Release #: 18.10
April 27, 2018
ALPA Applauds U.S. House FAA Reauthorization Passage
Long-Term Safety Bill Maintains Pilot Training Requirements, Advances Fair Competition
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Capt. Tim Canoll, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement today about the passage of H.R. 4, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.
“The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l commends the U.S. House of Representatives for its strong, bipartisan passage of a five-year Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization that will not only advance safety for the traveling and shipping public but also fair competition for U.S. aviation workers. ALPA recognizes the leadership and determined work on this reauthorization by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), committee ranking member.
“The bill makes significant strides in enhancing safe operations for airline passengers, crews, and cargo. The measure maintains life-saving first officer qualification, training, and experience requirements; improves the safe transport by air of lithium batteries; mandates secondary cockpit barriers on new passenger airliners; prescribes the automatic acceptance of voluntary safety reports; and supports the authorization of pilot assistance programs. In addition, the reauthorization contains an amendment offered by Rep. DeFazio to allow the FAA to regulate unmanned aircraft systems flown by hobbyists to enhance the safety of all who operate in the national airspace, including planes carrying passengers and cargo.
“The reauthorization also defends fair competition for U.S. workers by addressing flag-of-convenience schemes that allow foreign airlines to avoid labor, tax, and safety laws by basing different pieces of their business in different countries, undermining fair competition. The FAA reauthorization passed by the U.S. House today includes the text of H.R. 2150, sponsored by Reps. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Drew Ferguson (R-GA), which will help ensure that flags-of-convenience are not allowed to threaten the U.S. airline industry.
“Our union is also pleased by the amendment offered by Reps. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Dina Titus (D-NV), John Katko (R-NY), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Adam Smith (D-WA), Mimi Walters (R-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Barbara Comstock (R-VA), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), which directs the FAA administrator to create and facilitate a Women in Aviation Advisory Board to promote organizations and programs that provide education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women in the aviation industry.
“ALPA is disappointed by a provision in the U.S. House reauthorization that would introduce a new safety risk by taking initial steps to promote single-operator commercial cargo aircraft. Air transportation is extremely safe in North America, due in no small part to the presence of two well-qualified, adequately trained, and properly rested pilots at the aircraft controls. While we support new technology, ALPA agrees with NASA that single-operator aircraft are not safe. We oppose the provision, Section 744, because it will undermine the safety of our airspace, and we urge Congress to reject it.
“Today’s action by the U.S. House marks an important step toward ensuring that the FAA works with a stable, long-term funding source and with an authorization centered on safeguarding passengers, crews, and cargo shippers.”
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 60,000 pilots at 34 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.
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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org