View this message on the Web.

News from ALPA International

July 31, 2012

Stay Connected

WordPress Facebook Twitter
YouTube Flickr LinkedIn RSS Feeds
The FlightDeck
ALPAApp

The ALPA App

In This Issue:

UAL Pilots Take Frustrations over Offshoring to White House


View a photo slideshow of the picketing.

Nearly 125 United pilots took their message to the front steps of the White House during a nearly two-hour informational picketing event on Monday.

Braving heat and humidity, the pilots walked a continuous orbit carrying signs that read, “Release Labor Now: 17 Months’ Mediation Is Enough,” “Standing Up for Labor: Thank You, Mr. President,” “United Airlines: Addicted to Offshoring: Let’s Fly with United Pilots,” and “Help Us, President Obama: Labor Needs You.”

MEC chairman Capt. Jay Heppner, who joined the picket, and SPSC chairman Capt. Pieter Velzeboer wish to thank all the pilots who came out to help us express the United pilots’ frustrations with prolonged negotiations for a joint collective bargaining agreement and to communicate the pilots’ concerns about United’s sustained practice of offshoring our jobs.

Return to top

Comair Announces Plans to Shut Down September 29
On Friday, July 27, Delta Air Lines management confirmed what had been rumored for months—that the company would be shutting down its wholly owned subsidiary Comair. On September 29, this once powerhouse of the regional industry will shut its doors, laying off more than 600 active pilots.

In May, the Comair MEC Negotiating Committee provided Comair management with a comprehensive plan for a new pilot contract, which included numerous cost-cutting proposals in a valiant effort to save their airline and their jobs. These proposals would have saved over $10 million in just the first year. However, the sacrifices and concessions proposed weren’t enough to persuade Delta management to keep Comair active.

Read more.

Return to top

ALPA Members: FFDO Positions Available, Applications Needed by Aug. 14
The Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) has informed ALPA’s Aviation Security chair, Capt. Fred Eissler, that funding is available for new slots to train new Federal Flight Deck Officers during Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. The FFDO program has a large number of initial training slots to fill prior to September 30 (the end of FY2012) and the FAMS has requested our assistance to recruit candidates to fill these available slots.

This is a fast track opportunity for anyone interested in becoming an FFDO. Three initial training classes are scheduled for September. Each class will be held at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Artesia, N.M., and is one week in duration (Sunday through Saturday). FAMS has informed ALPA that prior to applying you must be certain that you will be able to attend at least one of the classes prior to submitting your name.

Specific class dates are September 9-15, September 16-22, and September 23-29.

Read more.

Return to top

Air Safety Forum to Take on Safety, Security, Pilot Assistance Issues
The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, will hold its 58th Air Safety Forum on Wednesday, August 8, and Thursday, August 9, at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C.

The world’s largest independent aviation safety organization, ALPA will gather the industry’s leading experts to discuss challenges in aviation safety, security, and human performance, and the action required to ensure that air transportation in North America achieves the highest possible standards.

Read more.

Return to top

ALPA Daily
The aviation industry is changing faster than ever before. The new “ALPA Daily” feature at www.alpa.org will keep you informed of the latest industry developments and analysis from around the globe. Check it out each day to stay up-to-date on the news that affects pilots and the piloting profession.

• According to Flightglobal, a six-month snapshot of global airline accidents and incidents reveals a reasonably safe industry by recent standards. Read more.

• The Dallas Morning News reports that as it battles to control its destiny in bankruptcy court, American is starting to play a critical card: the arrival of 543 new aircraft over the next 10 years. Read more.

Return to top

EU-ETS Bill Advances
Today, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act. The bill was passed by voice vote and may now head to the Senate floor for a vote.

ALPA thanks Sen. John Thune (R-SD) for sponsoring this important legislation, and all the members of the Commerce Committee who supported it today. As the House has already approved similar legislation, we urge the Senate to bring this bill for a vote as soon as possible. The EU-ETS is an illegal tax on our airlines, and its enactment must be prevented.

Return to top

Pilot Bill of Rights Heads to Obama’s Desk
The Pilot’s Bill of Rights has reached the president’s desk and is expected to soon be signed into law. This legislation was sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla), who ALPA featured in Air Line Pilot magazine in March. The bill will allow pilots easier access to evidence against them if faced with disciplinary action by the FAA.

Read Inhofe’s statement on the bill.

Return to top

Stay Connected
Stay connected with your union, your profession, and your industry by reading Air Line Pilot magazine and watching monthly episodes of The FlightDeck.

Read what makes the newly renovated ALPA conference center so special on page 36 of the August issue of Air Line Pilot magazine.

On the 17th installment of The FlightDeck, learn where to find the best airport eats.

Remember that both Air Line Pilot and The FlightDeck can also be accessed from the members-only portion of the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

Return to top

FastFact

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), serving the greater New York City area, was originally dedicated as New York International Airport on July 31, 1948. It was rededicated “JFK” in December 1963, as requested by the mayor and council of the City of New York, and a resolution from the port authority.

Return to top

Feedback & E-mail Address Changes
Questions or comments on this FastRead? Give us your feedback at communications@alpa.org.

If you have moved or changed your ISP or e-mail address, please update your ALPA records. If you don’t, you will no longer receive the ALPA FastRead and other e-mail bulletins and notices, and once your postal forwarding order expires, you’ll no longer receive the magazine and other ALPA mail. You can do it yourself by going to www.alpa.org and logging in. Go to “My ALPA” in the menu at the top of the page, and from there, you’ll be instructed how to make the necessary changes.

If you don’t have access to the members-only section of www.alpa.org, you can e-mail your requests by sending them to membership@alpa.org. Be sure to include your member number or enough other information so that we can identify you in the membership database, and tell us what information needs to be updated.

Please note that it is not sufficient just to notify your LEC or MEC of these changes—you should register them with the ALPA Membership Department in Herndon.

Can’t remember your member number or how to log in? Need information about your ALPA insurance programs? These and other questions about ALPA services can be answered by contacting membership@alpa.org.

Return to top

Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l
1625 Massachusetts Avenue NW | Washington, DC 20036 | 703-689-2270