Air Safety Forum Kicks Off with Celebration of ‘ALPA Wins’
August 4, 2014 - The Air
Safety Organization kicked off the 60th Air Safety Forum
with a celebration of what ALPA president Capt. Lee Moak
referred to as “ALPA wins,” recent progress made in
security, safety, and pilot assistance.
“You all know me well enough
now that you know there’s nothing I celebrate more than an
ALPA win,” Moak said, pointing out that the members of ALPA
and the Air Safety Organization help deliver those wins. He
further noted that ALPA had proactively addressed the issue
of airspace closure procedures with the FAA, and heard from
the administrator that the agency will hold an upcoming
summit to discuss issues related to closing airspace.
First vice president and
national safety coordinator Capt. Sean Cassidy opened the
Air Safety Forum’s safety and security representatives’
workshop, speaking before the standing-room-only session,
where the ASO groups will plan and discuss various topics
that help pilots get the job done safely and securely.
Capt. Cassidy went on to
highlight the ALPA accomplishments just since June,
including leading a forum discussing data-sharing across
organizations, advancements in maintaining Pilot-In-Command
authority over use of the cockpit jumpseat, and the addition
of Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City as the 55th
airport in the Known Crewmember program.
Cassidy then drew the
attention of attendees to the ASF app and one icon in
particular that states “Powered by ALPA.” All the successes
he mentioned, Cassidy explained, were “powered by ALPA,” by
the hard work of each and every person in the room and the
rest of the Air Safety Organization.
The opening session
concluded with a Q&A with Capts. Moak and Cassidy, where
attendees asked about the recent messaging from ALPA
regarding pilot pay shortage, the Deny NAI campaign, and
operations in the vicinity of conflict zones. |