United Pilots Intend Full Compliance
November 18 - The United Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association has been advised that Federal Court Judge Joan Lefkow plans to issue a preliminary injunction against ALPA in the case of UAL v. ALPA.

Alaska Pilots to Management: Success Generated by Alaska-Delta Alliance Must Be Shared with Alaska’s Employees
November 18 - In response to the announced expansion of the Alaska/Horizon-Delta Airlines marketing alliance, Alaska’s pilots called upon their management to negotiate a contract that includes the pilots in the success this alliance likely will generate.

Trans States Pilots Open Strike Operations Center
November 17 - Trans States Airlines (TSA) pilots, represented by ALPA, are opening their Strike Operations Center on Tuesday, November 18, as part of a strategic initiative designed to strengthen their preparedness in the event the pilots and their management team cannot reach an agreement in their current contract negotiations.

Delta/Northwest Merger and Pilot Agreement Sets Historic Precedent
Successful transactions must include pilots
October 30 - Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, issued the attached statement following the closing of the Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines merger and on the first day of a single collective bargaining agreement between the pilots of both carriers and senior executives.

Midwest Pilots Take Picketing Efforts in New Direction
October 31 - On Friday, October 31, a contingent of Midwest Airlines pilots staged a peaceful demonstration in Southeast Milwaukee at the exclusive lakefront estate of Midwest Airlines CEO Timothy Hoeksema. The event was conducted at the entrance to the private driveway Hoeksema shares with several neighbors.

Evergreen Crewmembers Informational Picket at JFK
Pilots and flight engineers march to express dissatisfaction with limited advancement in contract negotiations
October 27 - Evergreen International Airlines (EIA) crewmembers, represented by ALPA, conducted informational picketing on Monday at JFK International Airport.

ALPA Calls Upon Congress to Hold New Hearings on DHL-UPS Deal
UPS website to lure DHL customers contradicts UPS testimony at congressional hearings
October 23 - ASTAR pilots, represented by ALPA, today called on Congress to further investigate the DHL-UPS merger in light of the latest attempt by UPS to openly raid DHL’s customer base through its corporate website: http://switchnow.ups.com. The site explains how DHL customers can ensure that their packages will get to their destinations by switching now to UPS, a pitch that is especially effective in light of the fact that DHL will now depend on UPS for transportation and processing of all of its products.

Perseverance Pays Off for American Eagle Pilots in Newly Ratified Agreement with Management
October 22 - American Eagle pilots, represented by ALPA, today achieved a ratified collective bargaining agreement with management after an arduous negotiations process surrounding an unprecedented 16-year contract with AMR Corporation.

FAA Announces Ground Rules for ULR Flights
November 14 - One of ALPA’s top safety priorities—addressing pilot fatigue—got a boost from the FAA recently when the agency published a new operations specification (OpSpec A332), designed to reduce crewmember fatigue during ultra-long-range (ULR) flights.

Pilots Participate in New Runway Safety Council
FAA Names Capt. Rory Kay Industry Co-Chair
October 31 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently named Capt. Rory Kay, executive air safety chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), the new Runway Safety Council’s industry co-chair. Capt. Kay will serve a one-year term in that position; Wes Timmons, FAA’s director of runway safety, is the other co-chair.

Pilots’ Safety Concerns Top NTSB List (Again)
FAA Must Be Fully Funded for More Progress
October 28 - Capt. Rory Kay, Executive Air Safety Chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the attached statement after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements.

Pilots Raise the Bar on Runway Safety
ALPA challenges airline industry, government to eliminate serious runway incursions altogether
September 25 - Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, set the bar high for runway safety today, challenging both government and industry to establish a goal of zero serious runway incursions involving commercial airliners in his testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation.
• Read Capt. Prater’s testimony
• View the “Hold Short for Runway Safety” website

Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety
ALPA Safety, through its Volcanic Ash project under the Air Traffic Services Group, has devoted years to expanding its database of operationally relevant information on this potential hazard and improving the warning system necessary to reduce unplanned encounters of hazardous ash clouds. This new website provides information for greater awareness, recommended practices for avoidance, and what to do in the event of an unexpected encounter. Pertinent videos, maps, and briefings about this dangerous yet fascinating natural phenomenon are included. Click here to launch the website.

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.

Walking the Line
A library of video and photo footage documenting the solidarity of ALPA's pilot family.

Archived Events:

ALPA Grievance Training Prepares Pilot Advocates
November 14, 2008 - Nearly 50 pilot volunteers attended ALPA Grievance Training Seminar this week in an effort to become integrated into the work of bargaining and enforcing contracts. They learned about pertinent terms of the Railway Labor Act, analysis of precedent-setting contract cases, strategic considerations in the grievance process, the role of the system board of adjustment, “proof of matter” considerations, grievance preparation and presentation, first-step disciplinary hearings, and mediation and alternative grievance-resolution processes.

ALPA’s NSSOC Discusses Security Priorities
November 12, 2008 - The ALPA National Security Steering and Oversight Committee (NSSOC) convened November 12 to hear reports, review budget considerations, and conduct the business of the Association’s security branch.

ALPA Congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama
Election Promises Positive Change for U.S. Airline Pilots
November 6, 2008 - Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, issued the attached statement on the historic election of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice-president-elect Joe Biden.
• Capt. Prater quoted in Chicago Tribune articles regarding the critical need to address aviation industry issues. Click to view (article 1 | article 2)

ALPA BOD Proudly Avow “We are ALPA!”
October 22, 2008 - ALPA’s highest governing body, the Board of Directors, resolved on Wednesday to navigate the Association forcefully into the future with its just completed strategic plan for the years to come.
ALPA Members: Click here to view the BOD website.

Highlights from ALPA’s 103rd Executive Board
September 10, 2008 - The second day of ALPA’s 103rd Executive Board meeting featured ASTAR Air Cargo MEC Chairman, Capt. Pat Walsh, who reported on the status of his pilot group’s fight to save their jobs. As previously reported, ASTAR pilots were negotiating their latest contract at the same time that Deutsche Post, which owns DHL, was in talks to transfer all of ASTAR’s flying to competitor UPS. For highlights from Day 1, please click here.