Introduction

Section 1
Enhancing the Business Environment in the United States

Section 2
Defending U.S. Aviation Jobs in the International Marketplace

Section 3
 Enhancing International Aviation Safety Regulations through ICAO

The United States’ airline industry and its employees operate in a hypercompetitive international marketplace. The U.S. airline industry has lost $53 billion since 1999, on a net basis. Only three years out of the last ten have been profitable. This is an industry that has been unable to meet its cost of capital and is known for not generating healthy margins, even in the best of times. It is very clear that the airline industry continues to face significant challenges. Competition from foreign airlines, which are often state owned or heavily state sponsored and vertically integrated, and operate from countries with low or nonexistent tax and regulatory burdens, is growing rapidly and impeding international growth for U.S. airlines. In addition, foreign airlines are expanding into markets previously dominated by U.S. airlines, threatening our carriers in their own backyard. U.S. airlines, as a result, find themselves in survival mode, adapting to the global marketplace that presents an uneven playing field for U.S. airlines.

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Legislative Issues

Pilot Fatigue: ALPA strongly supports the Safe Skies Act (H.R. 182) for the simple reason that all pilots, regardless of the nature of their operations should be protected by the same rules.
 
Federal Flight Deck Officer Program: When dealing with terrorism, the deterrent value of an armed presence within the cockpit cannot be overstated.
 
Abu Dhabi Preclearance: ALPA opposes the Administration’s efforts to work with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government to create a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport. A CBP preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi would only benefit foreign carriers that compete with U.S. airlines, putting U.S. airline jobs at risk.

ALPA Fact Sheet on Proposed CBP Site | Capt. Lee Moak’s Op-Ed in Aviation Daily | Coalition Letter to Congress | Coalition Letter to Secretary Napolitano

Advanced Biofuels: With continued rising oil prices and international security challenges, the development and use of biofuels is extremely important for our military capability. As fuel represents the number one cost to the airline industry, the development of alternative fuels is also critical to the success and stabilization of U.S airlines and their employees. That’s why ALPA is supporting S. 1079, “The Domestic Fuel for Enhancing National Security Act.”

ALPA’s Support Letter | Coalition Letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee | Coalition Letter to House and Senate Leadership

Taxing Health Care Benefits: Taxing employer provided health coverage is wrong for ALPA members. Under some bipartisan proposals, as many as 84% of ALPA pilots would endure increased costs by 2018.

Talking Points: Taxing Employer-Provided Health Care is Wrong for Air Line Pilots & for America’s Working Families

View all ALPA positions on the ALPA Viewpoints website.
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Call to Action:
Oppose elimination of funding for the FFDO program!

The Administration’s 2014 budget blueprint calls for the elimination of all funding for the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program. The FFDO program is a critical and cost-efficient airline security program staffed by thousands of fully trained and deputized ALPA pilots that volunteer their time to become qualified FFDOs at great personal and professional sacrifices to secure our flight decks. The FFDO program is already underfunded, and should be strengthened with increased funding over current levels, not eliminated. Please write Congress today and tell them to support the FFDO program and oppose the Administration’s plan to eliminate it.

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Call to Action:
The Safe Skies Act of 2013

The Safe Skies Act has been reintroduced! Like its predecessor in the 112th Congress, the Safe Skies Act of 2013 will correct the oversight made by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in its final regulations (FAR 117) to address pilot fatigue for passenger airlines only. The rules excluded cargo airline operations from mandatory compliance. For decades, ALPA has advocated for “One Level of Safety” for the simple reason that all pilots and airline operations should be treated equally regardless of payload or flight mission. Contact your representative today to urge them to support the Safe Skies Act and achieve One Level of Safety.

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Call to Action:
Stop the Creation of a New CBP Preclearance Site in Abu Dhabi!

The U.S. and United Arab Emirates (UAE) governments are moving forward towards the creation of a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport. An Abu Dhabi CBP preclearance facility may be great news for state-owned Etihad, but for U.S. pilots, it means just another competitive advantage handed to foreign airlines by flawed U.S. policy. The good news is we have the ability to stop this proposal—by contacting the White House and Congress today and telling them that this proposal represents a serious threat to our jobs and the U.S. airline industry.

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