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30th Anniversary of Eastern Airlines Strike At midnight on March 4, 1989—exactly 30 years ago this past Monday, Eastern pilots put their careers on the line and walked out in a sympathy strike with the International Association of Mechanics to stand up to Frank Lorenzo who was a corporate raider, financial manipulator, and union buster. Lorenzo acquired the third largest airline at the time in a fluke in February of 1986, and subsequently did everything in his power to sell off its assets to line his pockets. “The historic record is abundantly clear that Eastern’s pilots had done their utmost to meet Lorenzo halfway and more,” said George Hopkins in Flying the Line II. “But most Eastern pilots saw what Lorenzo was doing to them as so provocative, so redolent with violations of basic safety doctrines, and so absolutely destructive of their professional futures that they saw no alternative to fighting him.” Frank Lorenzo waged an unnecessary war on labor for nearly 20 years, ruining thousands of lives and ultimately destroying one of the proudest airlines in aviation history. ALPA spent about $200 million fighting the Lorenzo Wars—at TXI, Continental, and Eastern. When Eastern pilots took a stand for their airline, fellow ALPA pilots supported their union brothers and sisters in many ways, including continuous strike assessment funding and a 3,000-mile picket line that stretched symbolically and physically across the continent. But the bankruptcy laws, judges, and politicians were not on the side of labor, and ultimately they lost their struggle. Eastern pilots called off the more than nine-month sympathy strike on November 23, 1989, when all efforts failed to find a “white knight” to buy the airline or obtain a Presidential Emergency Board to resolve the strike fairly. The airline lingered under trusteeship for eight more months going under in January 18, 1991. When Frank Lorenzo tried to start up another airline in 1993 ALPA, joined by the IAM, opposed the application. DOT ruled that Lorenzo was “unfit” and denied the request. This decision effectively served as a ban preventing Lorenzo from ever owning or operating another commercial airline. This week with the 30th anniversary of the Eastern pilots’ strike, we remember the sacrifices of the 3,400 pilots and their families who stood their ground through extreme hardships to fight pilot pushing, protect captain’s authority, maintain safety, and try to save their airline.
FedEx MEC Plans Memorial Service on 10th Anniversary of FDX Flight 80 Fatal Accident March 23, 2019, will mark the 10th anniversary of the tragic loss of two of our fellow pilots aboard FedEx Express Flight 80 at the Narita International Airport in Tokyo. Each year on this date, we are reminded of the fragility of life and the inherent risks of our profession as pilots. This year, the FDX MEC is planning a special tribute to honor the lives of Capt. Kevin Mosley and F/O Tony Pino. A memorial service will be held at noon on March 23 at Sakura no Oka (Cherry Hill), which is located just outside the Narita Airport on the southwest side where three cherry trees and a memorial plaque to FDX 80 is placed. FDX MEC officers and representatives, along with ALPA president Capt. Joe DePete, will be in attendance. We would like to extend an invitation to all ALPA pilots who may be in Narita on a layover to join us as we pay tribute to Capt. Mosley and F/O Pino. If you have any questions regarding this memorial service, please contact the FDX MEC office at 901-752-8749. Hawaiian Airlines pilots have elected new officers to their Master Executive Council (MEC) to serve a two-year term that began March 1, 2019. The new MEC consists of Capt. Lawrence Payne Jr., chairman and Seniority Block 1 representative; Capt. Rod Buskas, vice chairman and Seniority Block 2 representative; Capt. Mathias Lundblad, secretary-treasurer and Seniority Block 3 representative; and Capt. Adam Feldman, Seniority Block 4 representative.
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| Safety and Security |
U.S. En Route Data Link Operations Restart on March 25
The partial U.S. government shutdown from December 2018 through January 2019 halted En Route Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) operations in U.S. domestic airspace. The FAA plans to restart CPDLC in en route airspace beginning the evening (local time) of March 25, 2019, at both the Indianapolis (3/26/19 0230Z) and Kansas City (3/26/19 0100Z) Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs). Schedules for Memphis and the remaining ARTCCs are still in development.
Note that preflight departure clearance services via CPDLC remain operational 24/7.
ALPA recommends that pilots who may utilize CPDLC in these airspace areas review their company CPDLC procedures prior to this date.
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If you have any questions, please contact ALPA Engineering & Air Safety at EAS@alpa.org or 800-424-2470.
Questions have arisen about airman medical exams given by an FAA AME in Florida. If you are contacted by the FAA for a possible reexamination, please contact the ALPA Aeromedical Office at 303-341-4435.
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Street Smarts: Active Shooter Events
What would you do if you encountered an active-shooter event? Incidents at airports in Belgium in March 2016 and Fort Lauderdale in January 2017 remind us that aviation is not exempt from these kinds of attacks. Watch episode 5 of ALPA’s Street Smarts series to learn the importance of situational awareness and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s recommended course of action for keeping yourself and those around you alive.
ALPA’s Street Smarts series educates ALPA members about potential threats that exist in their work environment, and offers strategies to promote safe and secure operations while minimizing risks.
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Advocating for Better Reporting Around Disruptive Passenger Events
Last week at the IATA AVSEC World conference in Miami, Fla., ALPA representatives participated on a security panel focused on disruptive passengers. The panel was moderated by representatives from IATA and Emirates. Other panelists included a representative from Finnair and a staff member from ALPA’s Engineering and Air Safety Department.
F/O Matt Clark (DAL), Delta MEC Security Chair and a member of ALPA’s Aviation Security Group, spoke about the need for a standardized reporting process and form to support a more effective response by crewmembers, air carriers, and law enforcement. An open discussion related to the levels and types of events followed, but participants acknowledged that incidents are likely underreported because of a lack of uniformity in reporting protocols and the fact that there is virtually no legal/official requirement to report most types of incidents.
Superintendent Janis Gray from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police supported the need for better reporting to support a legal process that can move more quickly in enforcing sanctions against passengers who disrupt a flight. As part of the deterrent discussion, panelists noted the need for raising passenger awareness that certain behaviors are not appropriate, including sexual harassment. One way that can be done is by supporting a more immediate and localized law enforcement response to incidents that would allow authorities at the airport to issue citations, similar to that of a speeding ticket, to the passenger at the time of arrival of their flight versus the prospect of no type of prosecution because of the lengthy legal process.
This week, more than 25 MEC security chairs and coordinators representing security committees from 13 MECs met at the ALPA conference center in Herndon, Va., to discuss current issues and receive program updates from government officials.
Capt. Bob Fox, ALPA’s first vice president and national safety coordinator, opened the plenary session, remarking, “Those who are looking to use aircraft to do harm never take a day off. It requires the vigilance, collaboration, and a drive toward self-improvement to ensure they never win again.”
The meeting featured briefings from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) representatives on the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, Federal Air Marshal Service, and insider threats. In addition, the FBI presented a briefing on the ticketing system for misdemeanor crimes committed aboard aircraft. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also traveled to ALPA to brief the council on their air marshal program, the Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program.
Capt. Eric Herman (SCA), Security Council chair, led briefings from ALPA subject-matter experts on several topics including FFDO policies, cargo security, unmanned aircraft systems, threatened airspace management, and cybersecurity.
The council is scheduled to reconvene at the ALPA Air Safety Forum July 15–18 in Washington, D.C. For additional coverage, read the April issue of Air Line Pilot.
New ALPA Security Reps Are Ready for the Job
This week, representatives across the Association gathered for the Air Safety Organization’s Security Training Course at ALPA’s conference center in Herndon, Va.
Capt. Darrin Dorn (ALA), course director, noted, “In the wake of 9/11, our philosophy is ‘never again’ and this course will provide you with the knowledge, training, and skills to be a valuable member of your pilot group’s aviation security committee and develop a ‘security mindset.’”
Security Training introduces ALPA policies and protocols while giving guidance on how to serve as an MEC security representative. The course also covers specific topics including the ASO’s security structure, events, current threats, posturing, resources, and priorities, as well as briefings on the Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program, handling sensitive security information, legal, and accounting. The course concludes with crewmember self-defense training at a local TSA facility.
Look for additional coverage in the April issue of Air Line Pilot magazine.
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| ALPA International |
Flying the Line: Episode 2 Out Now!
Flying the Line is a new podcast from ALPA that dives into the exciting, and sometimes tragic, history of the largest pilots’ union in the world. This week, hear about the 24 “key men” who saw themselves as good “company men” but were labeled as “troublemakers” by their airline management. ALPA’s Key Men faced much opposition from both management and other line pilots, but persevered in their work for labor protections, safe working conditions, and benefits, all of which are enjoyed by ALPA members today.
Episode 2 is available now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, and other popular podcast services (search "Flying the Line"). Listen, share, and give it a five-star rating!
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| Upcoming Events |
Remember to Spring Forward on March 10
This weekend marks the beginning of daylight savings time. Most of your electronic devices will set the time automatically, but don’t forget to set your manual clocks forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. local time on March 10. Unless you’re in Arizona or Hawaii—these states have ditched the practice and follow the same clock year-round.
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| News on the Net |
- Boeing Acquires ForeFlight (PR Newswire)
- United Airlines Presents Flight 3591 Widow with Wings and Epaulets, Leaves Indoc Seat Vacant (The Pilot Wife Life)
- Delta flight struck by lightning leaving Los Angeles International Airport returns amid storm (USA TODAY)
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