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September 30, 2014

In This Issue:

Breaking News:
     • NextGen Improves Air Travel Now; Promises Greater Future Benefit
Features:
     • With BOD Approaching, Brush Up on Your Union’s Goals with ALP
     • Does the U.S. Gov’t Copy? ALPA Reinforces Call for Long-Term FAA Funding
Pilot Group News:
     • FedEx Pilots Continue Their Stand with Rallies at International Bases
     • PSA MEC Welcomes New Hires
National News:
     • TSA’s Pistole Announces New PreCheck Initiative
     • ALPA Urges Security Precautions
     • Returning Military Personnel Granted Exception for ATP Knowledge Test
     • Aviation Industry Pledges to Stop Carbon Emissions Growth by 2020
ALPA Daily Extra
News on the Net
 

NextGen Improves Air Travel Now; Promises Greater Future Benefit

Yesterday, ALPA president Capt. Lee Moak issued a statement to affirm the union’s support for advancing NextGen and for the collaborative process in place to realize full benefits of modernization. The government-industry-labor partnership is key to maximizing efficiency and safety gains.

“The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) fully advocates for the advancement of NextGen and is working with the FAA and other industry stakeholders to ensure progress continues on this important initiative. The U.S. airline industry has already realized some of the benefits of this operational enhancement, and its completion is vital to future capacity improvements as well as the continued safety and efficiency of our national airspace system.

Read Capt. Moak’s full statement.

With BOD Approaching, Brush Up on Your Union’s Goals with ALP

The October issue of Air Line Pilot has arrived, and with ALPA’s Board of Directors meeting rapidly approaching, turn to page 20 to read about ALPA’s strategic plan in “Charting a Course to Success.” ALPA’s aeromedical advisor gives advice and tips in “Contracting a Tropical Disease: What You Need to Know.” And Our Stories on page 34 introduces you to a JetBlue pilot who knows a different meaning of “never forget.”

Air Line Pilot is available online now and coming soon to your mailbox.

Does the U.S. Government Copy? ALPA Reinforces Call for Long-Term FAA Funding

During remarks today on a key panel at the Air Traffic Control Association’s (ATCA) 59th Annual Conference and Exposition in Washington, D.C., ALPA president Capt. Lee Moak reinforced ALPA’s call for long-term sustained funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

ALPA’s president opened his comments by commending the FAA for their handling of the recent sabotage event at Chicago center. “Kudos to the FAA,” Moak said, noting that ALPA was thankful that no one was injured and that the Chicago event is a reminder of the need for our ATC system to not only be well protected, but also robust, redundant, and able to react swiftly and effectively to serious events in the national airspace.

Read more about the ATCA conference.


FDX pilots at Sunday’s rally in Hong Kong.
Click here for more photos
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FedEx Pilots Continue Their Stand with Rallies at International Bases

On Sunday, FedEx pilots and their families in Cologne and Hong Kong came together in support of their Negotiating Committee. Just a few days after successful informational picketing events in Anchorage, Los Angeles, and Memphis, Sunday’s rallies provided an opportunity for internationally based pilots to add their voices to the growing frustration with contract negotiations. MEC officers, representatives, and committee members were on hand to answer questions regarding current issues.

“Our pilots are engaged, and their participation at these events conveys to management that we are united and ready to conclude negotiations,” said MEC chairman Capt. Scott Stratton. “It is time for the pilots to be recognized for their contribution to the success of the corporation.”

The Negotiating Committee will meet with management again this week. “It is our hope that we are nearing the end of this long road to obtaining a contract,” said Stratton. “The next few weeks will be telling and real progress at the table will determine if our voices have been heard.”

PSA MEC Welcomes New Hires

The PSA MEC held its first new-hire pilot get-together last week at Fricker’s in Vandalia, Ohio. MEC Chairman Jesse Coeling and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Mark Hinczynski welcomed more than 50 new PSA pilots in various stages of their training.

These social gatherings are intended to give new PSA pilots the opportunity to meet with their union leadership and learn more about the Association. PSA MEC leaders intend to hold these events regularly to welcome their newest members into the ALPA fold.

TSA’s Pistole Announces New PreCheck Initiative

TSA Administrator John Pistole spoke at the Aero Club’s monthly luncheon on Friday, September 26, addressing topics from TSA PreCheck and risk-based security (RBS) to his “2020” vision for the TSA—with a running theme of partnerships between government, industry, and labor. As part of that theme, Pistole recognized ALPA for our work with Airlines for America in developing the Known Crewmember program, which has had 22 million screenings (and counting) to date.

The biggest news from the event was the announcement of TSA’s “private sector prescreening initiative,” wherein the agency plans to partner with third-party, private-sector vendors to increase enrollments in the TSA PreCheck program. Pistole stated that TSA will host an industry day on October 7 at its headquarters to discuss the initiative, with a goal of third-party enrollment operations beginning in 2015. The objective, he said, would be to take the program from its current population of hundreds of thousands into the millions.

Pistole segued from this announcement into his view for the agency in the year 2020, which included a heavy emphasis on the enlarged PreCheck. He envisions that a majority of U.S. airline passengers will go through TSA PreCheck and that a majority of security lanes will be PreCheck lanes as a result. He anticipates there will also be reciprocity agreements with friendly governments overseas that have similar programs. Finally, he stated that the process of examining checked bags will likely be updated under RBS principles, allowing for a greater focusing of resources where they’re needed.

ALPA Urges Security Precautions

Also during last week’s Aero Club luncheon, TSA Administrator John Pistole reiterated that aviation continues to be the target of security threats. The hostilities in the Middle East give evidence of the potential for these threats to increase, and these facts underscore the need for all members to maintain the highest level of vigilance. If you see something, say something to the authorities. If there is any doubt about security, take appropriate action to fully resolve the situation. As a reminder, ALPA provides World Watch to its members for information about security conditions around the globe.

Returning Military Personnel Granted Exception for Use of ATP Knowledge Test

ALPA members who have been on leave from their airline in a U.S. military or civilian capacity outside the United States in support of the U.S. Armed Forces and who need to obtain the ATP certificate but have already completed the ATP knowledge test (written) should be aware that the FAA has an exception to the regulations on pilot qualifications for them. Specifically, those returning who have an expired ATP knowledge test are permitted to use it as a prerequisite for taking a practical test within six months following their return to the States. If the written was taken prior to August 1, 2014, this exception eliminates the need for these pilots to take the ATP Certification Training Program (CTP) course, which is now required before taking the ATP knowledge and practical tests, per 14 CFR 61.156.

The exception to this rule, and how to make use of it, is described in Part 61 Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 100-2.

Aviation Industry Pledges to Stop Carbon Emissions Growth by 2020

An agreement by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), cosigned September 23 by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and several other international aviation groups at the United Nations Climate Change Summit, pledges to stabilize the growth of carbon emissions from aircraft by 2020 and reduce carbon emissions to 2005 levels by 2050. This agreement is consistent with ALPA’s long-standing commitment to sound environmental aviation policy. Advanced biofuels, a national airline policy that allows U.S. airlines to invest in modern, energy efficient aircraft, and the advancement of NextGen technology to reduce flight miles and optimize operations will play key roles in meeting these targets.

Read the full story on ALPA’s blog, Pilot Partisan.

ALPA Daily Extra

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News on the Net

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