ALPA in NTSB Forum on Flight Data, Locator Technology

Capt. Chuck Hogeman (UAL), ALPA’s Aviation Safety chair, provided line pilot input at the NTSB’s Emerging Flight Data & Locator Forum held today in Washington, D.C. Participating on one of four forum panels, Hogeman presented the Association’s views on potential technical solutions that would help locate wreckage, retrieve data recorders, and recover data after an airline accident.

Regarding data recording, Hogeman stressed that safety data must be used only for that purpose, and while this data is a tremendously valuable resource, it must be protected. He also cautioned against the misuse of safety data, which invariably results in a loss of information from future events, and that the collection of data is of no value without robust analysis.

As for locating aircraft, Hogeman noted that onboard technology already tells the flight crew where they are; we must maximize use of existing technology. Streaming data from the aircraft poses significant technological, regulatory, and political challenges and “won’t prevent bad things from happening,” he cautioned.

ALPA AGE Group chairman F/O Steve Jangelis

ALPA Conveys Pilot Concerns on LED Approach Lights

F/O Steve Jangelis (Delta), chairman of the ALPA Airport and Ground Environment (AGE) Group, was invited by the FAA to be the lead speaker this morning at a government-industry meeting on LED lights in runway approach lighting arrays. Jangelis presented line pilots’ concerns about replacing incandescent approach lights with LEDs.

Jangelis advised attendees of the meeting that:

• Simulator studies must be completed to determine the scope and operational differences between LED and incandescent approach lights, including relevant human factors.
• LED approach lights must be operationally tested.
• LED lights must remain visible during all weather conditions, including heavy rain, snow, and ice.
• LED lights must be standardized to be clear, concise, and contrasting.
• Pilots must be advised of the operational differences between LED and incandescent lighting.

The meeting on LED approach lights, being held in Arlington, Va., will continue through tomorrow afternoon.

Delta Council 44 Joins ALPA-PAC Key Men Society

Delta Council 44 Atlanta is the latest council to join the Key Men Society, which honors those councils who lead by example by achieving 24 percent or higher ALPA-PAC participation. The award is named after the 24 Key Men who founded our union and persisted to lead ALPA through our formative years. This is the highest honor ALPA-PAC can bestow. Thanks to all of you who have contributed to ALPA-PAC in order to help defend this profession.

The descriptions of the Air Line Pilots Association PAC are not a solicitation to contribute to the PAC. Only ALPA members, ALPA executives, senior administrative and professional staff personnel, and their immediate family members living in the same household are eligible to contribute to ALPA-PAC. ALPA-PAC maintains and enforces a policy of refusing to accept contributions from any other source. ALPA members may learn more about ALPA-PAC and about contributing to ALPA-PAC by entering the members-only portion of this website.

Spirit Pilots Speak Up in Negotiations Survey

Yesterday, the first of many negotiations surveys of Spirit pilots closed, and participation far exceeded expectations. For more than three weeks, Spirit pilots were encouraged to respond to a web survey, and more than 60 percent of the pilot group answered questions about priorities for the next Spirit contract. With the amendable date on their contract coming up in August 2015, Spirit pilot leadership is looking for input on what the fast-growing pilot group wants and where they think contractual gains can be made.

“Just four years ago, Spirit was around 400 pilots,” said Capt. Chris Amongero, Spirit MEC chairman, “but as this pilot group has grown to more than 1,000, we needed to provide a way for pilots to reach out to our committee and let us know what they wanted. Plans are in the works to continue to reach out to our pilots and make sure that every Spirit pilot is represented at the negotiating table.”

Mesa PAC Support Breaks 60 Percent

Mesa pilots again raised the bar in ALPA-PAC support, bringing their participation to more than 60 percent. As the group grows, new Mesa pilots are encouraged to support the efforts of ALPA on Capitol Hill and help protect the aviation industry. For the past year, Mesa has led the Association in PAC support and continues to challenge other groups to do the same.

“As pilots, we cannot sit back and allow legislators and government to make decisions that affect our industry and our profession without our input,” said Capt. Brian Richardson, Mesa MEC chair. “We must be involved, and ALPA-PAC allows us to get our priorities heard at the highest levels. I encourage every pilot to join the more than 60 percent of Mesa pilots who support ALPA-PAC.”

The descriptions of the Air Line Pilots Association PAC are not a solicitation to contribute to the PAC. Only ALPA members, ALPA executives, senior administrative and professional staff personnel, and their immediate family members living in the same household are eligible to contribute to ALPA-PAC. ALPA-PAC maintains and enforces a policy of refusing to accept contributions from any other source. ALPA members may learn more about ALPA-PAC and about contributing to ALPA-PAC by entering the members-only portion of this website.

Sun Country Negotiations Gain Momentum

After several years of making only incremental progress, negotiations at Sun Country Airlines are on the upswing. ALPA and management met in MSP for three days last week and made good progress, including reaching tentative agreements on two new sections of the contract. SCA negotiators have now TA’d 18 of 29 sections and are down to just a few open issues in most of the remaining sections, except for the most significant pay, scope, work rules, and benefits matters.

The collective bargaining agreement for Sun Country’s more than 225 pilots became amendable in March 2010, and the two sides began working with a federal mediator in November 2012. The mediator is accelerating the bargaining schedule, and the parties will meet again at the end of this month in Kansas City.

Still Needed: New Pilot-Partisan Advocates!

ALPA Government Affairs continues to conduct District Advocate training with a webinar scheduled for this Friday, October 10, at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500z). ALPA needs volunteers who are interested in promoting the Association’s pilot-partisan agenda and want to serve as pilot-partisan representatives to their local congressional offices. Volunteers should be willing to schedule and conduct in-district advocacy visits with their members of Congress.

The District Advocate webinar lasts an hour, and training topics include the structure of ALPA’s grassroots program, how to set up and conduct local congressional visits, and a briefing on current pilot-partisan issues. A computer with internet access and a phone to dial-in to a toll-free number are required.

Interested? Please e-mail Andrew.Rademaker@alpa.org to sign up for the training session. Additional training dates will be offered later this fall for those who cannot make it this Friday. Pilots are also encouraged to participate in the current grassroots Calls to Action program to communicate ALPA’s pilot-partisan agenda directly to your federal legislators.

October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

At the suggestion of Air Wisconsin Captain Daniela Hurley, ALPA has produced a special edition ALPA lanyard to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can purchase this lanyard for $5. After covering production and shipping costs, $1 of each lanyard purchased will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. These lanyards can be purchased at ALPA’s online store, www.alpagear.com, or during registration at the upcoming Board of Directors meeting. Let’s continue the fight against breast cancer!