Executive Board Deals with Industry Turbulence
May 6, 2008 - One thing was crystal clear to all who attended the first day of ALPA’s 102nd regular meeting of the Executive Board: the shock waves roiling the airline industry are affecting every decision on ALPA’s horizon.
• Read more about Day 1 of the Meeting
• Read about Day 2 of the Meeting

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2008 Pilot Assistance Forum
May 13 - 15, 2008
Phoenix, AZ
ALPA’s Pilot Assistance Committee is dedicated to helping pilots maintain their professional performance, physical and emotional health and welfare, and when necessary, rehabilitation through drug and alcohol intervention. In May 2008, volunteers and staff from Professional Standards Committees, Critical Incident Response Programs, Aeromedical committees, and HIMS programs throughout ALPA will meet in Phoenix at the annual Pilot Assistance Forum. For more information or to register, click here.

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Advanced Accident Investigation Course (AI-3)
June 10 - 12, 2008
7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Grand Forks, ND
Participants should be prepared to attend the three-day training in its entirety. Course will run until 11:00 a.m. on 6/12, but students are encouraged to participate in an altitude chamber flight that afternoon, hosted by UND. Completion of the ALPA BSS and AI-2 courses, and endorsement of your respective CASC or CAI, are course prerequisites. Register online.

Basic Safety School (BSS)
June 17 - 19, 2008
Herndon, VA
Provides an introduction to the ALPA air safety structure and to accident/incident investigation information. Class starts at 8:00 a.m. 6/17, and ends at 12 p.m. 6/19. Course assists new Air Safety Representatives including: Central Air Safety Chairmen (CASC), Local Air Safety Chairmen (LASC), and Accident/Incident Investigators (AII). Register online.

Security Training Course (STC)
June 17 - 18, 2008
Herndon, VA
Course starts with check-in at 8:00 a.m. 6/17; course concludes mid-afternoon 6/18. Course provides an introduction to ALPA policies and protocols, and provides guidance on how to serve as an MEC security representative. STC runs concurrent with BSS. Register online.

Airport Liaison Representative Training (ALR)
June 17 - 19, 2008
Herndon, VA
Provides a formal introduction for pilot volunteers who have limited knowledge of the various aspects involved with being an ALR. ALR candidates will not be assigned to an airport until their safety structure approval process is complete. Register online.

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Walking the Line
A library of video and photo footage documenting the solidarity of ALPA's pilot family.

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Archived Events:

The 2007 Air Safety & Security Forum Opens
“Our View” theme reflects pilot commitment to industry
August 9, 2007 - ALPA kicked off its 53rd Annual Air Safety & Security Forum on Aug. 8, 2007, with the theme of “Our View,” promoting the airline pilots perspective on challenging issues facing the airline industry today, such as pilot training, airport access, and secondary security barriers.

Opening statements from the Association’s Executive Air Safety chairman, Capt. Terry McVenes (US Airways), ALPA National Security Committee chairman, Capt. Bob Hesselbein (Northwest), ALPA president, Capt. John Prater, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Vice Chairman Robert Sumwalt set the tone for the event.

U.S. Airline Industry Marks Major Progress in Cutting Emissions
Any new action must not compromise safety or increase financial burden on struggling industry
May 7 - Capt. Mary Ann Schaffer, chairperson of the Task Force on Aviation Sustainability and the Environment of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, issued the attached statement after testifying this week before the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the subject of aviation and the environment and aircraft emissions.

Senate Must Pass Improvements for an FAA in Turmoil
April 28 - The attached statement was offered by Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, concerning the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill.

Family/Medical Leave for Flight Crews
April 4, 2008 - Nearly the entire U.S. workforce currently has access to protected, unpaid leave benefits to care for ailing family members, to address personal health issues, or for the birth or adoption of a child under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). But not pilots and flight attendants! Legislation has been introduced to correct this anomaly. ALPA Members: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to learn more.



CrewPASS Now!
March 21, 2008 - TSA continues to ignore a Congressional mandate and implement a program to expedite pilots through airport screening checkpoints. ALPA members are urged to weigh in with their federal representatives so TSA will act on this important mandate. ALPA Members: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to learn more.


As Oil Soars, ALPA Warns Wall Street that Labor is a “Fixed Cost”
“When ticket prices need to increase to pay for oil, airlines do it, and when ticket prices need to be raised to repair pilot contracts, airlines must do it then, too,” said ALPA's president, Capt. John Prater, to hundreds of the leading U.S. financial analysts on Tuesday. Prater addressed the 2008 JPMorgan Aviation and Transportation Conference held in New York City.


“Intolerable!”
ALPA pilots picket coast-to-coast to back British Airways pilots
March 15 - In a stirring show of cross-Atlantic unity, ALPA pilots conducted informational picketing across the United States on Saturday to demonstrate solidarity with their union brothers and sisters at British Airways (BA) as they fight their management’s attempt to start a new airline without using pilots from their seniority list.


ALPA to BA Pilots: Hold the Line against “OpenSkies”
Video Message: Tidal Wave of Support from Across the Atlantic
In a video message to British Airways pilots, ALPA president, Capt. John Prater, and first vice-president, Capt. Paul Rice, urged the members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) who fly for British Airways to stand strong against their management’s attempt to create an alter-ego airline known as “OpenSkies.”
• Watch the video: DSL/Cable | Dial-Up

ALPA Gathers Pilot Leaders to Coordinate Strategy
February 15 - Airline pilot union officials from 40 airlines in the U.S. and Canada met recently outside Washington, D.C. to discuss bargaining goals and strategy as part of their efforts to determine and implement favorable contract patterns for pay, benefits, and work rules, and to coordinate member activities in support of negotiating efforts.

Lost Retirement Savings Act
January 18, 2008 - Two key ALPA-supported bills were introduced late last year that would allow pilots to recover some of their lost retirement benefits by offering a retirement savings option to those whose defined benefit plans were terminated or frozen in bankruptcy proceedings after September 11, 2001 and before January 1, 2007. ALPA members are urged to participate in a new grassroots Call to Action to enlist congressional support for these two bills and prompt speedy action on them. ALPA Members: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to learn more.


Pension Reform Legislation
January 9, 2008 - Although the pilot retirement age changed on December 13, 2007, when President Bush signed into law H.R. 4343, (P.L. 110-135), there remains a critical need for Congress to pass H.R. 2103 and S. 1270. Although the pilot retirement age has been raised to 65, there are still pilots who will be penalized on the guaranteed level of benefits they receive from the PBGC because age 60 was the mandatory retirement age at the time their defined benefit plans were terminated. We have updated the suggested message for ALPA members to send to your federal legislators to reflect this situation, and continue to urge your participation in this important grassroots effort. ALPA Members: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to learn more.

IFALPA Briefing Leaflet North Atlantic Track Checklist
The latest IFALPA Briefing Leaflet which deals with a sample NAT checklist developed by the ICAO North Atlantic Track Committee is now available. Click here to access your copy.

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Aloha Pilots: Sale of Cargo Unit Could Leave Aloha Cargo Workers Unemployed
Saltchuk vague on commitment to workers – long service employees could be left behind
May 1 - Aloha pilot leadership, as represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l. (ALPA) issued the attached statement in response to the adjournment of the hearing on the sale of Aloha’s cargo operations to Saltchuk Resources Inc. (also owners of Young Brothers Barge) and the court’s authorization of interim operation of the Cargo Division. These developments took place after Saltchuk renewed its offer to buy the cargo division, and asked the Bankruptcy Court for extraordinary consideration and relief, and came just three days after Aloha and its lender shut down operations completely and asked to liquidate the company under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code.

May 1, 2008. Pinnacle Pilots Send Strong, Unified Message to Management
Nearly 150 Pinnacle pilots, joined by other ALPA pilots and others, marched in front of the corporate headquarters of Pinnacle management in Memphis, Tenn., protesting the glacial pace of their contract negotiations, now in their fourth year. Management continues to ignore the pilots’ contributions to the success of the airline.
Watch video footage of the picketing: DSL/Cable | Dial-Up

Continental pilots support decision to stop merger
But union states that it won’t end efforts to protect pilot interests
April 28 - The Continental pilots union, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l. (ALPA), issued a statement today after the Continental Airlines’ announcement to its employees on Sunday, rejecting a combination with another airline.

United Pilots: Tilton’s ‘Greed’ Has Gone On Long Enough
April 28 - The lining of United CEO Glenn Tilton’s pockets continues, even in the face of the airline’s $545 million first quarter loss. Late last week, United filed its 2007 compensation packages for the senior executives responsible for these losses, revealing a $10.3 million take in salary, bonuses, stock grants, and stock options for Mr. Tilton.

ExpressJet Labor Union Leaders Voice Need for Participation by Employee Stockholders
April 25 - The leaders of ExpressJet Airlines’ employee labor unions met today in Houston and discussed the implications of ExpressJet’s rejection of the recent Skywest stock buyout offer. They agreed unanimously that no action should be taken by ExpressJet management without input from all the stockholders—including the company’s employees.

Aloha Pilots Authorize Strike
April 24 - Aloha pilots voted on Wednesday night to give its local leadership, the Aloha Airlines Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), the right to call a strike, if and when it becomes absolutely necessary.

ALPA Pilot Leaders Issue Joint Statement on Negotiations
April 22 - The chairmen of the Delta and Northwest pilot groups, both represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), have jointly discussed with ALPA’s President, Capt. John Prater, the importance of commencing negotiations with Delta management in the very near future.

Aloha Pilots File for Temporary Restraining Order
Membership Strike Vote Set for April 23
April 22 - The Aloha Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l., (ALPA), filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Monday. These filings ask the court to make any sale of Aloha’s cargo operations contingent on Aloha abiding by the ALPA-Aloha contract, particularly the provisions covering successorship and sales of Aloha’s assets and operations. Aloha ceased passenger operations on March 31 and is scheduled to sell the cargo operation on April 25.

ALPA Files Suit for Back Pay and Benefits for ATA Crewmembers
April 22 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Intl., has filed suit against ATA and its parent company for failing to give any notice prior to shutting down ATA’s operations abruptly in the early morning hours of April 3.

Aloha Pilots Seek Court Injunction
April 18 - The Aloha Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, (ALPA), filed a complaint in U.S. Bankruptcy Court today seeking injunctive relief against the airline. ALPA asserts that Aloha Airlines management’s total disregard for pilots’ collective bargaining agreement during the past few weeks has triggered a “major dispute” under the Railway Labor Act, which governs airline contract negotiations. ALPA seeks an order from the Court to force Aloha Airlines to comply with its contract.

Additional News ...

Pilots Send Clear Message at NTSB UAS Safety Forum
Unmanned aircraft not ready to safely operate in national airspace system
April 30 - During their presentations at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Safety Forum, representatives of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) made clear that significant design and operational safety improvements must be made before UAS can safely share airspace with airliners carrying passengers, cargo, and crews or fly above populated areas.

Airline Pilot Fatigue Still Front-and-Center Safety Risk
NTSB Sunshine Meeting Underscores Need to Act
April 16 - This week’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) findings made clear that pilot fatigue persists as a significant aviation safety risk. Solutions must include changing corporate cultures so that they seek to partner with, not punish, airline pilots for expressing fatigue concerns.

TSA and FAMS Officials Address ALPA Executive Council
On April 8, 2008, ALPA President, Capt. John Prater, and the Executive Council received briefings from John Sammon, Assistant Administrator, Transportation Sector Network Management, TSA, and John Novak, Assistant Director, Flight Operations Division, Federal Air Marshal Service.

Pilot Action Draws TSA Chief
March 19, 2008 will not go down in history as the day pilots were finally treated with dignity at screening. But it may be the day that makes that day possible. ALPA pilots picketed Washington National Airport and the Transportation Security Administration headquarters demanding the agency fix the screening process.

• Watch video coverage: DSL/Cable | Dial-Up
• ALPA Members: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to learn more.


“Hold Short for Runway Safety” Launches
Runway incursions occur more often than you think. Some accidents are avoided by a mere 35 feet. Unfortunately, they only make headlines when tragedy strikes. But, ALPA dutifully continues its quest to educate all airline pilots about the safety hazards they face on a daily basis.
• Read more
• View the “Hold Short for Runway Safety” website



Environment in the Spotlight
ALPA, other aviation groups, sponsor D.C. conference
March 19 - The effect of aviation on the environment may be debatable, but the effect that the environmental debate is having on aviation is very real. That fact was made very clear to the more than 200 attendees during the first day of Aviation and the Environment, a symposium sponsored jointly by ALPA and the Air Transport Association (ATA).

ALPA Named Among Collier Trophy Winners
Pilots union recognized for efforts to advance aviation safety
March 7 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, (ALPA) was recognized this week with the prestigious Collier Trophy for the union’s role in developing a new aircraft position technology that will advance aviation safety. The technology, known as ADS-B, allows aircraft to continuously broadcast their own GPS-determined position, rather than relying solely on today’s network of ground-based radar, and enhances safety and increases airspace capacity and efficiency as a result.

National Volcanic Ash Operations Plan for Aviation
A group of U.S. federal government agencies recently released the first-ever National Volcanic Ash Operations Plan for Aviation. Capt. Ed Miller (United, Ret.), ALPA’s volcanic ash expert and long-time advocate for improving the safety of flight operations in relation to volcanic ash, served as one of a handful of subject-matter experts who supported the multiyear interagency effort.

“It’s been a tremendous effort,” says Miller. “All the agencies have done their best. We’ve had some really talented people involved.” He is quick to stress, however, that pilots will continue to play a vital role in the international effort to reduce the risks of inflight volcanic ash encounters.

The International Directory
ALPA's Air Safety Department has issued an International Directory for international pilots. The Directory includes known expectations of authorities, a listing of major IFALPA associations’ contact information, and U.S. and Canadian government contact information for every country of the world. An ALPA member login is required.



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