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News from ALPA International

December 4, 2012

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In This Issue:

ALPA Reps Give Senate Insights into Remote Ops

From left, Capt. Peter Black, chairman, ALPA President’s Committee for Remote Operations; Senator Dennis Dawson, chairman, Parliament of Canada Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications; and Capt. Dan Adamus, president, ALPA Canada Board.
Capt. Dan Adamus, ALPA’s Canada Board president, and Capt. Peter Black, chairman of ALPA’s President’s Committee for Remote Operations (PCRO), today appeared before Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications to brief the committee on the challenges airline pilots face when flying in remote areas, ways to enhance the safety of these types of operations, and improve service to those remote communities.

The Senate committee has recently focused on issues concerning operations in northern and similarly remote areas as part of its ongoing study on emerging issues related to the Canadian airline industry, and ALPA was invited to share the Association’s insights and provide technical expertise on these issues.

Read more.
 

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ALPA Conducts Negotiations, Grievance Training

Harry Hoglander, NMB chairman.

ALPA is hosting its Negotiations and Contract Enforcement Training Seminar this week at the Association’s Conference Center in Herndon, Va. Forty-five pilots from 13 ALPA member carriers are participating in the event, which features instruction and participant exercises related to strategic planning, bargaining, and grievance work.

Participants have an opportunity to work closely with and hear from experts, and discuss “best practices” with colleagues. In addition, seminar attendees today at lunchtime heard from National Mediation Board Chairman and former ALPA Executive Vice President Harry Hoglander and NMB member Linda Puchala.

The four-day program runs through Thursday. Look for coverage in the January 2013 issue of Air Line Pilot magazine.

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No-Hassle Flying Act Passes Senate
The U.S. Senate last week passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Blunt (R-Mo.) to eliminate redundant baggage screening for travelers arriving from airports that participate in the United States’ preclearance program.

Currently, baggage undergoing high-level screening procedures at international preclearance airports is still required to be rescreened upon entry into the United States, creating unnecessary hassle and delays for travelers. The No-Hassle Flying Act of 2012 would waive this redundant screening for baggage that has already been processed through preclearance airports with U.S.-equivalent screening equipment and procedures. This will save time for travelers and avoid frustrating delays without compromising security.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection performs preclearance screening of passengers at 14 airports in Canada, Ireland, and the Caribbean. This screening is the same inspection a passenger would undergo at any U.S. port of entry. The legislation would allow the TSA to waive the rescreening requirement at these airports once they have implemented U.S.-equivalent screening processes.

Initiatives like the No-Hassle Flying Act can improve the customer experience at the airport while also enhancing security because security and screening resources are managed more efficiently. ALPA has been a leader in collaborating with TSA to promote other screening improvements, like Known Crewmember and trusted traveler programs. To read more about ALPA’s approach to passenger screening and security, check out our white paper.

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Get the Scoop! Read “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.

ALPA members can sign up to receive ALPA Daily in their e-mail:

Visit this link.
• Log in with your ALPA member number and password.
• Select “E-mail Distribution Lists.”
• Check the box for “ALPA Daily.”
• Submit your request.

According to AIN Online, at a time when aviation has achieved an extraordinarily high level of safety, regulators and safety organizations are pushing for more improvements in pilot training to preempt future accidents and ensure that new pilots entering the ranks start off with the right approach. Read more.

Bloomberg reports that Boeing said airlines will make more use of capital markets to buy aircraft as demand for financing will exceed $100 billion next year for the first time, even as traditional funding sources decline. Read more.

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Stay Connected

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

Check out our second annual “swimsuit” issue on page 19 of the December issue of Air Line Pilot magazine.

On the 20th installment of The FlightDeck, learn what issues make this year’s National Transportation Safety Board Most Wanted List.

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.

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Go Green & Save

Making sure you’re taking advantage of peak energy efficiency in your home just makes good sense. And because you’re a union member, Union Plus helps you save on home energy improvements.

Use your Union Plus credit card to sign up for an HVAC annual maintenance plan with a union contractor and receive a $50 rebate. When they come to your house, you’ll appreciate the hard work of these SMART union members, representing a recent merger of sheet metal and utility workers.

Union families can also receive rebates up to $500 when you use your Union Plus credit card to purchase a new heating/cooling system, new Energy Star appliances, insulation, or other green home improvements. See all your green benefits at unionplus.org/green.

And don’t forget that these unionized companies provide heating/cooling systems: Carrier, GE, or York.

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Photos for Facebook
Submit your best pictures of flying the line to Photos@alpa.org, and see them posted at www.facebook.com/wearealpa.

When snapping shots for Facebook, please adhere to the appropriate FARs, CARs, and company policy. Thanks!

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FastFact
After declaring bankruptcy the previous August, aviation pioneer Pan American World Airways ceased operations on December 4, 1991. Pan Am’s final service, B-727 Flight 423, operated that day from Bridgetown, Barbados, to Miami.

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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.

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