Save Our Skies? Who Will Will Who Page 20 2 Air Line Pilot June 2014
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Who Will Page 20 Follow us on Twitter PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. PRINTED IN @wearealpa Save Our Skies? 2 Air Line Pilot June 2014 ADP80654-00_D21413_1a.ai D21413x01A_3u.tif 05.12.14 ADP80654-00-x1a-OP.pdf Epson 8.5 x 11.125 HP 8.25 x 10.875 ISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strip 2009 3% A 100 60 100 70 30 100 60 100 70 30 100 60 100 70 30 100 40 40 100 40 100 40 70 40 70 40 40 40 70 40 40 70 40 70 40 40 3 10 25 50 75 90 100 B 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 40 100 40 40 100 10 40 40 20 70 70 70 70 40 70 40 40 0 0 0 0 3.1 2.2 2.2 10.2 7.4 7.4 25 19 19 50 40 40 75 66 66 100 100 100 80 70 70 100 June 2014 • Volume 83, number 6 10 ABOUT THE COVER An Embraer 190 cockpit crew flies a nighttime trip from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Raleigh–Durham FEATURES International 20 Who Will Save Our Airport. See the full shot at left. Photo by Capt. Ian Duncan Skies? (JetBlue). Download a QR reader to your smartphone, scan the 22 15+ Ways the U.S. code, and read the magazine. Should Improve the Air Line Pilot (ISSN 0002-242X) is pub lished Airline Industry monthly by the Air Line Pilots Association, Inter national, affiliated with AFL-CIO, CLC. 24 Keeping Manual Editorial Offices: 535 Herndon Parkway, PO Box 1169, Herndon, VA 20172-1169. Flying Skills Sharp Telephone: 703-481-4460. Fax: 703-464- 2114. Copyright © 2014—Air Line Pilots Association, Inter national, all rights 26 From Both Ends of reserved. Publica tion in any form without permission is prohibited. Air Line Pilot the Mic and the ALPA logo Reg. U.S. Pat. and T.M. Office. Federal I.D. 36-0710830. Periodicals 29 Are You a Three- postage paid at Herndon, VA 20172, and additional offices. Percenter? Postmaster: Send address changes to Air Line Pilot, PO Box 1169, Herndon, VA 20172-1169. COMMENTARY DEPARTMENTS Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40620579: Return undeliverable maga- zines sent to Canadian addresses to 2835 4 Taking Off 6 Preflight 35 Our Stories Kew Drive, Windsor, ON, Canada N8T 3B7. More than Meeting Running with Purpose Expectations 31 ALPA@Work ALPA Representation 101 36 The Landing 5 Aviation Matters Social Chatter Stronger in 2014 33 From the Hill ALPA Testifies on Small 38 We Are ALPA Community Air Service ALPA Resources and Contact Numbers 34 Recently Retired See Who's on the List June 2014 Air Line Pilot 3 Join the campaign JetBlue pilots’ vote NATCA honors Pilot hits the to protect U.S. for ALPA goes viral. ALPA’s president. ground running in aviation jobs. Page 36 Page 26 Boston Marathon. Page 20 Page 35 TakingOff More than Meeting Expectations o assemble for action. It’s one definition of national Collective Bargaining Committee. the word “meeting,” but how many of us Representatives of more than 10,000 of ALPA’s T expect action to result when we attend a FFD pilots gathered with a commitment to conference or seminar? strengthen unity. Capt. William Sprague, the There’s no doubt ALPA does. American Eagle (now Envoy Air) Master Executive Since the beginning of 2014, ALPA has Council chairman, said, “I think at this meeting stretched and amplified the term “meeting” to we’ve developed the beginnings of a conversa- create cutting-edge ways for our members to tion to achieve more unity.” A shared vision connect with each other and with those who resulted, along with a common set of negotiating influence our global industry. We believe in the principles for all of ALPA’s FFD pilot groups. power of face-to-face connections. Whether it’s a Meeting someone face-to-face makes a differ- handshake or an hour-long conversation, relation- ence, even in this cyber age. ALPA hosts confer- ships generate better understanding and set the ences and seminars on behalf of our members to stage for the constructive solutions to challenges represent our pilots’ perspective, contribute our that will advance our industry and our profession. union’s expertise, and spur the action necessary In April, speakers at “Pilot Health and Medical to level the playing field for U.S. airlines so that Certification: Aviation Safety Starts Here,” the lat- they can compete economically and enhance the est in ALPA’s series of one-day safety and security safety and security of our industry. conferences, included the newly appointed U.S. ALPA’s seminars and conferences: more than federal air surgeon. Dr. Jim Fraser met with ALPA meeting expectations. line pilot safety representatives and other attendees as one of the first events on his official schedule, a testament to ALPA’s engagement and expertise on aeromedical issues and the value of an in-person encounter. Earlier this year, ALPA’s “Small Carrier Bargaining Forum and Fee-For-Departure (FFD) Meeting” was the first time that the entire national FFD Committee has worked collaboratively with ALPA’s Lori Garver Participants listen to a panel during General Manager ALPA’s “Pilot Health and Medical [email protected] Certification” conference. 4 Air Line Pilot June 2014 AviationMatters Stronger in 2014 hat doesn’t kill you ments to find solutions to genuine problems. makes you…” As for managements whose main desire is to be our adver- “W We can all fill in the sary—who do not respect the principles of union representation, blank. Whether it was said by Friedrich who do not wish to deal with issues or resolve disputes, who do Nietzsche, G. Gordon Liddy, or Kelly not wish to make and honor agreements—we will be as strong Clarkson, the fundamental principles of as necessary and use our resources as required. this saying resonate within us all. We have seen more than enough conflict. We don’t seek it And let’s be honest, as airline out, but we must be prepared and resolute in our cause if others pilots, we’ve all been through our own seek it. As we plan for the future, let’s consider these principles personal hell and back to continue or as our overarching strategy. Let’s propose that our BOD support a progress in our chosen profession. progressive bargaining agenda. But despite some of the challenges we’ve confronted in the Our bargaining agenda must include fair and equitable agree- past, I believe we can summarize in one sentence where we are ments for our fee-for-departure pilot groups. This segment of our today: The state of our union is strong. industry is in the midst of another dynamic period. Many of our And I’m confident we can summarize in one word where we members in this segment have recently been through or are still want to be at the end of 2014: Stronger. engaged in mergers. Repeated changes of direction have resulted This year in particular offers an opportunity to become in difficult negotiations. Members who once knew stability are engaged with your local council representatives to let them know being forced to fight for their careers. Members are frustrated what you believe should be a priority for the profession and your and dissatisfied with what their negotiators obtain, and some union. Every two years, ALPA-elected representatives—the Board have sent their committees back to the table. of Directors (BOD)—discuss, refine, and adjust the organiza- As a stronger union, you know that we face many challenges. tion’s strategic plan to best position the profession for success. We must use our resources more effectively to bring about The foundation for these priorities is a direct result of member greater membership support by best practices in every area. Our feedback. members must believe that their dues are no higher than neces- We must use our strength to overcome and prepare for the sary and being spent wisely to deliver first-class services. challenges we face. And we must be unyielding to break down We’ve successfully reorganized our staff structure to deliver the barriers that prevent our industry from surviving. services aligned with current challenges, opportunities, and We recently launched ALPA’s Save Our Skies public campaign member priorities. We’re now engaged in examining ways to after receiving 100 percent approval from our Executive Board make our internal operations more effective and efficient in our ballot to support this enormous endeavor. The campaign kicked IT, HR, and Finance Departments. off with a print ad in The Washington Post and a radio ad expos- Similar to the dues rate reduction passed at the 2012 BOD ing Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) scheme to skirt labor meeting, we are progressing toward another dues rate reduction, laws and fly in and out of the United States. To learn more, read from 1.90 percent to 1.85 percent. At our May Executive Board “Who Will Save Our Skies?” (see page 20) or visit sos.alpa.org. meeting, that body directed the Executive Council to construct a The feedback has been encouraging from the public, news 2015 budget based on a 1.85 percent dues rate to determine its media, and legislators who continue to rally behind our cause feasibility and report back in September. to deny NAI. We must ask our BOD to do what is necessary to Each of the 51,070 members of the Air Line Pilots Association, prevent our flying from being exported to airlines with unfair International has the ability—and responsibility—to shape the competitive advantages.