ALPA to Congress: Protect U.S. Jobs in International Airline Alliances
March 11, 2010 - Legislation introduced this week that directs the Department of Transportation to ensure that new revenue-sharing agreements between U.S. and foreign airlines are beneficial to U.S. airline workers as well as to their airlines is welcomed by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). ALPA hails Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine), and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (D-Mich.) for introducing the bill (H.R.4788).

“This legislation protects the U.S. workers whose dedication and professionalism have helped to build the airlines that participate in international alliances,” said Capt. John Prater, president of ALPA. “One-quarter of the jobs in the U.S. airline industry have disappeared, and international revenue-sharing agreements threaten to make a bad situation even worse for U.S. workers.”
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Air Transat Pilots: Outsourcing Bad for Business
March 9, 2010 - Union leaders for the Air Transat pilots issued the following statement in response to the excessive and continual outsourcing of flying enforced by their airline’s holding company -- Transat A.T. [TSX.TRZ.B ]. Air Transat pilots, who are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), recently began contract negotiations with the company’s management. The pilots are seeking guarantees that Transat A.T. will not farm out work to the lowest bidder. They are hopeful that a successful outcome will help mitigate the negative impact the current outsourcing is having on Air Transat pilots.

“The pilots of Air Transat are deeply concerned that Transat A.T., the holding company that controls Air Transat, is outsourcing flying while Air Transat’s mainline growth has been stagnant for the past two years,” said Captain John Prater, ALPA president.
Read more in English | French
imageALPA Pilot Urges Tighter Lithium Battery Restrictions
March 8, 2010 - First Officer Mark Rogers (United), director of ALPA’s Dangerous Goods Program, presented the Association’s arguments for tighter restrictions on the shipment of lithium batteries at U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters in Washington, D.C., on March 5. His statement was in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on January 11 by DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in coordination with the FAA, to assess the safety risks associated with the air transport of lithium cells and batteries.
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ALPA Voices Adamant Opposition to Cockpit Voice Recorder Monitoring
ALPA Members Can Help
March 2, 2010 - ALPA this week voiced its intense opposition to proposals to monitor cockpit voice recorders to the traveling public, federal regulators, and Capitol Hill.

In a USA Today “Opposing View” opinion piece, Capt. John Prater made it clear that monitoring conversations in the cockpit for any reason other than accident investigation would fail to produce accurate safety information. Prater also expressed the serious concern that monitoring would suppress pilot communications and jeopardize the information and resources that make proven proactive nonpunitive safety reporting programs successful in preventing accidents.
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Pinnacle Pilots Union Backs Pilot’s Invocation of Captain’s Authority
Delta Connection Flight 887’s Captain Clears Aircraft to Ensure Safety
February 22, 2010 - Today, pilot leaders of Pinnacle Airlines, as part of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), voiced their support for the captain of Delta Connection flight 887 and his decision to invoke “Captain’s Authority” to clear the aircraft cabin due to an onboard altercation. The Delta Connection flight, operated by Pinnacle Airlines, scheduled to go from Rochester, New York, to Atlanta was cancelled earlier today when two flight attendants got into a dispute before take off. The captain ordered the flight attendants off the plane and asked that the passengers disembark. The passengers were rescheduled on to other flights.
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Air Transat Pilots: Outsourcing Bad for Business
March 9, 2010 - Union leaders for the Air Transat pilots issued the following statement in response to the excessive and continual outsourcing of flying enforced by their airline’s holding company -- Transat A.T. [TSX.TRZ.B ]. Air Transat pilots, who are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), recently began contract negotiations with the company’s management. The pilots are seeking guarantees that Transat A.T. will not farm out work to the lowest bidder. They are hopeful that a successful outcome will help mitigate the negative impact the current outsourcing is having on Air Transat pilots.

“The pilots of Air Transat are deeply concerned that Transat A.T., the holding company that controls Air Transat, is outsourcing flying while Air Transat’s mainline growth has been stagnant for the past two years,” said Captain John Prater, ALPA president.
Read more in English | French
Pinnacle Pilots Union Backs Pilot’s Invocation of Captain’s Authority
Delta Connection Flight 887’s Captain Clears Aircraft to Ensure Safety
February 22, 2010 - Today, pilot leaders of Pinnacle Airlines, as part of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), voiced their support for the captain of Delta Connection flight 887 and his decision to invoke “Captain’s Authority” to clear the aircraft cabin due to an onboard altercation. The Delta Connection flight, operated by Pinnacle Airlines, scheduled to go from Rochester, New York, to Atlanta was cancelled earlier today when two flight attendants got into a dispute before take off. The captain ordered the flight attendants off the plane and asked that the passengers disembark. The passengers were rescheduled on to other flights.
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imageALPA Pilots Join AFL-CIO Rally in Support of TSOs’ Right to Organize
February 24, 2010 - Uniformed ALPA pilots stood out in a cheering crowd of hundreds of loyal union activists Tuesday, February 23, in front of AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C. Pilots joined the AFL-CIO–sponsored rally alongside representatives of a multitude of other AFL-CIO unions to support collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs).
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imageALPA’s SPSC Reaches Across Ocean To Support IFALPA Member Group
February 22, 2010 - Answering IFALPA’s call for mutual assistance, ALPA members from United and Continental joined their fellow Association of Star Alliance Pilots (ASAP) from Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, and Austrian Airlines in Frankfurt today on the picket line as the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilots of Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, and Germanwings went on strike. ALPA’s SPSC galvanized into action late Friday afternoon upon hearing of the planned strike, which was meant to last for four days, but was suspended today until March 8 to give deadlocked parties a chance to resume contract talks. The central focus of the dispute is the outsourcing of jobs, an issue that is also of considerable concern to U.S. ALPA pilots.
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Continental Pilots Show Support for Striking Lufthansa Pilots
February 22, 2010 - Continental pilots Capt. Brian Bagenski, F/O Doug Marotta and Capt. Marty Miller traveled to Germany this week to show support for striking Vereinigung Cockpit pilots who fly for Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings. After arriving in Frankfurt, they joined the 400-plus German pilots in marching to the Lufthansa Aviation Center for picketing. Said Capt. Bagenski, “The pilots were very appreciative of the support shown them from the ALPA pilots who were there from Continental and United. The problems they are facing – among them threats to their jobs from outsourcing and pay erosion – are the same that ALPA pilots are fighting as well.”

“I’m proud that as Continental and ALPA pilots, we were able to stand with the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots,” said Capt. Jay Pierce, CAL MEC Chairman. “As the industry trends towards alliances, joint ventures and other partnerships, we as pilots must be even more prepared to work across carriers and even across borders where needed to ensure that we have adequate job protections and receive commensurate reward for our contributions.”
(Click on the image for the caption).
imageALPA Pilot Urges Tighter Lithium Battery Restrictions
March 8, 2010 - First Officer Mark Rogers (United), director of ALPA’s Dangerous Goods Program, presented the Association’s arguments for tighter restrictions on the shipment of lithium batteries at U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters in Washington, D.C., on March 5. His statement was in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on January 11 by DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in coordination with the FAA, to assess the safety risks associated with the air transport of lithium cells and batteries.
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ALPA: Ill-Conceived Cockpit Monitoring Legislation Threatens Safety
World’s largest nongovernmental aviation safety organization blasts attempt by Sen. Jim DeMint to misuse cockpit voice recorder
February 26, 2010 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) stands in adamant opposition to an ill-conceived proposal by Sen. Jim DeMint to use cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder information for discipline, rather than as it was intended, because the proposal poses a serious risk to aviation safety.

“ALPA adamantly opposes this misguided legislation that seeks to use cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder information to punish individual pilots, rather than to promote and support the proactive safety culture that our industry needs to protect our passengers, crews, and cargo,” said Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president. “The DeMint proposal will threaten aviation safety, compromise the accident investigation process, and squander financial resources that could make proven aviation safety programs even more effective. We will use every tool at our disposal to prevent this from becoming law.”
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Pilots’ Concerns Echoed in Many NTSB Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements
February 19, 2010 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), commends the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for continuing to use its Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements to draw attention to many of the most serious safety challenges the U.S. airline industry faces today.

“We are gratified that the NTSB continues to push the FAA to enhance safety in critical areas, including the need to take on pilot fatigue, reduce runway incursions and excursions, and provide better guidance to ensure safe flight in icing conditions,” said Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president. “ALPA strongly supports the Board’s call for expedited action to better safeguard passengers, crews, and cargo against these threats.”
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Pilots Raise the Bar on Runway Safety
September 25, 2008 - Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, set the bar high for runway safety today, challenging both government and industry to establish a goal of zero serious runway incursions involving commercial airliners in his testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation.
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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. An ALPA member login is required.
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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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ALPA to Congress: Protect U.S. Jobs in International Airline Alliances
March 11, 2010 - Legislation introduced this week that directs the Department of Transportation to ensure that new revenue-sharing agreements between U.S. and foreign airlines are beneficial to U.S. airline workers as well as to their airlines is welcomed by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). ALPA hails Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine), and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (D-Mich.) for introducing the bill (H.R.4788).

“This legislation protects the U.S. workers whose dedication and professionalism have helped to build the airlines that participate in international alliances,” said Capt. John Prater, president of ALPA. “One-quarter of the jobs in the U.S. airline industry have disappeared, and international revenue-sharing agreements threaten to make a bad situation even worse for U.S. workers.”
Read More...
ALPA Voices Adamant Opposition to Cockpit Voice Recorder Monitoring
ALPA Members Can Help
March 2, 2010 - ALPA this week voiced its intense opposition to proposals to monitor cockpit voice recorders to the traveling public, federal regulators, and Capitol Hill.

In a USA Today “Opposing View” opinion piece, Capt. John Prater made it clear that monitoring conversations in the cockpit for any reason other than accident investigation would fail to produce accurate safety information. Prater also expressed the serious concern that monitoring would suppress pilot communications and jeopardize the information and resources that make proven proactive nonpunitive safety reporting programs successful in preventing accidents.
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Congress Must Swiftly Pass Comprehensive Bankruptcy Reform Legislation
February 25, 2010 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), welcomes legislation introduced in Congress that would comprehensively overhaul the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to better protect U.S. workers and prevent companies from exploiting the process to reward executives and deny employees their collective bargaining rights.

“Employees who have helped build a company and contribute to its bottom line deserve to be treated equally and fairly in the bankruptcy process,” said Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president. “ALPA commends Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) for introducing this legislation to put transparency back in the process, stop companies from rewarding executives for declaring bankruptcy, and ensure that any cuts to workers’ pay or benefits are truly needed and fair in comparison to sacrifices by other stakeholders.”
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imageALPA President to Provide Expertise at G20 National Consultative Meeting
February 22, 2010 - ALPA President John Prater was invited to be a member of a select group of labor and business leaders participating in a “National Consultative Meeting” hosted by Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. This meeting comes as a result of G20 Labor and Employment ministers’ asking that their April summit in Washington, D.C., be preceded by consultations with the foremost representatives of both labor and business.

The meeting will explore issues that might be included in the upcoming G20 meeting, including the evolving employment situation as a result of the international economic crisis, the impact of policies that countries have already adopted, and the need for additional measures to create good jobs, now and in the future.
ALPA Commends Nomination of Earl Weener to NTSB
January 22, 2010 - Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the attached statement in response to the Obama administration’s announcement of the nomination of Dr. Earl F. Weener as a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

“The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, welcomes the Obama administration’s nomination of Dr. Earl F. Weener as a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).”
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Safety Two School (STS)
Herndon, VA
May 11-13, 2010
The next ALPA Safety Two School (STS) scheduled for May 11-13, 2010. Participants should be prepared to attend the three day training session in its entirety. STS is intended to continue the safety education of your CASC members that began with the Basic Safety School (BSS). The course equips attendees with a solid foundation in leadership, CASC project management, and an introduction to System Safety and Risk Management. Members should have served at least six months on your committee, and demonstrated an eagerness and ability to participate in ALPA safety initiatives. Members who have not demonstrated a high level of interest and commitment should not be considered for this course. Pre-requisites are Basic Safety School attendance and approval by the MEC Central Air Safety Chairman and/or MEC Chairman. Register online.
imageLeadership Training Conference Continues with Advocacy Updates
February 24, 2010 - Training continued for ALPA’s newest leaders with a variety of nuts-and-bolts presentations that covered everything from how to effectively communicate and represent their pilots to updates from the union’s Legal Department and airline pilots’ top advocacy issues on Capitol Hill and Parliament.
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imageALPA Hosts Leadership Training Conference
February 22, 2010 - Capt. John Prater, ALPA president, welcomed the largest class of newly elected representatives in recent history and opened this year’s Leadership Training Conference with an emphasis on the role they will play in the union’s strategic planning activities coming up at the 2010 Board of Directors meeting this fall. “As a union representative, you don’t represent just the pilots in your domicile or even your airline,” Prater said. “You represent this profession, and this union. You won’t get off the hook by rubberstamping something set in front of you. You’ll be making the decisions that move this union forward.”
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CIRP Chairmen’s Meeting
Phoenix, AZ
April 1-2, 2010
The Air Line Pilots Association, International is holding its annual CIRP Chairmen’s Meeting April 1-2, 2010 in Phoenix, AZ. The meeting will begin at 8:00 am on the 1st and go until approximately 5:00 pm that day, then resume at 8 am on the 2nd and end at 5:00 pm. Lunch will be provided each day and breakfast is provided complimentary in the hotel sleeping room rate. The meeting will be oriented toward helping chairs run their committees. On the second day we will have CIRP training including a review of basic grief concepts. Register online.
Accident Investigation Course (AI2)
Herndon, VA
April 12-15, 2010
The ALPA Accident Investigation Course (AI2) will be held April 12-15, 2010. The course will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day, but is expected to conclude mid-day on Friday. Participants should be prepared to attend the four-day training in its entirety. Completion of the ALPA Basic Safety School (BSS/AI1) is a prerequisite for ALPA Safety Representatives attending this course. ALPA Safety Representatives also require the endorsement of their respective CASC or CAI to attend. This course is intended for ALPA safety representatives who could be expected to represent the Association in an accident investigation. The goal of AI2 is to familiarize attendees with the NTSB and TSBC investigative processes, rules and procedures, as well as the role of the Association during an accident investigation. At the completion of this course, these attendees should be able to function as the Chief Accident Investigator or ALPA Coordinator for their MEC Central Air Safety Committee. Register online.
Walking the Line
A library of video and photo footage documenting the solidarity of ALPA’s pilot family.
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