Pilots Send Clear Message at NTSB UAS Safety Forum Unmanned aircraft not ready to safely operate in national airspace system April 30 - During their presentations at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Safety Forum, representatives of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) made clear that significant design and operational safety improvements must be made before UAS can safely share airspace with airliners carrying passengers, cargo, and crews or fly above populated areas.

Airline Pilot Fatigue Still Front-and-Center Safety Risk NTSB Sunshine Meeting Underscores Need to Act April 16 - This week’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) findings made clear that pilot fatigue persists as a significant aviation safety risk. Solutions must include changing corporate cultures so that they seek to partner with, not punish, airline pilots for expressing fatigue concerns.

TSA and FAMS Officials Address ALPA Executive Council On April 8, 2008, ALPA President, Capt. John Prater, and the Executive Council received briefings from John Sammon, Assistant Administrator, Transportation Sector Network Management, TSA, and John Novak, Assistant Director, Flight Operations Division, Federal Air Marshal Service.

Pilot Action Draws TSA Chief March 19, 2008 will not go down in history as the day pilots were finally treated with dignity at screening. But it may be the day that makes that day possible. ALPA pilots picketed Washington National Airport and the Transportation Security Administration headquarters demanding the agency fix the screening process.

• Watch video coverage: DSL/Cable | Dial-Up

“Hold Short for Runway Safety” Launches Runway incursions occur more often than you think. Some accidents are avoided by a mere 35 feet. Unfortunately, they only make headlines when tragedy strikes. But, ALPA dutifully continues its quest to educate all airline pilots about the safety hazards they face on a daily basis. • Read more • View the “Hold Short for Runway Safety” website



Environment in the Spotlight ALPA, other aviation groups, sponsor D.C. conference March 19 - The effect of aviation on the environment may be debatable, but the effect that the environmental debate is having on aviation is very real. That fact was made very clear to the more than 200 attendees during the first day of Aviation and the Environment, a symposium sponsored jointly by ALPA and the Air Transport Association (ATA).

ALPA Named Among Collier Trophy Winners Pilots union recognized for efforts to advance aviation safety March 7 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, (ALPA) was recognized this week with the prestigious Collier Trophy for the union’s role in developing a new aircraft position technology that will advance aviation safety. The technology, known as ADS-B, allows aircraft to continuously broadcast their own GPS-determined position, rather than relying solely on today’s network of ground-based radar, and enhances safety and increases airspace capacity and efficiency as a result.

Airport Modernization Fundamental to LAX Runway Safety ALPA Hails FAA Runway Status Light Test Program Announcement February 27 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) welcomes the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) recent announcement that a runway status light test program will take place at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), but the association warns that the airport must also swiftly pursue modernization as the cornerstone of a multi-layered strategy to prevent runway incursions.

ALPA Warns Pilots: New English Proficiency Endorsement Needed for International Flying February 22 - New ICAO standards require that, effective March 5, all holders of private, commercial, air transport pilot, flight engineer, and flight navigator licenses (Canada) or certificates (United States) serving as required flight crew members on international flights have in their possession an airman certificate or license with an endorsement of English language proficiency.

Because a foreign civil aviation authority could begin to enforce this requirement with ramp checks on U.S. and Canadian pilots as soon as March 5, all pilots should follow the proper steps to obtain a replacement airman certificate or license as soon as possible. The Association issued ALPA Operations Bulletin 2008-02 earlier today to alert members about this situation and to provide them with the information needed to meet this new requirement. Click here to read the Ops Bulletin.

Airline Pilots Challenge Congress to Make Airports Safer February 13 - Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), asked members of Congress today to remedy runway incursions and other airport safety issues facing America’s airline industry by increasing funding for the National Airspace System (NAS) modernization effort.

“Hold Short for Runway Safety” Launches February 12 - Runway incursions occur more often than you think. Some accidents are avoided by a mere 35 feet. Unfortunately, they only make headlines when tragedy strikes. But, ALPA dutifully continues its quest to educate all airline pilots about the safety hazards they face on a daily basis. • Read more • View the “Hold Short for Runway Safety” website

TSA Trial Screening Program Must Include Airline Pilots February 12 - Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the attached statement in response to the recent announcement by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of a new trial airport employee screening program at seven airports.

Pilots Support Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s Recommendations Air France accident highlights need for swift action to require Runway End Safety Areas December 13 - The final report of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) on the Aug. 2, 2005, Air France runway overrun at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport highlights many of the major air safety priorities of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). The Board’s actions are encouraging, but only if they lead to change.

Ending Runway Incursions is Within Reach Congress Must Provide FAA with Funds December 6 - Capt. Terry McVenes, Executive Air Safety Chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), issued the attached statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report today outlining the state of runway incursion prevention.

UPS Accident Pinpoints Shortfalls in Cargo Safety Pilots Push for “One Level of Safety” in Regulations, Procedures December 4 - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Sunshine Meeting today on United Parcel Service Company (UPS) flight 1307, which landed at the Philadelphia International Airport with an in-flight fire, highlights many of the air safety priorities of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) for cargo airline operations.
 
ALPA Commends Pilot who Alerted FBI to 9/11 Terrorist Moussaoui Association Recognizes Judgment and Perseverance with Presidential Citation November 27 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) presented Capt. Clarence “Clancy” Prevost with its 2007 Presidential Citation for his exemplary efforts to alert the FBI to Zacharias Moussaoui’s attempts to learn to fly an airliner. Moussaoui would later be identified as the 20th hijacker in the 9/11 plot.

Pilots Team up with Airlines to Tackle New York’s Congested Airspace Solutions Groups Urge the Department of Transportation to Endorse Market-Tested Scheduling Approach November 15 - The heads of the trade group representing most of the nation’s airlines and the union representing most airline pilots in the U.S. sent a joint letter to the Secretary of Transportation yesterday stating that proposed solutions to congestion at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport are overly drastic and will harm the airport, airlines serving it, and its passengers.

Pilots Urge Swift Action on NTSB Fatigue Concerns November 8 - Capt. Terry McVenes, Executive Air Safety Chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), issued a statement after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements.

ALPA: Cutting Flights at JFK No Solution Pilots want seat at the table to develop efficient airspace management October 23 - The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) is calling on the Department of Transportation to develop a comprehensive solution to combat delays at JFK Airport in New York City. ALPA is also urging the DOT to invite pilots to any discussions on solving air traffic congestion anywhere in the U.S.

Pilots Welcome Secondary Cockpit Barrier Legislation October 19 - ALPA welcomes legislation that will be introduced by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), which, if passed, would mandate secondary barriers for all passenger airliner cockpits.

Pilots Endorse NTSB Stance on UAVs Drones not ready to safely operate in national airspace October 16 - Today’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) make it clear that significant design and operational safety improvements must be made before UAS can safely share airspace with airliners carrying passengers, cargo, and crews or fly above populated areas. The recommendations were issued as part of the NTSB Sunshine Meeting on the April 2006 Predator B crash near Nogales, Ariz.

National Volcanic Ash Operations Plan for Aviation A group of U.S. federal government agencies recently released the first-ever National Volcanic Ash Operations Plan for Aviation. Capt. Ed Miller (United, Ret.), ALPA’s volcanic ash expert and long-time advocate for improving the safety of flight operations in relation to volcanic ash, served as one of a handful of subject-matter experts who supported the multiyear interagency effort. “It’s been a tremendous effort,” says Miller. “All the agencies have done their best. We’ve had some really talented people involved.” He is quick to stress, however, that pilots will continue to play a vital role in the international effort to reduce the risks of inflight volcanic ash encounters.

The International Directory ALPA's Air Safety Department has issued an International Directory for international pilots. The Directory includes known expectations of authorities, a listing of major IFALPA associations’ contact information, and U.S. and Canadian government contact information for every country of the world. An ALPA member login is required.

The "Runway Safety" program is designed to help pilots avoid and prevent runway incursions by studying the various factors involved. Please click here to launch the Runway Safety website.

ALPA Gathers Pilot Leaders to Coordinate Strategy February 15 - Airline pilot union officials from 40 airlines in the U.S. and Canada met recently outside Washington, D.C. to discuss bargaining goals and strategy as part of their efforts to determine and implement favorable contract patterns for pay, benefits, and work rules, and to coordinate member activities in support of negotiating efforts.

Lost Retirement Savings Act January 18, 2008 – Two key ALPA-supported bills were introduced late last year that would allow pilots to recover some of their lost retirement benefits by offering a retirement savings option to those whose defined benefit plans were terminated or frozen in bankruptcy proceedings after September 11, 2001 and before January 1, 2007. ALPA members are urged to participate in a new grassroots Action Alert to enlist congressional support for these two bills and prompt speedy action on them. ALPA Members: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to learn more.

Pension Reform Legislation January 9, 2008 - Although the pilot retirement age changed on December 13, 2007, when President Bush signed into law H.R. 4343, (P.L. 110-135), there remains a critical need for Congress to pass H.R. 2103 and S. 1270. Although the pilot retirement age has been raised to 65, there are still pilots who will be penalized on the guaranteed level of benefits they receive from the PBGC because age 60 was the mandatory retirement age at the time their defined benefit plans were terminated. We have updated the suggested message for ALPA members to send to your federal legislators to reflect this situation, and continue to urge your participation in this important grassroots effort. ALPA Members: Log into Crewroom.alpa.org to learn more.

A Holiday Message from Capt. John Prater As airline pilots, many of us enter the year-end holiday period with mixed feelings. The heightened travel volume means that most of us are working longer hours and have less time to participate in the traditional festivities that other families will be enjoying. That is one of the burdens of our profession, and we accept it willingly so that others can be reunited with their loved ones or receive that special package full of gifts.

White House Signs Age 65 into Law Bill includes ALPA Executive Board Recommendations December 14 - In the late evening of December 13, President Bush signed into law a bill to raise the mandatory retirement age for U.S. pilots to 65. Days before, both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved H.R.4343. (To read Age 65: How it Works, please click here.)

Airlines and Pilots Oppose Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Bill December 6 - The Air Transport Association, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, the Cargo Airline Association, and the Regional Airline Association (RAA), today issued the attached statement in response to the decision by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to approve and forward to the full Senate S.2191, the “Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007.”

House Passes Appropriations Conference Report with Age Limit Change ALPA-supported language included. November 15 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Transportation Appropriations conference report yesterday by a vote of 270 to 147. House and Senate conferees had approved the conference report on the bill, H.R.3074, on November 8.

ALPA Leaders Speak Out Against Decertification Effort Controversy over seniority award delays improvements for US Airways pilots November 13 - The elected leaders of ALPA and of the two pilot groups who fly for US Airways made it clear today that they will resist all efforts to remove ALPA as the collective bargaining agent for US Airways pilots.

ALPA Calls on Congress to Help Pilots Protect our Skies November 2 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, (ALPA) urged Congress to support pilots’ role in protecting the skies against potential threats by properly funding the Federal Flight Deck Officer program (FFDO) and requiring installation of secondary flight deck barriers on all of the U.S. airline fleet. • Read Capt. Robert Hesselbein's testimony

IFALPA Briefing Leaflet North Atlantic Track Checklist The latest IFALPA Briefing Leaflet which deals with a sample NAT checklist developed by the ICAO North Atlantic Track Committee is now available. Click here to access your copy.

The ALPA Emergency Relief Fund ALPA has long done its best to address the immediate needs of its members and their families who have been affected by tragic events. Click for more information | Make a Donation | Request Assistance