In This Issue:

ALPA: Safety and Security Are at the Top of the Agenda
In Aviation Week: ALPA President Calls for End to Abu Dhabi Preclearance Facility Scheme
U.S. Senate Subcommittee Approves FFDO Funding
Three Ways You Can Virtually Attend This Year’s Air Safety Forum
AirTran Pilots’ Dispute Resolution Committee Receives Arbitration Ruling in Favor of ALPA
First Air Wins Big Freight Contract, Acquires Additional Aircraft
United Council 52 (JFK) Holds Final Meeting
New First Officer Qualification Rule Helps Save Collegiate Aviation Program
Proposed Legislation Regulating Independent Agencies is Flawed
News on the Net
 

In Aviation Week: ALPA President Calls for End to Abu Dhabi Preclearance Facility Scheme

On July 12, Aviation Week published a “Viewpoint” column written by ALPA president, Capt. Lee Moak, which described the current administration’s plan to open a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as “outrageous” and a “misjudgment.” Unlike other CBP facilities, this one would be located in an airport in which no U.S. carriers currently operate. Any benefits of this CBP facility would be reaped only by Etihad, a UAE-owned and state-funded airline, as it works to find a firm footing in the U.S. aviation market. Capt. Moak called upon Congress to act now to put a halt to the plan and stand firm against any similar projects.

Read the entire piece by Capt. Moak.

Learn more about ALPA’s position at www.alpa.org/drawthelinehere.

Today, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved a budget of $46.4 billion. Despite the administration’s calls for the airline industry to pay for the cost of the federal flight deck officer (FFDO) program, the Senate’s FY 2014 Homeland Security budget provides a total of $25 million for this important program. Senators Dan Coats (R-Ind.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) were key supporters of the FFDO program to help ensure its funding. This brings the funding one step closer to reality. Now both the House and Senate must reconcile their individual bills.

Read the full press release from the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.

Can’t make ALPA’s Air Safety Forum tomorrow in Washington, D.C.? No problem! The Association is providing you with three easy ways to participate in this year’s Forum and join the conversation. #AlpaASF13

Learn more about how you can virtually attend the Air Safety Forum.

Earlier this week, an arbitrator ruled in ALPA’s favor regarding the jurisdiction of the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to hear a claim. AirTran pilots claim that the seniority integration agreement (SIA) has been violated and that AirTran pilots have been harmed by Southwest Airlines’ (SWA) sublease of B-717s to Delta Air Lines. Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) members had declined to process the dispute, arguing that the DRC lacked jurisdiction. The dispute resolution agreement (DRA) and DRC were created as part of the SIA between SWAPA and ALPA to resolve disputes arising from the SIA.

The claim will now go back to the DRC for review and, absent consensus among the members, it will be heard by an arbitrator as set forth in the DRA signed by AirTran, SWA, SWAPA, and ALPA. That arbitration will determine whether the claim related to the sublease of the B-717 has merit.

One of Canada’s most iconic businesses has signed a new, five-year agreement with Ottawa-based First Air to deliver supplies to the Arctic. The North West Company, which opened as a fur-trade enterprise in 1779, will use First Air to deliver food and other cargo to its stores in remote communities in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Nunavik.

The North West Company is one of the largest shippers to the Arctic, and First Air is adding new aircraft to provide more lift and reduce fuel costs. The airline has announced it has acquired three B-737-400s from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Two of the 400s will be retrofitted as combi aircraft to carry a mix of passengers and palleted cargo, while the third will remain in an all-passenger configuration. FAB crewmembers currently fly B-737-200s, ATR-42s and 72s, two Hercules L-382s, and a B-767-200 freighter.

United Airlines Council 52 (JFK) held its final meeting earlier week in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., closing a long chapter of pilot representation for United pilots domiciled in New York City. After the merger with Continental Airlines is completed with the announcement of the integrated seniority list and the combining of the United and Continental MECs into one governing body, Council 52 will merge with CAL Council 170 (Newark) and become UAL Council 5.

Read the entire article.

Joining Council 52 officers (holding flag), L–R First Officer Slovitsky, Captain DeSantis and First Officer McCullough, were First Officer Dave Claxton, First Officer Henrik Petersen, Captain Pete Kisling, Captain Jeff Barath, Captain Bob Hamilton, First Officer Al Merone, First Officer Wes Summers, First Officer Dave Stalzer, Captain Tom Colucci, First Officer Paul O’Halloran and First Officer Mike Boccher.

Earlier this year, several ALPA members who are alumni of Auburn University’s aviation management and professional flight programs informed the Association’s leadership of the school’s plan to eliminate those programs due to a lack of resources for them. Based on ALPA’s knowledge of the then-pending Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) first officer qualification final rule and the growing need for more airline pilots, ALPA president Capt. Lee Moak wrote to the university’s president urging the school to retain and improve the program instead. Shortly after the FAA issued its final rule last week, Auburn University announced its intentions to do that very thing.

Read the full story.

Want to know more about the FAA’s new qualifications for first officers? Go to www.alpa.org/1500rule.

On July 9, USA Today contributor Darrell Delamaide penned an excellent column regarding recently introduced legislation (S. 1029, the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2013) which seeks to affect the regulatory process. As the column highlights, the quest to subject independent regulatory agencies to further cost-benefit analysis, which often fail to capture nonquantifiable “costs” such as safety and loss of life, is a flawed concept.

The column provides the public with insight regarding the inner workings of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and how OIRA review often ends up indefinitely delaying a final rule or substituting OIRA thoughts in place of thoughtful and scientifically sound regulations issued by federal agencies.

ALPA has been working to ensure that independent agencies like the Commodities Future Trading Commission, which are tasked with implementing rules that protect our industry and our livelihoods from rampant oil speculation, remain independent and free from political influence.

• Asiana Pilots Fear Criminal Charges in Crash (Wall Street Journal)
• One in four flights late in April, US says; airlines blame furloughs (NBC News)
• Lasers a growing concern for aircraft pilots (USA Today)

ALPA represents more than 50,000 pilots at 33 airlines in the United States and Canada.
Visit us online at www.alpa.org.

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