applications and a members' intranet.

Shows

Vereinigung Cockpit appears in the exhibitor lists of AERO Friedrichshafen 2027 and Pilot Expo 2027.

Contact

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