April 1, 2026
Following months of careful deliberation, exit row arbitration, and heated discussion in the break room, BRAVO Local 737 has formally submitted its initial bargaining demands to FlightSimExpo ownership. Among the priorities: cookie continuity, VR exposure limits, and a first-ever Water Bottle Rights framework for outdoor personnel.
Read Full Bulletin →March 15, 2026
The BRAVO Health & Safety Subcommittee has completed its review of the five-hour VR booth assignment. Findings include mild spatial disorientation, one case of “persistent virtual horizon syndrome,” and a near-complete loss of confidence in motion tracking technology.
Read Full Bulletin →February 28, 2026
After a rigorous internal authorization campaign conducted primarily over Discord and one group chat that got way out of hand, BRAVO has certified majority support across all recognized operational departments.
Read Full Bulletin →February 14, 2026
The BRAVO Cookie Procurement & Break Room Standards Committee has released a shortlist of approved bakery vendors meeting minimum freshness, rotation frequency, and chocolate chip density requirements for the 2026 convention season.
Read Full Bulletin →We are the red shirts. We are many. We are tired, but in a good way.
The Brotherhood of Red-shirt Aviation Volunteer Operations (BRAVO), Local 737, exists to represent and protect the rights, working conditions, and snack access of the unpaid volunteer workforce of FlightSimExpo. We believe every volunteer — whether guiding first-timers through an exhibit hall, shepherding confused attendees toward the FAA bus, or heroically enduring five consecutive hours in a VR headset — deserves dignity, cookies, and at least one uninterrupted bathroom break per shift.
BRAVO is a Boston-aligned, aviation-minded, mildly caffeinated labor organization committed to fair treatment, clear communication, and the right of every member to deliver a “captain’s announcement” at the banquet dinner without management interference.
BRAVO Local 737 represents volunteers across all recognized operational departments of FlightSimExpo. Our membership is drawn primarily from the Boston Virtual ARTCC (VATSIM) community — a fact that has absolutely no bearing on our ability to issue clear and authoritative boarding announcements.
We are flight simmers, real-world pilots, aviation nerds, and amateur furniture critics. We wear red shirts. We ask for very little. We deserve at least that much.
Elected representatives serving the membership with appropriate seriousness.
To Be Announced
Elected unanimously after being the only person willing to write “President” on the nomination form. Currently negotiating cookie freshness standards with management.
To Be Announced
Oversees exhibit floor, registration, and tour guide departments. Has never once given incorrect directions on the show floor. Once.
To Be Announced
Manages BRAVO’s financial accounts, which currently hold $0.00 in dues revenue. Considers this a feature, not a bug. Maintains impeccable records regardless.
To Be Announced
Ensures order at all union meetings. Has successfully prevented two furniture assembly disputes and one rogue VR headset incident from escalating to arbitration.
To Be Announced
Leads BRAVO’s most active subcommittee. Responsible for vendor vetting, tray rotation scheduling, and authoring the landmark “Chocolate Chip Density Minimum Standards Act of 2026.”
To Be Announced
Formed in the aftermath of the Houston Incident. Responsible for outdoor temperature monitoring, water bottle procurement, and looking meaningfully at management when it is hot outside.
A brief and deeply serious institutional record.
The first FlightSimExpo is held. Volunteers show up in red shirts with no demands, no union, and apparently no limits to their optimism. They were paid in camaraderie and a dinner. Legal analysis of this arrangement is ongoing.
FlightSimExpo is held in Houston, TX. Outdoor temperatures reach levels that professionals describe as “a lot.” Parking lot volunteers receive water. The quantity of said water is not believed to have met modern occupational safety guidelines. This event forms the spiritual backbone of Article I of the BRAVO Contract.
Due to a scheduling oversight, one volunteer is assigned to the VR Expo Center for five (5) consecutive hours. They are found afterward in a state of mild spatial confusion, citing “persistent virtual horizon syndrome.” This event forms the backbone of Article III of the BRAVO Contract.
Volunteers are asked to assist with vendor furniture assembly. The furniture does not meet any known birchwood or acacia content standards. Assembly takes longer than theoretically possible given the number of pieces. BRAVO’s Flat-Pack Arbitration Rule is drafted in direct response.
Following majority authorization across all departments, the Brotherhood of Red-shirt Aviation Volunteer Operations, Local 737, is formally established. Local number 737 is selected in honor of the most recognizable aircraft in commercial aviation and is absolutely not a joke. We are serious people.
Transparent, fair, and extremely affordable.
BRAVO Local 737 maintains a $0.00 annual dues structure, consistent with the $0.00 in annual compensation received by our membership. We believe this represents a fair and proportional framework reflective of the current collective bargaining environment.
This in no way diminishes the seriousness of our labor action. We have a website.
Membership in BRAVO Local 737 is open to any individual who has:
Membership is automatic upon completion of any FlightSimExpo volunteer shift. There is no form. You are already in. We found you.
A comprehensive package, negotiated in good faith.
Full access to break room cookies per the BRAVO Cookie Infrastructure Requirement. Coverage includes chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and any seasonal variety deemed operationally appropriate. Coverage does not extend to stale cookies placed in the break room more than four hours prior to current shift.
Per Article I, members assigned to outdoor parking lot duty at temperatures exceeding 105°F are entitled to a minimum of one (1) bottle of water per day. BRAVO acknowledges this is a low bar and is actively negotiating a higher one.
All members are entitled to attend the post-show Volunteer Dinner, historically provided by management as the sole form of compensation for services rendered. BRAVO formally recognizes this as a benefit and is seeking to have it constitutionally protected.
Per Article III, no member shall be required to staff VR Expo Center duty for more than five (5) consecutive hours. This is the entire benefit. It exists because the alternative happened.
In recognition of the emotional toll of any seven-step plan — particularly those involving Toronto — BRAVO provides access to peer support for Step 7 outcomes. This includes a group chat and a playlist.
Red volunteer shirts are protected from coffee spills, lanyard snags, and mystery expo glitter to the maximum extent operationally possible. BRAVO is not responsible for outcomes at the T-shirt cannon range.
Per Article XX, electrolyte replenishment provisions shall be available at all morning briefings during convention week. BRAVO makes no commentary on why this is necessary. We simply note that the Volunteer Dinner is a cultural institution, that the hours following the Volunteer Dinner are also a cultural institution, and that Pedialyte is available at most Walgreens locations near major convention venues. Management is encouraged to plan accordingly and in advance.
Planning for a future we all deserve.
BRAVO Local 737 is proud to offer the FlightSimExpo Volunteer Long-Term Service Recognition Program — colloquially known as the BRAVO Pension — to all eligible members in good standing.
Upon reaching full vesting, retired BRAVO members are entitled to:
Early retirement may be granted in cases of furniture assembly-related injury, VR-induced spatial disorientation lasting more than 48 hours, or being asked to stand outside in Houston again.
All pension inquiries should be directed to the Secretary-Treasurer, who will acknowledge your message and file it appropriately.
Because someone has to write this down.
The following standards have been adopted by the Health & Safety Subcommittee and submitted to management for acknowledgment, review, or at minimum a polite nod.
Any volunteer assigned to outdoor duties when ambient temperature exceeds 105°F shall be entitled to a minimum of one (1) bottle of water per day, preferably cold. BRAVO notes that this standard, while low, represents significant progress.
No volunteer shall be assigned to a VR station for more than five (5) consecutive hours without relief. Assignments exceeding two (2) hours shall include one mandatory break of no fewer than ten (10) minutes during which the volunteer shall be required to look at something that is definitely real.
Volunteers shall not be required to assemble vendor-supplied furniture unless the item meets minimum material certification: at least 20% birchwood and 10% acacia content by volume. Non-compliant furniture shall be assembled by the vendor or someone else entirely.
Any badge printer jam persisting beyond ten (10) minutes shall trigger the Emergency Snack Authorization, granting affected registration desk personnel immediate access to break room provisions.
All safety incidents may be reported using the Forms section. BRAVO takes all reports seriously and will respond within a reasonable timeframe, defined as “before the next FlightSimExpo.”
Rev. 7.0 — Best of Seven Edition — Currently Under Negotiation
When outdoor temperature exceeds 105°F, any volunteer assigned to parking lot, exterior entrance, or outdoor queue duty shall receive no fewer than one (1) bottle of water per day, preferably unopened and ideally cold.
Fresh cookies shall be present in the volunteer break room at all times during operational hours. No fewer than one (1) tray shall be rotated per event day. Cookies must meet a minimum freshness standard of “baked today or yesterday, ideally today.” Management reserves the right to select cookie variety; BRAVO reserves the right to issue a formal bulletin about it.
No volunteer shall be assigned to VR Expo Center duty for more than five (5) consecutive hours without relief. This clause was drafted retroactively in reference to an event that already happened. We are choosing not to name the year out of respect for the volunteer involved, who is fine, but prefers a window seat now.
No volunteer shall be required to assemble vendor-supplied furniture unless the item is certified at a minimum of 20% birchwood and 10% acacia content by volume, as verified by accompanying documentation or a vibe check. Furniture not meeting material standards shall be handled by the venue’s vendor who will charge $300 per each 10 minutes of work.
Any multi-step operational plan with seven or more steps shall include documented contingency support for Step 7 outcomes. This is a general operations clause. It is also specifically about the Leafs. Both things are true.
BRAVO formally recognizes the name Cheyenne as a protected cultural term. All references to Cheyenne in official BRAVO communications shall include correct pronunciation guidance and, where applicable, CYS cross-radial verification. No one shall say it wrong. You know who you are.
All public address announcements made by BRAVO members shall be delivered in at least medium-confidence pilot voice, regardless of actual confidence level. “Uh, so, like, registration is... over there” is not phraseology. “Registration services are located starboard of the main entrance — advise readback” is phraseology.
Additionally, the use of the word “What?” on any shared volunteer radio or walkie-talkie channel is hereby prohibited. The recognized response to an unclear transmission is “Say again.” First offense: a look. Second offense: formal written notice. Third offense: this somehow ends up in a bulletin. There is no documented fourth offense because the channel inevitably devolves into a JFK-style frequency meltdown: three people keying up at once, one person saying “say again” louder instead of clearer, and everyone pretending this is normal operations.
BRAVO hereby establishes a non-punitive ASAP-style reporting program for registration operations. Any volunteer who experiences (a) an incorrect badge issuance, (b) a manual badge print event, (c) a printer jam, ribbon failure, or software freeze, or (d) any other event that causes the operator to whisper “well this is bad” into the void, shall file an ASAP report before end of shift.
Timely self-disclosure shall carry corrective coaching, not punishment, provided no willful misconduct is involved and the volunteer did not attempt to hide the event behind confident eye contact. Repeated system failures shall be classified as equipment reliability concerns and escalated to management with mandatory root-cause review, snack support, and a formal acknowledgement that “just reboot it” is not, by itself, a maintenance program.
No volunteer on a scheduled meal break shall be tasked with “one quick thing” unless the requesting supervisor provides a verbal dispatch release containing destination, objective, and expected return time. Requests lacking any one of those three items are deemed non-airworthy and shall be denied without prejudice.
Volunteers serving as FAA Tour Liaison are authorized to deploy no fewer than three (3) aviation jokes per bus route segment, with at least one (1) classified as high-risk material suitable only for attendees who already know what a SID is. Jokes must be original or sufficiently obscure. Material previously used in a middle-school STEM camp presentation does not qualify and shall be retired immediately.
Management shall provide each volunteer with a uniform allocation appropriate for full operational duration, defined as a three (3)-day event week plus one contingency shirt for incidents involving coffee, weather, or unknown registration-desk fluids. Historical allocation of two (2) shirts for four (4) days is hereby recognized as operationally optimistic and a proven source of avoidable debate.
Unauthorized bin-level “self-help procurement” events occurring after allotments are exhausted shall be treated as a forecasting failure, not a character failure. When surplus shirts are available, returning volunteers may retain assigned shirts for the following year, provided they indicate intent to return and do not attempt to classify a closet full of red polos as strategic reserve inventory.
Volunteers participating in Tear Down are guaranteed adequate hydration, one (1) immediate post-close meal opportunity, and one (1) uninterrupted debrief session for forensic reconstruction of who moved which crate where. This debrief shall not be replaced with a follow-up email, a spreadsheet tab named “misc,” or a message that says “we’ll circle back.”
Any BRAVO volunteer assigned to live controlling duties from the show floor VATSIM booth shall be entitled to formal relief coverage every two (2) hours, including an identified relieving controller and confirmed handoff. No member shall be stranded on position without underlying coverage while simultaneously fielding booth questions from attendees and resolving pilot requests that were, in hindsight, ambitious. If relief cannot be provided, management shall deliver electrolyte support, moral support, and at least one person willing to say “unable” on the volunteer’s behalf.
Each event morning, a Daily ATIS briefing shall be published in the designated volunteer Discord channel no later than 30 minutes before first doors. The briefing shall be text-only and shall include, at minimum: (a) current venue and outdoor temperature, (b) Wi-Fi status and any known outage advisories for the show floor, and (c) any moderate-to-severe grievances received from exhibitors since the prior briefing. BRAVO recommends adopting ICAO information-identifier format. Example: “Houston Expo Information Delta. 0900 local. Temperature: concerning. Wi-Fi: degraded in Hall B. Exhibitor in Hall C reports a cable management situation. Volunteer dinner tonight. Advise all personnel.” This is more useful than the email chain. Every year it is more useful than the email chain.
No volunteer shall be assigned a continuous active shift exceeding the FAA Part 117 crew rest minimums for scheduled air carrier operations. BRAVO acknowledges that Part 117 does not technically govern unpaid volunteers at an aviation trade show. BRAVO applies it anyway on the grounds that it sounds right and the spirit is correct. Any member assigned to a registration post for more than four (4) consecutive hours without a minimum 10-minute break shall be entitled to file a relief claim under this article. Exemption: FSExpo Friday crew members actively tasked with presenter-chase duties may exceed normal limits where operational necessity requires extensive foot movement, provided average pace remains respectable and someone says “great hustle” at least once per hour.
Volunteer position and booth assignments shall be awarded through a seniority-based preference system, with seniority determined by earliest verified volunteer registration date beginning with FlightSimExpo 2018. Final assignments are contingent on Evan’s Excel skills and members responding on time with their preferences.
The official volunteer shuttle route between designated hotels and the convention venue shall be accompanied by a complete Operational Flight Plan generated via SimBrief or equivalent planning tool. The OFP shall include: origin and destination identifiers, estimated block time, alternate routing in the event of traffic or a member who is “five minutes away, I promise,” fuel reserves (defined for these purposes as driver patience), and an ATIS reference for arrival parking conditions. BRAVO acknowledges that shuttle buses are not aircraft. This has been raised at prior meetings. We remain unmoved.
Prior to the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, management shall obtain written or verbal confirmation that the assigned dining venue does not exceed local fire code maximum occupancy for the anticipated headcount. BRAVO seeks this provision solely to avoid operational outcomes such as queueing for dinner inside the dinner room, aisleway stand-by seating, or table assignments that require marshalling signals to enter and exit.
BRAVO formally acknowledges the existence of the post-show social tradition and makes no judgment regarding it whatsoever. The union does, however, note that morning volunteer check-ins have historically occurred in temporal proximity to said tradition. Accordingly, management shall ensure that electrolyte replenishment provisions — including but not limited to Pedialyte, sports beverages, or water in quantities that suggest awareness — are available at all morning volunteer briefings during convention week. BRAVO requests this be treated as a standard operational supply item and explicitly not as an invitation to ask how anyone’s evening went. No one needs to answer that question at 8am with a badge scanner in their hand.
Official communications from BRAVO Local 737 leadership.
April 1, 2026 · BRAVO Local 737 Communications Office
After months of listening sessions, subcommittee deliberations, and one particularly spirited Zoom call, BRAVO Local 737 has formally submitted its 14-article contract demand package to FlightSimExpo ownership. The union represents approximately 20–30 active volunteer members across all recognized operational departments.
“This isn’t about money,” said an unidentified union representative. “We work for free. This has never been about money. This is about cookies, and VR time limits, and the right to not build an IKEA shelving unit at 8am before the exhibit hall opens.”
Management has been given until June 11, 2026 — the day before FlightSimExpo 2026 — to respond to BRAVO’s initial proposals.
March 15, 2026 · BRAVO Health & Safety Subcommittee
The BRAVO Health & Safety Subcommittee has concluded its formal review of the five-hour VR booth assignment. The member involved has requested anonymity and has been referred to throughout all official documentation as “the brave one.”
Key findings: temporary spatial disorientation lasting approximately 36 hours, an increased tendency to reach for virtual objects that are not there, and one incident in which the affected member attempted to perform a barrel roll while boarding an actual airplane. All symptoms have resolved. BRAVO considers this a close call.
February 28, 2026 · BRAVO Organizing Office
BRAVO Local 737 has formally certified majority support across all operational departments. Balloting was conducted via a Google Form shared in a group chat that was already being used to coordinate airport pickups. The margin of approval was described by the Secretary-Treasurer as “overwhelming, once everyone read past the subject line.”
One member voted “present” from a flight deck somewhere over Cleveland and asked to have their vote counted “subject to ATC delay.” It was.
February 14, 2026 · Cookie Procurement & Break Room Standards Committee
The BRAVO Cookie Procurement & Break Room Standards Committee has released its approved shortlist of bakeries meeting minimum freshness, rotation frequency, and chocolate chip density standards. “We take this seriously,” said the Committee Chair. “Have we tried seventeen different cookies in the name of research? Yes. Do we regret it? We do not.”
March 1, 2026 · Cookie Procurement & Break Room Standards Committee
Following unanimous ratification of Article XX at the February general meeting, the Cookie Procurement & Break Room Standards Committee has formally expanded its remit to include morning-after electrolyte replenishment provisions. The Committee’s official statement, issued in full, reads: “We pass no judgment. We ask no questions. We simply ensure that Pedialyte is present, cold, and ideally grape flavor.”
Management has been formally notified of the new provision via the Article XV ATIS briefing channel and provided the list of recommended procurement locations within walking distance of the convention hotel. BRAVO wishes management well in that effort and encourages early action.
Official BRAVO Local 737 documentation for all member needs.
For general workplace grievances including scheduling disputes, position reassignment without notice, and being asked to do something by someone who does not appear to be your assigned supervisor.
Complete within 48 hours of any VR assignment exceeding four hours. Include symptoms of spatial disorientation, involuntary controller gestures, or loss of confidence in the physical world.
Submit before any furniture assembly task. Attach vendor material documentation confirming minimum birchwood and acacia content, or submit a waiver declining assembly on grounds of non-compliance.
For outdoor-assigned volunteers to formally request water, shade access, or rotation to an indoor position when temperature is at or near 105°F. May be submitted proactively or retroactively.
Document all registration desk printer incidents for snack authorization, historical record, and catharsis. Include jam type, duration, reboots attempted, and emotional status of operator at time of incident.
Technically unnecessary, as all eligible volunteers are automatically enrolled. Provided here for members who derive comfort from paperwork, or who simply wish to sign something.
Optional pre-clearance for bus route jokes exceeding standard dad-joke classification. Required for any material involving actual approach procedures, real controllers, or the phrase “we’re cleared direct.”
Submit when break room cookie provisions fail to meet BRAVO minimum freshness, variety, or chocolate chip density standards. Reviewed by the Cookie Committee within 24 hours or one shift, whichever comes first.
Democratic representation in action. Mostly.
| Position | Candidate | Votes For | Votes Against | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | The Person Who Volunteered First | All of them | 0 | ✅ Elected |
| Vice President, Floor Ops | Unopposed | Unanimous | 0 | ✅ Elected |
| Secretary-Treasurer | Whoever Brought the Spreadsheet | Many | 0 | ✅ Elected |
| Sergeant-at-Arms | The Tall One | Confident Majority | 1 (abstain) | ✅ Elected |
| Cookie Committee Chair | Three candidates, resolved by bake-off | N/A | N/A | ✅ Elected |
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Article III — VR Limit: 5 consecutive hours | ✅ Unanimous |
| Article II — Cookie tray rotation per shift | ✅ Unanimous |
| Article IV — Birchwood/Acacia material standards | ✅ 94% approval |
| Article I — Water bottle minimum: 1 per day | ✅ Passed with “deeply sad” annotation |
| Amendment: Raise water minimum to 2 per day (from Houston member) | ❌ Tabled — “management won’t go for it, trust us” |
The next BRAVO Executive Board election will be held in 2028, or whenever anyone disagrees strongly enough to run against the current slate, whichever comes first. Nominations open when someone mentions it.
A record of service, sacrifice, and excellent red shirt choices.
Photos from FlightSimExpo events. Members in red shirts are BRAVO-represented personnel. Their labor — and their shirts — are protected.
assets/photos/ and they will appear here.We are here. Mostly. Check the show floor first.
BRAVO Local 737 maintains a presence at all FlightSimExpo events and on several group chats with varying levels of activity. For time-sensitive matters, approach any volunteer in a red shirt. For non-time-sensitive matters, also approach any volunteer in a red shirt.
BRAVO Local 737
Brotherhood of Red-shirt Aviation Volunteer Operations
c/o FlightSimExpo Volunteer Break Room
Saint Paul RiverCentre, Saint Paul, MN 55102
(During event week only. Not a permanent address. Please do not send furniture.)
union@bravo737.org
Response time: within one event cycle.
BRAVO Local 737 does not currently employ a Communications Director, but is accepting applications. The role is unpaid, consistent with our existing compensation structure.