Pilot Group News
Cargo
FedEx Express Pilots Hold Remembrance Ceremony
Pilots of FedEx Express held a remembrance ceremony in Narita, Japan, on March 23 to pay their respects to Capt. Kevin Mosley and F/O Tony Pino on the 10-year anniversary of the crash of Flight 80.
Capt. Joe DePete, ALPA’s president; Capt. Russ Sklenka, ALPA’s executive administrator; Capt. Hiroaki Tateno, Japan ALPA’s president; Capt. Mike Bender (FedEx Express, Ret.), ALPA’s lead accident investigator on Flight 80, and Capt. Pete Harmon, FedEx Express Master Executive Council chairman, attended the ceremony. In addition, 30 FedEx pilots who were on layover also gathered to pay their respects, along with ATC personnel from Narita tower and radar and Haneda tower; Critical Incident Stress Management volunteers; Narita International Airport Corporation firefighters and security police; FedEx Narita ramp operations and line maintenance; and Mitsuya Teramura, FedEx senior manager for government affairs in Japan.
“While no amount of time can lessen the grief we feel…, we’re reminded of the unique connection we share as aviation professionals,” FedEx Express pilots observed. “As we continue to honor and keep the memory of our fellow pilots alive, we ask you to join us in keeping the families of Capt. Mosley and F/O Pino in your thoughts and prayers.”
Capt. Joe DePete, ALPA’s president; Capt. Russ Sklenka, ALPA’s executive administrator; FedEx pilots, including Capt. Dave Chase, Capt. Pete Harmon, and F/O Don Loepke; and invited guests attend a remembrance ceremony to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the crash of Flight 80.
Fee for Departure
Envoy MEC Dedicates New Conference Room
The Envoy Air Master Executive Council (MEC) recently dedicated the main conference room in its new offices the “William R. Couette Board Room” in recognition of Capt. Bill Couette, an Envoy pilot and ALPA’s vice president–administration/secretary.
“We believe it’s important to recognize those individuals who’ve contributed to the success of our pilot group via both local and national service,” said Capt. Steven Pallai, the Envoy pilots’ MEC chair, “and Bill exemplifies that.”
Couette was hired at the former Simmons Airlines in 1989 and volunteered his time for Simmons pilots and later American Eagle pilots serving as an elected status representative chair or vice chair for many years. He was a member of the American Eagle pilots’ Negotiating Committee in 1996 and 1997 during the negotiations that resulted in the historic agreement combining the four Eagle carriers and providing Eagle pilots with a single seniority list. In October 2006, Couette was elected ALPA’s vice president–administration/secretary. He’s served ALPA pilots in this capacity during four terms since taking office on Jan. 1, 2007.
Regional
Hawaiian Pilots Elect New MEC Officers
Hawaiian Airlines pilots recently elected new officers to their Master Executive Council (MEC) to serve a three-year term that began March 1.
The new MEC consists of Capt. Lawrence Payne, Jr., chair and Seniority Block 1 representative; Capt. Rod Buskas, vice chair and Seniority Block 2 representative; Capt. Mathias Lundblad, secretary-treasurer and Seniority Block 3 representative; and Capt. Adam Feldman, Seniority Block 4 representative.
Payne is celebrating his 20th anniversary with Hawaiian this year. He’s a former MEC vice chair and has also served on the Scheduling and Merger Committees.
Buskas has been with Hawaiian since 2001. His previous union work includes serving as the DC-10 representative and as a member of the MEC’s Negotiating Committee.
Lundblad has been with Hawaiian since 2012 and served as chair of the MEC’s Communications Committee and as a member of the Grievance Committee.
Feldman has been with the airline since 2013 and was a member of the MEC’s Training Committee. He previously worked on various ALPA committees when he flew for ExpressJet Airlines.
