Background

Professionalism is broadly defined in a number of ways. A major university in the United States defines it as “the conduct, behaviour and attitude of someone in a work or business environment.” Merriam-Webster defines it as the “conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person.” An additional definition is “the following of a profession (such as athletics) for gain or livelihood.”

By that second definition, anyone who makes their living as a pilot, engineer, air traffic controller, dispatcher, flight attendant or ground crew is a professional.

But in aviation, particularly in business aviation, where not all pilots earn their living from flying aircraft, but rather fly aircraft to benefit their businesses, a more nuanced definition has long been sought.