ALPA Praises Congressional Action to Safeguard U.S. Jobs

The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l commends an amendment passed unanimously by voice vote yesterday by the U.S. House of Representatives that would help safeguard the U.S. airline industry’s ability to compete on a level playing field by making certain that federal transportation funds are not used to grant foreign airlines that violate U.S. law or the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement access to U.S. markets.

“Thanks to the tremendous leadership of Rep. Westmoreland and Rep. DeFazio, this amendment specifically prohibits shopping for cheap labor and simply requires the Department of Transportation to follow the law and provisions agreed to in the U.S.-EU Transport Agreement,” said Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s president. “Congress has a responsibility to make sure that U.S. airlines do business in a fair marketplace and that the U.S. government’s transportation funds don’t hand an advantage to foreign airlines that try to cheat the system.”

Read more about safeguarding U.S. jobs.

ICT Becomes 53rd KCM Airport

Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Kansas yesterday became the 53rd airport in the United States to provide Known Crewmember (KCM). In just two short weeks, the KCM airport ranks have expanded by five. Bradley International Airport (BDL), serving Hartford, Conn., came on line June 4. Tucson and El Paso international airports began offering the crewmember screening protocol on June 3, and Reno-Tahoe International Airport introduced KCM on May 30.

KCM is a risk-based screening system that enables Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officers to positively verify the identity and employment status of pilots and flight attendants of participating airlines. To learn more about KCM and find KCM locations, visit www.knowncrewmember.org or check the KCM tab on the ALPA smartphone app.

View photos from the meeting.

ALPA Canada Board Convenes, Advances Strategic Priorities

Members of ALPA’s Canada Board convened in Thunder Bay, Ont., on June 4-5 to take action on a number of agenda items and advance the Association’s strategic priorities. The meeting kicked off the prior evening with an informal meet-and-greet between the Canada Board and the president, director of Flight Operations, and chief pilot of Bearskin Airlines, which is headquartered in Thunder Bay. The Canada Board took the opportunity to show its ongoing support for the company and its employees since the Flight 311 accident in November 2013, and the management reps underscored that they see ALPA as a valuable partner in promoting the airline so that all stakeholders benefit. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance their cooperative relationship.

During the two-day meeting, representatives from all nine Canadian ALPA pilot groups and the Canada Board officers (who together compose the Canada Board) discussed ALPA’s strategic priorities and initiatives related to the Board’s mission: “To work collectively as the leading advocate and representative for the Canadian professional pilot, with a focus on safety.”

Read more about the Canada Board.

North American Ceases Operations, ALPA Secures $654,000 for Contract Violations

After months of uncertainty and court proceedings, North American Airlines recently shut down its operations with its final flight on June 7. North American parent company Global Aviation Holdings had defaulted on loan commitments in bankruptcy to Cerberus Capital Management, its primary creditor and financier, in March. Shortly after this occurred, the airline furloughed its New York JFK-based pilots, including some pilots who were furloughed out of seniority order. This move left only the carrier’s Dulles-based pilots in service.

North American Airlines’ assets used to fly its Dulles operations recently were sold to Omni Air International. ALPA filed grievances related to the furloughs and certain other company contract violations and, through the bankruptcy process, has successfully secured funds of $654,000 on behalf of NAA pilots related to these grievances. The money will be held in an account until the funds are distributed to NAA pilots in accordance with ALPA policy.

NAA pilots have the backing of ALPA’s Furloughed Pilot Support Program, including up to date information on job opportunities at ALPA and other carriers currently hiring.

Time’s Running Out to Register for Just Culture Symposium

You have less than a week to register for ALPA’s “International Progress Toward a Just Culture—Proactive Use of Data” symposium. This special event, scheduled for Monday, June 16 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., will bring together leaders from domestic and international organizations to explore the value of proactive safety programs in moving toward a just culture in airlines. Challenges, considerations, and lessons learned will be discussed, along with various applications for the use of safety data. To learn more/register, visit justculturesymposium.alpa.org.

Two Companies Added to AFL-CIO Boycott List

On May 30, the AFL-CIO announced that two companies would be added to its national boycott list. The first is the Renaissance Providence Hotel in Providence, R.I., This inclusion was submitted by UNITE HERE, whose members work in the hotel, food service, and laundry industries. The second company to be added to the list is Staples Office Supply. This inclusion request was submitted by the American Postal Workers Union on behalf of their members working in branch offices of the Post Office, within the stores.

National boycotts are endorsed by the AFL-CIO Executive Council and all union members are encouraged to support other businesses until these disputes can be resolved. Learn more about the AFL-CIO National Boycott List.

Attend GMU Transportation Conference

ALPA members are invited to attend the second annual “Cameron Rian Hays Outside the Box Transportation Innovations Conference,” a forum for examining progressive solutions to complicated transportation policy challenges. Be a part of this special event Friday, June 27 from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the Arlington, Va. campus of George Mason University. For more details, visit outsidethebox.gmu.edu.

See Your Photos in Print

We’re looking for pilot photos of airplanes, pilots, skies, airports, and anything else you see during your flights. Please remember to adhere to FARs or CARs and company policy when taking photos. Send you high-quality prints from a developer or high-resolution digital images to Communications@alpa.org. Let us know who you are, who you fly for, the names of any pilots in your pics, and what we’re looking at. Your photo could make the cover of Air Line Pilot. Or inside the magazine. Or in a video production.