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News from ALPA International |
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July 26, 2012 |
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 Last
week, four airports—DEN,
SLC, EWR, and PHL—were
added to the Known
Crewmember (KCM) system,
bringing the total to 14
KCM airports. This week,
KCM site surveys were
conducted with the
support of ALPA pilot
representatives and
staff at LAX and SFO.
Early next month, KCM is
scheduled to be launched
at four additional
airports—LAS, LGA, DTW,
and MDW—which will bring
the total to 18. By the
end of November 2012, a
total of 31 airports are
planned to be included
in the system.No
longer a test program,
KCM is now available to
more than 100 U.S.
airlines, including all
U.S. ALPA carriers.
Airlines for America
(A4A, previously the Air
Transport Association)
recently informed
airline managements of
the steps that are
needed for their pilots
and flight attendants to
be added to this very
successful program. ALPA
and A4A collaborate on a
website,
www.knowncrewmember.org,
which provides the
latest information about
the expansion of this
program. The same
information is available
to iPhone and Android
users on the ALPA smart
phone app.
Read more.
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 ALPA
has launched a “Call to
Action” asking pilots to
write to members of the
U.S. Senate Commerce
Committee to vote yes on
S. 1956, the European
Union Emissions Trading
Scheme Prohibition Act.
The Committee is
expected to hold a
markup of this important
legislation on July 31.
ALPA members residing in
states where one of
their senators sits on
the Commerce Committee
(see list below) can
click here to take action
and stop this overreach
by the European Union.
ALPA pilots who live in the following states are encouraged to participate: West
Virginia, Texas, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, California, South
Carolina, Florida, Washington, Mississippi, New Jersey, Georgia, Arkansas,
Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Virginia, New Hampshire, and
Alaska.
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US Airways Express Pilots Continue Information Exchange |
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 Recognizing
the importance of collaboration in an ever-changing environment, the US Airways
Express Pilots Alliance (USEPA) met yesterday in Indianapolis to further the
exchange of information among pilots flying for the US Airways regional network.
Through this alliance, ALPA pilots from Air Wisconsin, Mesa, Piedmont, PSA, and
Trans States are working to enhance pilot contract standards, harmonize safety
programs, and promote career portability. These are particularly important given
heightened merger speculation involving US Airways and other industry
developments affecting regional flying.ALPA is also leading a cooperative
effort with another union flying under the US Airways Express banner. Joining
the group this week for the first time were pilots from Republic, who are
represented by the Teamsters Local Union No. 357. Republic pilots have been in
contract negotiations for more than five years with a management team that is
reportedly refusing to engage in meaningful discussions. The pilots’ goal of a
fair contract is shared throughout the profession, as every pilot contract,
regardless of union affiliation, affects the bargaining outcome at all other
carriers.
Read more.
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President’s Committee for Remote Operations Begins Work |
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The initial meeting of
the President’s
Committee for Remote
Operations (PCRO) took
place on Thursday, July
26. Committee Chair
Capt. Peter Black (FAB)
led the group in
discussions of
member experiences in remote
operations, ALPA
activity, and
expectations for the
group. The initial
deliberations focused on
identifying focus areas,
forming priorities for
activities, beginning to
identify proposed
solutions, and
developing future plans.
To establish a
baseline for the group’s
activity, the chair
reviewed the memo from ALPA president Capt. Lee
Moak forming and tasking
the committee, as well
as the initial work
program and committee
goals. In general, the
committee was formed to
identify the potential
hazards unique to
operating in remote
Northern areas. These
include adequacy of
airport infrastructure,
availability of
navigation and approach
capability, weather
information
dissemination, and human
factors considerations
of operating in the
extremes of temperature
and daylight.
Read more.
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 The
aviation industry is changing faster than ever before. The new
“ALPA Daily”
feature at www.alpa.org will keep you informed
of the latest industry developments and analysis from around the globe. Check it
out each day to stay up-to-date on the news that affects pilots and the piloting
profession.
• According to USA Today, Delta Air Lines reported a large operating profit
during the just-ended second quarter, but “bad bets” on fuel hedges resulted in
a $168 million quarterly loss for the April-to-June quarter.
Read more.
• NBC News reports that the parent of Alaska Airlines said its second-quarter
profit more than doubled with the help of full airplanes and higher fares.
Read more.
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Proposed European FT/DT Rules Threaten Intercontinental Flights, Says BALPA |
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 Yesterday’s
IFALPA Daily News reported that the British Airline Pilots
Association (BALPA) has issued a statement accusing the proposed European
regulations on flight and duty times of making “flying from the U.S. to the U.K.
much less safe.” It pointed out that flights “such as London to Los Angeles,”
which take over 11 hours, “will have the requirement for a third pilot lifted so
that the two pilots, who will have no opportunity to rest, will have dangerous
fatigue levels by the time they get to landing. . . . U.K. regulations require
that a third pilot is present. This is to ensure that adequate rest is taken to
maintain concentration whilst at the controls and be alert and focused on
landing.”Jim McAuslan, BALPA’s general secretary, commented “These long flights such as
Heathrow to Los Angeles carry three pilots for a very good reason. With such a
long working day, and a locked cockpit door, it is essential that the two pilots
at the controls of the aircraft are not fatigued. They must be fully alert when
landing in LA. This is another example of how flawed the E.U. proposals are.
They have been developed without incorporating the available science but also
without common sense.
Read more.
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Support Continues for Pentagon Alternative Energy Initiatives |
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The Pilot Partisan Agenda posted a message yesterday announcing that the Pew
Project on National Security, Energy, and Climate this week released a letter
signed by more than 350 veterans urging the president and Congress to support
the Pentagon’s initiatives to diversify its energy sources and innovate. Strong
supporting statements were made by retired military leaders from all branches of
the military. John Warner, former Navy secretary and chairman of the Senate
Armed Services Committee when he represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate,
weighed in as well.
ALPA has been working with airlines, aerospace industry manufacturers,
farmers, and biofuel producers to help the Department of Defense reach its
stated goal of developing a more secure domestically produced fuel source to
mitigate the national security threat that current energy policy represents. We
have the opportunity to positively affect our future fuel costs, and we are
working hard to realize our goal.
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  Stay connected with your
union, your profession,
and your industry by
reading Air Line
Pilot magazine and
watching monthly
episodes of The
FlightDeck.Read
about a Sun Country
pilot who, in a previous
career, flew a
remarkable six Space
Shuttle missions, on
page 34 of the
June/July issue of Air Line Pilot magazine.
On the 17th
installment
of
The
FlightDeck, join
Capt. Moak and the
pilots of First Air on a
journey to the far
northern reaches of
Canada. Remember that both Air Line Pilot
and The FlightDeck
can also be accessed
from the members-only
portion of the ALPA
website at
www.alpa.org.
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Interested in investing? To find out about Charles Schwab’s executive services
for U.S.-based pilots, call 877-648-4719 and identify yourself as an ALPA
member. Also visit Schwab.com.
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Feedback & E-mail Address Changes |
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| Questions or comments on this FastRead? Give us your feedback at
communications@alpa.org. If you have moved or changed your ISP or e-mail
address, please update your ALPA records. If you don’t, you
will no longer receive the ALPA FastRead and other e-mail bulletins and notices,
and once your postal forwarding order expires, you’ll no longer receive the
magazine and other ALPA mail. You can do it yourself by going to
www.alpa.org and logging
in. Go to “My ALPA” in the menu at the top of the page, and from there, you’ll be
instructed how to make the necessary changes. If you don’t have access to the
members-only section of
www.alpa.org, you can
e-mail your requests by sending them to
membership@alpa.org. Be sure to include your member number or enough other
information so that we can identify you in the membership database, and tell us
what information needs to be updated. Please note that it is not sufficient
just to notify your LEC or MEC of these changes—you should register them with
the ALPA Membership Department in Herndon. Can’t remember your member number
or how to log in? Need information about your ALPA insurance programs? These and
other questions about ALPA services can be answered by contacting
membership@alpa.org. Return to top
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Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l
1625 Massachusetts Avenue NW
| Washington, DC 20036 | 703-689-2270 |
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