FROM THE HILL  
Legislative and Political Report

ALPA-PAC Breaks Million Dollar Mark...Again

Air Line Pilot, April 2004, p.31

Pilots are heading into the 2004 U.S. election season with a strong political arsenal. The ALPA-PAC Steering Committee has announced that the 2003 ALPA-PAC Annual Giving Campaign raised $1.37 million in voluntary contributions from U.S. ALPA members, breaking the million dollar mark for the second year in a row. PAC participation rose to 18 percent in 2003, with more than 9,100 pilots contributing. More than $1.2 million, or 88 percent, of the revenues came from the ALPA-PAC checkoff program.

"This is an outstanding show of support during a very trying and turbulent time for our members and our industry," ALPA’s president and PAC chairman, Capt. Duane Woerth, says. "We believe this support is clear evidence that ALPA pilots understand the importance of ALPA-PAC and the effect the decisions of our federal legislators and regulators have on their careers."

Capt. Woerth notes that the ALPA-PAC Steering Committee "is committed to using our PAC resources carefully and effectively to support those candidates who will work to promote and protect the airline piloting profession and the aviation industry."

Despite the overall increase in PAC participation, individual ALPA pilot groups had mixed results on their participation rates. Some reported increases over the previous year, while others—particularly those suffering the most with furloughs and concessions—held their own or saw their participation drop slightly. The chart, right, shows participation rates for 2003 for ALPA overall as well as for each individual U.S. pilot group. The average contribution was $l50.

As always, the PAC checkoff program played a pivotal role in the success of ALPA’s political action program. More than 7,200 U.S. ALPA pilots are enrolled in the checkoff program, enabling ALPA-PAC to count on a steady and dependable income of $101,000 each month. The average contribution from checkoff participants last year was $166.

Checkoff programs are in place for 15 pilot groups, including the Mesa Air Group, which began political checkoff in mid-2003, and Mesaba, whose pilots secured PAC checkoff in their recently approved contract. Others include Alaska, Allegheny, Aloha, American Eagle, ASTAR, ATA, Continental, Delta, FedEx, Hawaiian, Northwest, Spirit, United, and US Airways. The ALPA-PAC Steering Committee urges every U.S. ALPA pilot group to work toward securing ALPA-PAC checkoff at the first opportunity.

Capt. Woerth also notes that the ALPA-PAC Steering Committee is now conducting its 2004 drive and is seeking to enlist 100 percent of the U.S. ALPA elected representatives as PAC members. ALPA-PAC badge backers will be distributed at the Executive Board and Board of Directors meetings to those who "Back the PAC." The campaign will conclude at the ALPA Board meeting in October, when MECs that achieve 100 percent participation are announced.

The 1975 ALPA Executive Board established ALPA-PAC to strengthen the voice of airline pilots on Capitol Hill and in the executive branch of the federal government. ALPA-PAC accepts voluntary contributions from U.S. ALPA members and uses these resources to provide campaign assistance to propilot candidates running for federal elective office. ALPA-PAC donations are neither tax deductible nor a condition of ALPA membership.

For more information on ALPA-PAC, contact the ALPA Government Affairs Department at 202-797-4033 or via e-mail at governmentaffairs@alpa.org. Additional information is also available on the Government Affairs Department’s page of the ALPA website at www.alpa.org. ALPA-PAC contributions of any amount may be made payable to ALPA-PAC and sent to 1625 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20036.

2003 ALPA-PAC Participation By Pilot Group 

Airline                                                                    Percent

Delta   

31

United   

31

Astar   

27

Northwest   

27

Alaska   

20

Aloha   

20

OVERALL ALPA                                           18

FedEx   

18

Mesa Air Group   

16

Hawaiian   

14

Continental/Continental Express   

11

US Airways   

10

Mesaba   

9

ATA   

8

Midwest   

8

Aloha Island Air   

6

Atlantic Coast   

5

Spirit   

5

Allegheny   

4

American Eagle   

3

American West   

3

Pinnacle   

3

Polar Air Cargo   

3

Skyway   

3

Atlantic Southeast   

2

Atlas Air   

2

Champion   

2

Comair   

2

PSA   

2

Ryan   

2

Air Wisconsin   

1

Piedmont   

1

Trans States   

1

* The following airlines had one contribution: Gemini, Midway, and Ross.