Pilot Assistance Volunteers Gather for Forum

By Christopher Freeze, Senior Aviation Technical Writer

Representatives from 18 ALPA pilot groups assembled for the ninth biennial Pilot Assistance (PA) Forum, held at ALPA’s Conference Center in Herndon, Va., on May 23–24. Guest attendees included representatives from non-ALPA pilot groups; seven other unions; representatives from the FAA, Transport Canada, the Department of Transportation, and NASA; airframe manufacturers; and health-service providers. Attendees gathered to share information and collaborate on enhancing PA programs throughout the airline industry.

Capt. Tim Canoll, ALPA’s president, welcomed attendees, stating, “Your journey to this forum today demonstrates the global nature of our PA reach and resources. We connect and help pilots, whenever and wherever they need us. And this global perspective is important because the human experience for airline pilots is the same as it is for every other human. But—as pilots—we have advantages: tools, resources, and support to help when we’re down.”

Capt. Joe DePete, ALPA’s first vice president and national safety coordinator, reiterated the importance of the Association’s PA volunteers. “The work you do in these programs saves careers and lives. And I say that from experience, having read the letters and e-mails thanking us and talking with those who were—at one time—at their lowest point professionally.”

Capt. Jerry McDermott (United), ALPA’s Air Safety Organization (ASO) Pilot Assistance chair, reflected on the importance of every PA volunteer. “You as a volunteer give our programs breath and life. Volunteering to help a fellow pilot, when he or she has nowhere else to turn, and everything stands in the balance, makes you special. And I’m proud of each and every one of you.”

Speakers & Panel

Professional Standards

Delta Air Lines Talent Management Program Manager Cynthia Wilson spoke on generational issues and how socioeconomic events influence large population groups. She explained how these groups get and process information and news, communicate, and how their perspectives shape their viewpoints on responsibility, relationships, and the workplace. She also discussed how her company changed its internal practices to adapt to different generations.

Wilson offered her proven strategy for dealing with generational communication gaps: “I take ownership. If I want to improve communications with the people in my world, I will adapt to them. I would hope they would do the same for me, and many will after I talk with them. It’s a conversation that’s becoming more common, and it’s a good one to have for everyone.”

Critical Incident Response Program

Capt. Kevin Hillyer, who was a nonflying pilot in the cockpit of British Airways Flight 2276, which experienced an uncontained engine failure and ensuing fire during the takeoff roll from Las Vegas, Nev., spoke about his experience in the aftermath of the event. “The Critical Incident Response Program [CIRP] helped us to heal, to be able to carry on with life; and for me, personally, CIRP meant I could keep on doing the job I love.”

Joining Hillyer was Capt. Louise Cullinan (Mesa), ALPA’s ASO CIRP Group chair, who credited the program’s success to the fact that it’s staffed by fellow pilots. “It always helps to simply talk with your peers. Walking in, folks are nervous and don’t want to talk. But then they start; and by the time they walk out, they’re so thankful for the process and to simply be listened to in a nonjudgmental way.”

In his remarks, Capt. Harry Nelson of Airbus explained how participating in CIRP enabled his prompt return to duty following an accident during which a predelivery engine test resulted in a collision with a concrete blast deflection wall.

Human Intervention Motivation Study

F/O Corey Slone (United), ALPA’s ASO Human Intervention Motivation Study (HIMS) Group chair, discussed the importance of the program in terms of saving lives and careers and preserving families—noting that HIMS is four times more effective than similar programs used by the general population. He also detailed the monitoring and support aspects of HIMS, which are key to the program’s success (see “Pilot Commentary”).

Slone addressed how to identify an addiction sufferer, noting problems in training, excessive sick leave, layover behavior, peer observations, and professional standards issues. “One of the last things to go in the addiction spiral is work, and that’s where the motivation comes in—because a pilot will do anything to save his or her job, especially if it’s the only option left.

“What we have to do now is educate,” Slone continued. “Addiction is a disease, and it’s important to not treat HIMS through the grievance process. The HIMS Group will come to your master executive council and help you learn and increase awareness of what we do and how we do it.”

F/O Joe Warren (United) shared his personal story of how he became a HIMS volunteer and praised the program. “When you take that phone call, that could be the only time that person asks for the help he or she needs.”

Aeromedical

On the topic of pilot wellness, Dr. James Coppin, the medical director of Coppin Health Institute, which provides consultations in functional and antiaging medicine, spoke about the nature of medicine: “Most diseases in the modern age are the product of imbalances in the body…. To use a metaphor, ‘If the hardware ain’t working, the software is pointless.’”

Coppin elaborated on the recent advancements in medicine, stating, “We’re in an age where conventional wisdom no longer just asks, ‘what is the cause’ of a problem. Today, we’re starting to ask the ‘why’ at its core and learning what we as medical professionals can do to keep you healthy longer.”

In a panel entitled “Meet the Doctors,” a hot topic of discussion was the soon-to-be-launched ALPA peer-support training initiative. Dr. David Salisbury, director of medicine for civil aviation at Transport Canada, postulated that “regulators can be involved but really shouldn’t have an active part. A lack of trust in the officials, if they have a seat at the table, will defeat the program’s entire purpose.”

Dr. Quay Snyder, ALPA’s Aeromedical advisor, noted the changing attitudes regarding mental health in the aeromedical community. “It’s great we’re talking about these issues, but we have to find the line between someone who just needs counseling or maybe a ‘time-out,’ and those who truly need clinical diagnosis and treatment.”

Dr. Michael Berry, federal air surgeon for the FAA, acknowledged that ALPA’s initiative to extend first-class medical certification from six to 12 months for pilots age 40 to 59 is being actively discussed within the agency. ALPA has been advocating for this change for several years and continues to urge the agency to amend the regulations accordingly.

Canadian Pilot Assistance

Capt. Murray Munro (Jazz Aviation), the Canadian Pilot Assistance Group chair, discussed the issues of integrating two new pilot groups, Air Georgian and WestJet, into the PA structure. The volunteers—all of whom are cross-trained in Aeromedical, CIRP, HIMS, and Professional Standards responsibilities in Canada—shared information about the inner workings of pilot wellness program. Other conversations included recent developments in Canadian flight-time/duty time regulations (see “Safer Skies Takes Flight in Canada”), CIRP outreach to a flight school that had experienced a fatal accident, and new Canadian Pilot Assistance promotional materials.

As the forum concluded, McDermott announced that he’ll be stepping down as Pilot Assistance chair at the end of this year (see “Pilot Commentary,”).

The next Pilot Assistance Forum is scheduled for 2019.

Award Recipients

The following awards were presented during ALPA’s Pilot Assistance Forum:

Pilot Assistance Award

Capt. John Rosenberg (Delta) was awarded ALPA’s Pilot Assistance Award for his extraordinary dedication in furthering ALPA’s Professional Standards program, a peer-based network of trained representatives who address pilot issues of an interpersonal or professional nature.

“Capt. Rosenberg’s tireless devotion to his fellow pilots for nearly four decades has made all ALPA pilots stronger,” said Canoll. “Widely respected among his peers, Capt. Rosenberg has a unique insight into how to approach and support people dealing with conflict, and numerous pilots and others have benefited from his understanding and compassion. These benefits have also extended outside the ALPA family to all pilot associations, domestic and international, as well as to our colleagues at the National Air Traffic Controller Association.”

A pilot for 39 years, Rosenberg has supported his peers during his tenure with North Central Airlines, Republic Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. As chair of ALPA’s ASO Professional Standards Group, Rosenberg led a team of volunteers in establishing effective Professional Standards programs and ensuring that ALPA’s Code of Ethics would stand as a guiding light within respective pilot group cultures.

Presidential Citation Award

F/O Kassandra Bernskoetter (FedEx Express) was honored with a Presidential Citation Award for her exemplary contributions to ALPA’s Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP).

“F/O Bernskoetter’s passion for ensuring that her fellow crewmembers have access to the myriad of programs that support pilots and their families during times when they need it most is inspiring,” Canoll said.

Based in Memphis, Tenn., Bernskoetter has distinguished herself as an invaluable member of ALPA’s CIRP team. During her 13-year tenure, she played a crucial role in the accident investigations of FedEx Express Flight 80 near Tokyo, Japan, in 2009 and Comair Flight 5191 near Lexington, Ky., in 2006.

“Kandy Bernskoetter is a dedicated professional who relentlessly pursues the Pilot Assistance mission. Those of us who regularly work with Kandy all agree that she is a force of nature. Her energy and enthusiasm provide inspiration to all those around her,” said Capt. Chuck Dyer (FedEx Express), his pilot group’s Master Executive Council (MEC) chair.

In addition to her CIRP efforts, Bernskoetter also authored the Honor Escort Guide, outlining how pilot remains are transported and procedures for the honor guard who receives them. Additionally, she founded the Pilot Assistance Team Hotline for the FedEx Express pilots, which has offered aid to more than 200 members since its creation in November 2015.

Capt. Daniel “Eric” Tellmann (Spirit) was bestowed a Presidential Citation Award for his efforts to address aircraft air quality issues.

Tellmann organized the Spirit Airlines Environmental Standards Committee and helped collect vital data from pilot fume event reports. Through those efforts, and in close collaboration with Spirit management, he helped to develop a checklist and training materials for crews to quickly recognize and respond to fume events.

“Capt. Tellmann’s approach to helping his fellow pilots—and his dedication to providing support—has been a tremendous resource to our members,” said Canoll. “It’s an honor to recognize this outstanding ALPA volunteer who has selflessly dedicated his career to protecting the health of his colleagues.”

Through his exemplary efforts at Spirit, Tellmann has gained attention from fellow pilots as well as the aviation industry. Currently working with ALPA pilot groups at Alaska/Virgin America, Delta, FedEx Express, Frontier, and United, as well as with flightcrew members at Southwest and American, he’s assisting with tracking and developing fume mitigation procedures at each of those carriers. Additionally, he’s been supporting both Spirit and the manufacturing industry in developing a new cabin air filtration system to better eliminate airborne chemicals that could potentially cause passenger and crewmember health issues.

“Capt. Tellmann’s work to protect pilots from fume events has created long-lasting effects throughout our industry,” said Capt. Stuart Morrison, the Spirit MEC chair. “All of us at Spirit are grateful for his efforts and pleased to see his volunteerism, selflessness, and passion for safer air quality recognized by the Association and his fellow pilots.”

This article was originally published in the June 2017 issue of Air Line Pilot.