The Landing: ALPA Members Promote Pro-Pilot Agenda on Capitol Hill

From left, F/O Matthew Scarola (ExpressJet), F/O Scott Wurst (United), F/O Coleman Hamilton (United), F/O Mark Bomber (United), Capt. David Wood (United), and F/O James Berzon (United) walk to their scheduled appointments with Members of Congress.

On June 13, as ALPA’s Government Affairs Legislative Summit came to a close, more than 150 pilots from 13 airlines descended upon Capitol Hill to meet with elected officials to discuss why Section 744 of the House-passed FAA reauthorization bill, which proposes funding for a single-piloted commercial aircraft program, must be removed before any bill is sent to U.S. President Donald Trump.

ALPA pilots also spoke with congressional staff to seek their support on other important aviation issues like the Flags of Convenience Don’t Fly Here Act (H.R. 2150), which would restore the integrity of U.S. Open Skies agreements and prevent flag-of-convenience business models from proliferating in the U.S. airline industry.

From left, F/O Michael King (Delta), Capt. Lisa Peasley (Delta), F/O Eric Cowan (Delta), Rep. Jason Lewis (R-MN), and F/O Daniel Stowell (Delta) meet to discuss the implications of several aviation-related bills currently before Congress.

From left, Capt. Jason Harbison (Compass), F/O Dan Bauer (Delta), F/O Chuck Engel (Compass), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Capt. Doug Mattson (United), F/O Laura Theodorson (Delta), and F/O Dan Kenzie (Compass) pose for a photo after their meeting.

From left, F/O Kandy Bernskoetter (FedEx Express), Jeff Pavlak of ALPA’s Government Affairs Department, Capt. Wes Reed (FedEx Express), a congressional staff member, and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) talk about issues of concern to ALPA members.
From left, Capt. Lisa Peasley (Delta), Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), F/O Jack Lux (FedEx Express), and F/O Eric Cowan (Delta) meet to promote ALPA’s pro-pilot agenda.

56,871*

The number of letters sent to Members of Congress generated by ALPA’s Call to Action to oppose the elimination of pilots on the flight deck and single-piloted commercial operations.

1,882*

The number of ALPA pilots asking elected officials to cosponsor the flags-of-convenience and secondary cockpit barriers bills (H.R. 2150 and H.R. 911).

2,306*

The number of people taking action to stop Congress from lowering the training and qualification requirements for airline pilots.

162

The number of congressional meetings ALPA members took part in on June 13 to promote the Association’s pilot-partisan priorities.


* As of late June

This article was originally published in the August 2018 issue of Air Line Pilot.

Read the latest Air Line Pilot (PDF)