ALPA Continues Push for Transparent Airfare Advertisement

Today ALPA issued a statement in response to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) May 21 announcement about its notice of proposed rulemaking regarding airfare advertisements. In the statement, ALPA warns that the proposed DOT rule may lead to less transparency, increased airfares, and harm U.S. aviation jobs.

“The DOT released a 118-page proposed rule yesterday that claims to benefit the traveling public. In ALPA’s view, on the surface, the proposed rule sounds consumer-focused, but the regulatory burden may potentially increase airfare costs for consumers and/or reduce air service. Both would be negative outcomes for customers, airlines, and airline employees, including 51,000 ALPA pilots.”

Read the full release.

ALPA Explores Lowering Dues Rate for 2015

ALPA president Captain Lee Moak opened last week’s spring Executive Board meeting by declaring the Association’s intent to process a potential lower dues rate for its members in 2015. This move would signal the second time ALPA’s dues rate has been lowered in two years. The most recent dues reduction was implemented in January 2014.

“Financially, we’re leaner and we’re stronger,” said Moak. “A further dues rate reduction demonstrates that the Board of Directors is a careful steward of our resources while being mindful of the services we provide to our members. This dues rate reduction also demonstrates to our members and pilot groups represented by independent unions that joining ALPA will lead to more effective representation for all pilots and further reductions in dues rates.”

Read the full release.

FAA Employees Say “No” to NAI

In a new posting on ALPA’s Leadership from the Cockpit website, Mike Perrone, national president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, supported ALPA’s “Deny NAI” campaign with an open letter:

On behalf of the 11,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees represented by the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), I urge the denial of Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) application for a foreign air carrier permit. The convoluted scheme to register the airline in one country, contract pilots from another, and operate out of yet another is, quite simply, a recipe for disaster. NAI’s plan will no doubt create regulatory headaches as this country attempts to monitor the use of such an airline in this country. More importantly, the concept robs this country of its ability to participate in fair competition.

I am greatly concerned that if NAI’s application is approved, a precedent will be set for other foreign carriers to manipulate cheap labor, reduce or eliminate collective bargaining, and find a way to work around important regulations that govern this country’s aviation system. By registering in Ireland despite not serving Irish airports, NAI is circumventing Norway’s labor and tax laws. By contracting a flight crew from Thailand through a recruitment firm based in Singapore, NAI is stacking the deck against U.S. airlines and their employees. NAI is responding to criticism by saying that this country is afraid of competition and wants to deny Americans the right to inexpensive travel. In reality, we are trying to protect the hundreds of thousands of people employed by the aviation industry and ensure the integrity of flights operating in this country.

For these reasons, PASS fully supports the petition sponsored by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) urging the Department of Transportation to deny NAI’s application.

View photos from the event.

Mesa Pilots Get Their Feet Wet at Family Awareness Event

On Sunday, May 18, the Mesa MEC held their second family awareness event of the year at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C. More than 80 Mesa pilots and their families came out to zip line, paddle board, raft, and rock climb, in addition to other fun activities. The event was also an opportunity for pilots to hear the latest news from members of the MEC and Negotiating Committee.

“As our negotiations go into its third year,” said Jake Clymo, acting MEC chairman, “it’s more important than ever that we remain unified and focused on our goals—and not let the status quo lull us into inaction. These events allow the pilots to ask the tough questions and get the straight scoop from their ALPA representatives. It also gives our families the chance to get together and enjoy a day with their ‘Mesa ALPA family.’”

JetBlue Pilots Participate in Leadership Training

Representatives of the JetBlue pilots’ Master Executive Council participated in a mini ALPA Leadership Conference this week in Herndon, Va. After a warm welcome from Capt. Andy Nelson (Spirit), a member of the ALPA National Leadership Committee, the temporary reps received briefings from ALPA staff from the Membership, Finance, Representation, Government and Legislative Affairs, Air Safety, Legal, and Communications departments. The conference will provide the volunteers with the skills they need as they move forward with the JetBlue membership drive.

Memorial Day: Remember the Past, Protect the Future

During this holiday weekend, ALPA encourages you to honor the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have lost their lives in service to our great nation. A national moment of silence takes place in their honor at 3:00 p.m. local time Monday.

Memorial Day also marks the beginning of summer, and it is important to remember as you enter the summer flying season that you as pilots are in a fight to save your careers and the future of American aviation. Read about ALPA’s Save Our Skies campaign and take action by signing the petition at sos.alpa.org.

Whether spending the holiday weekend flying the line or on the ground with friends and loved ones, your friends at ALPA wish you a happy and safe Memorial Day.

Alaska Airlines has created a video about the Alaska Airlines Fallen Soldier Program. It explains the procedures Alaska Airlines has put in place for properly transporting a fallen soldier.

ICAO Loss of Control-Inflight Symposium

This week, ALPA representatives participated in a symposium on Loss of Control-Inflight (LOC-I), hosted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal. Pilots, regulators, manufacturers, operators, and training and human factors experts met to discuss all aspects of LOC-I, which is one of ICAO’s three principal safety priorities. During the past eight years, LOC-I accidents have accounted for more fatalities in scheduled airline operations than any other cause.

The main focus of the symposium was exploring how to recognize, avoid, and recover from LOC-I events with the main emphasis on preventing a LOC-I event from occurring. Three pilots from ALPA’s Human Factors and Training Group participated in the symposium as presenters and panel members. Captain Dave McKenney (UAL) talked about managing automation and pilot monitoring. Captain Bryan Burks (ALA) moderated a discussion on finding ways to improve how pilots train and conduct for routine operations, and participated on a panel discussion regarding training for upset prevention and recovery. First Officer Helena Reidemar (DAL) discussed the work and report of a pilot monitoring group for which she serves as co-chair.

Who Will Save Our Skies?

The June 2014 issue of Air Line Pilot includes an in-depth article on ALPA’s recently launched “Save Our Skies” initiative, designed to mobilize the American public to voice opposition to actions that are harmful to U.S. airline industry workers’ jobs, including Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) application for a foreign air carrier permit.

To further enhance ALPA’s messaging, SOS ads are in place across D.C. on city buses and in subway stations. Make no mistake—no one will miss the Association’s campaign to deny NAI, including the key decision-makers in Washington. This type of advocacy represents ALPA’s progression as an Association to enhance its communications and traditional advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., and Ottawa to further the union’s pilot-partisan agenda.

Read about this issue and more in the latest issue of ALP.