ALPA Presses Congress for One Level of Airline Security
Secure-Area Access Standards Must Apply to Passenger and All-Cargo Operations
May 16, 2012 - Capt. Sean Cassidy, first vice president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), released this statement today following his testimony at a U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation hearing titled “Access Control Point Breaches at our Nation’s Airports: Anomalies or Systemic Failures?”

“Controlling access to secure airport areas is critically important to the safety and security of the airline industry and the traveling public. The Transportation Security Administration and airport authorities do a good job of controlling and preventing unauthorized access to these areas. ALPA believes that, like the vast majority of airline passengers, the overwhelming share of airline workers are trustworthy individuals who want to see their industry succeed.”
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DAL MEC Negotiators Reach TA on New Contract
May 15, 2012 - Late yesterday, the Delta pilots’ Negotiating Committee, of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, reached a tentative agreement (TA) with Delta management on an amended collective bargaining agreement, more than seven months in advance of the December 31, 2012, amendable date. In a letter to the Delta pilots, Delta MEC chairman Capt. Tim O’Malley wrote, “The Negotiating Committee and its expanded team have accomplished a great deal of work in the last two months, reaching a comprehensive Section 6 agreement in just over two months, a process that normally takes years.”

Beginning today and throughout the week, the tentative agreement will be presented to the Delta MEC, the union’s governing body, for deliberation. Until that process is complete, details of the TA will not be released.
Pilots Welcome U.S. Senate Passage of Ex-Im Bank Reforms
May 15, 2012 - Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Senate’s passage of important reforms to help ensure U.S. industry and workers are not harmed by the Bank’s financing in the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

“Today’s passage by the U.S. Senate of reauthorization for the Export–Import Bank of the United States advances critical reforms to help stop the Bank from using U.S. taxpayers’ money to subsidize state-backed foreign airlines, providing them with an unfair competitive advantage against U.S. airlines that undermines U.S. airline industry jobs. The language in the reauthorization passed today by the Senate moves toward leveling the playing field for U.S. airlines in the global marketplace, fosters U.S. manufacturing, and protects U.S. workers’ jobs. ALPA will continue to fully engage in this issue, and we call on President Obama to swiftly sign this bill into law.”
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ALPA Sends Letter to NMB on behalf of United & Continental Pilots
ALPA President Capt. Lee Moak yesterday sent the following letter to the National Mediation Board (NMB) on behalf of the United/Continental pilots with regard to negotiations and mediation for a new joint collective bargaining agreement with United Airlines. In the letter, Capt. Moak notes the unacceptably long duration of negotiations and mediation so far, expresses the pilots’ commitment to the upcoming schedule of intense negotiations and mediation, and requests that the Board further use its powers under the Railway Labor Act to help bring about an agreement with a proffer of arbitration, and if that is not accepted by the company and union, by a release from mediation.
Pilots Respond to Air Transport International and Capital Cargo International Airlines Merger
May 11, 2012 - The pilot groups of Air Transport International (ATI) and Capital Cargo International Airlines (CCIA), both represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) today said that they see value in the announced merger between the two cargo carriers. Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (ATSG), parent company of the carriers, announced the merger of the two airlines on May 10.
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DAL MEC Negotiators Reach TA on New Contract
May 15, 2012 - Late yesterday, the Delta pilots’ Negotiating Committee, of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, reached a tentative agreement (TA) with Delta management on an amended collective bargaining agreement, more than seven months in advance of the December 31, 2012, amendable date. In a letter to the Delta pilots, Delta MEC chairman Capt. Tim O’Malley wrote, “The Negotiating Committee and its expanded team have accomplished a great deal of work in the last two months, reaching a comprehensive Section 6 agreement in just over two months, a process that normally takes years.”

Beginning today and throughout the week, the tentative agreement will be presented to the Delta MEC, the union’s governing body, for deliberation. Until that process is complete, details of the TA will not be released.
Pilots Respond to Air Transport International and Capital Cargo International Airlines Merger
May 11, 2012 - The pilot groups of Air Transport International (ATI) and Capital Cargo International Airlines (CCIA), both represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) today said that they see value in the announced merger between the two cargo carriers. Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (ATSG), parent company of the carriers, announced the merger of the two airlines on May 10.
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Island Air Pilots Prepare for New Aircraft, Growth
April 26, 2012 - Island Air pilots are preparing to open negotiations following a recent announcement by senior management that the company plans to grow and expand its fleet. The airline plans to replace the existing Dash-8 fleet with ATR 72-212 aircraft in 2012 and add three more ATRs in 2013. ATR service is expected to begin September 1.
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ALA Pilots Help Kids with Disabilities
A $14,150 grant from the Alaska Airlines Pilots Charitable Fund will help provide therapy for thousands of children with disabilities around the Greater Puget Sound, Wash., area.
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Dallas-Area EGL Pilots Rally
ALPA’s American Eagle MEC and SPC held a family awareness rally and picnic at Six Flags Over Texas on Saturday to provide Dallas/Fort Worth-area pilot families with an opportunity to network, ask questions, and get information from their elected leaders about the AMR bankruptcy.
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PCL Pilots Protest Egregious Pay Discrepancies
April 12, 2012 - The pilots of Pinnacle Airlines, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, expressed their anger and frustration over their employer’s failure to accurately and timely issue their pay by informational picketing in front of Pinnacle Airlines’ headquarters in downtown Memphis on Wednesday. Not only are the pilots being shortchanged on payday, they are also having to wait an extraordinarily long period of time for the company to finally rectify the pay errors.
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CAL Pilots Host Congressman Poe
April 5, 2012 - The Continental pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, hosted Rep. Ted Poe (R-Tex.) this week, helping to arrange a visit to legacy Continental’s Training Center at IAH and its B-787 simulator. CAL MEC Legislative Affairs Committee chairman Capt. Mike Coffield also presented a plaque to the congressman on behalf of ALPA, in recognition of his efforts in the House.
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ALPA Presses Congress for One Level of Airline Security
Secure-Area Access Standards Must Apply to Passenger and All-Cargo Operations
May 16, 2012 - Capt. Sean Cassidy, first vice president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), released this statement today following his testimony at a U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation hearing titled “Access Control Point Breaches at our Nation’s Airports: Anomalies or Systemic Failures?”

“Controlling access to secure airport areas is critically important to the safety and security of the airline industry and the traveling public. The Transportation Security Administration and airport authorities do a good job of controlling and preventing unauthorized access to these areas. ALPA believes that, like the vast majority of airline passengers, the overwhelming share of airline workers are trustworthy individuals who want to see their industry succeed.”
Read More...
Pilots Applaud Congressional Efforts to Maintain FFDO Funding
Federal Flight Deck Officer Program Highly Cost-Effective Component of Aviation Security
May 9, 2012 - Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement regarding the U.S. House Appropriations Committee’s Homeland Security Subcommittee’s action to reject a proposed budget cut and sustain funding at the current level in the fiscal year 2013 budget for the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program. Currently, the FFDO program fiscal year 2012 funding is $25 million. President Obama has proposed to cut the program’s funding by $13 million in his fiscal year 2013 budget.

“We applaud the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and the leadership of Chairman Robert Aderholt, for their commitment to the Federal Flight Deck Officer program and to advancing aviation security by protecting the program’s funding in the 2013 budget.”
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ALPA Echoes European Pilot Leaders’ Call for New EU Fatigue Rules
May 7, 2012 - Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement of strong support for European pilot organization leaders’ call for the European Aviation Safety Administration (EASA) to issue new science-based flight- and duty-time regulations and minimum rest requirements for airline pilots

“ALPA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the European pilot organization leaders who fly for SkyTeam, Star, and oneworld Alliance airlines, the International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations, and the European Cockpit Association in their work to make clear the serious safety risk posed by pilot fatigue and in their call for new European flight- and duty-time limitations that are science-based and take into account the perspectives of all stakeholders, including air crew representatives.”
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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. ALPA Members: you must log in to the members-only website to access this document.
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Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety
ALPA Safety, through its Volcanic Ash project under the Air Traffic Services Group, has devoted years to expanding its database of operationally relevant information on this potential hazard and improving the warning system necessary to reduce unplanned encounters of hazardous ash clouds. This new website provides information for greater awareness, recommended practices for avoidance, and what to do in the event of an unexpected encounter. Pertinent videos, maps, and briefings about this dangerous yet fascinating natural phenomenon are included.
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Pilots Welcome U.S. Senate Passage of Ex-Im Bank Reforms
May 15, 2012 - Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Senate’s passage of important reforms to help ensure U.S. industry and workers are not harmed by the Bank’s financing in the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

“Today’s passage by the U.S. Senate of reauthorization for the Export–Import Bank of the United States advances critical reforms to help stop the Bank from using U.S. taxpayers’ money to subsidize state-backed foreign airlines, providing them with an unfair competitive advantage against U.S. airlines that undermines U.S. airline industry jobs. The language in the reauthorization passed today by the Senate moves toward leveling the playing field for U.S. airlines in the global marketplace, fosters U.S. manufacturing, and protects U.S. workers’ jobs. ALPA will continue to fully engage in this issue, and we call on President Obama to swiftly sign this bill into law.”
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ALPA Commends U.S. House Passage of Ex-Im Bank Reforms
May 9, 2012 - Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, which contains important reforms to help ensure U.S. industry and workers are not harmed by the Bank’s financing.

“The bipartisan reauthorization passed today by the U.S. House contains important reforms to change the way the Export-Import Bank of the United States does business, doing more to ensure that its financing decisions do not harm the U.S. airline industry or its workers by using U.S. taxpayers’ money to give foreign airlines an unfair advantage in the global marketplace.”
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ALPA Hails Agreement on Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization
May 4, 2012 - The following statement is from Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, on today’s bipartisan agreement on the Export-Import Bank’s reauthorization.

“The bipartisan reforms announced today to aircraft financing by the Export-Import Bank are a first step toward ending worldwide subsidies of widebody aircraft and will help to protect U.S. airline workers from unmerited, subsidized foreign competition. The reforms will also shine some desperately needed light on the Bank’s financing processes.”
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Airline Pilots on U.S. Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization: Key Reforms Vital to Protect U.S. Jobs
April 26, 2012 - As Congress takes up the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) today urged lawmakers to implement key reforms to protect U.S. airline workers’ jobs in connection with the Bank’s financing of aircraft for foreign airlines.
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ALPA to U.S. House Subcommittee: Raise Airline Industry to One Level of Safety
Safe Skies Act of 2012 Would Protect All Airline Pilots from Fatigue
April 25, 2012 - In testimony before the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee today, Capt. Sean Cassidy, first vice president and national safety coordinator of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), called on Congress to swiftly act to apply new Federal Aviation Administration science-based flight- and duty-time regulations to both passenger and cargo airline pilots.

“All pilots are human, and we experience fatigue in the same way, regardless of whether we are flying passengers or cargo in our aircraft,” Capt. Cassidy told the Subcommittee. “Despite this, the new science-based fatigue regulations apply only to pilots who fly passengers, and not to those who fly cargo. Leaving all-cargo pilots out of the regulations is a serious safety concern.”
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CIRP Chairmen’s Meeting
May 21-22, 2012
Denver, CO

The Air Line Pilots Association, International is holding its annual CIRP Chairmen’s Meeting May 21-22, 2012 in Denver, CO. The meeting will begin at 9:00 am on the 21st and go until approximately 5:00 pm that day, then resume at 9:00 am on the 22nd and end early enough for attendees to commute home. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day. The meeting will be oriented toward helping chairs run their committees. Register online.
Advanced Accident Investigation Course (AI-3)
June 5-7, 2012
University of North Dakota UND
Grand Forks, ND

Course date: June 5-7, 2012. The course will run from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day. Participants should be prepared to attend the three-day training in its entirety. The AI-3 will run until approximately 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, but students are encouraged to participate in an altitude chamber flight or an ATC facility tour/demo Thursday afternoon (if scheduling permits), hosted by UND respective CASC or CAI. There are no prerequisites for non-ALPA attendees. Register online.
Evolution of Safety through Pilot Training
July 12, 2012
Capital Hilton
Washington, DC

This one-day conference will explore many facets of developing and maintaining the most critical component of airline safety, a well-trained pilot. The FAA’s Acting Administrator and ALPA’s president will lead a distinguished list of aviation leaders from regulators, airlines, academia, and subject matter experts, who will inform attendees about the latest advances in pilot recruitment and qualifications, training technologies, training programs, and much more. For conference information visit pilotrainingconference.alpa.org.
58th Annual Air Safety Forum
August 6-9, 2012
Hilton Washington
Washington, DC

For forum information visit safetyforum.alpa.org.