November 2015 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: » ALPA Testifies » What to Know About » Endeavor Air Pilot Before Congress on Hypertension Moonlights in the Air UAS page 32 page 30 NFL page 34 Line PilOt Stopping Official Journal of the Air Line Pilots Association, International Laser Attacks Page 21 FedEx, Sun Country Pilots Approve Tentative Agreements Page 12 PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. 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ATPFlightSchool.com/intro ATPFlightSchool.com All prices offered through November 30, 2015. Check ATPFlightSchool.com for details and eligibility requirements. Call or text (872) 215-2877 2015-10-ATP-ALPA-FP.indd 1 9/17/15 8:38 AM NOVEMBER2015CONTENTS VOLUME 84, NUMBER 9 COMMENTARY 24 5 OUR UNION Democracy Is the Core of Discovery 6 WEIGHING IN Preparing for ALPA’s Tomorrow FEATURES 21 STOPPING LASER ATTACKS ON AIRCRAFT: NO SHOT IN THE DARK ABOUT THE COVER 24 ALPA PILOTS TAKE A Sun Country B-737NG on final PART IN FIRST-EVER approach to St. Maarten. Photo GLOBAL GIRLS IN courtesy of F/O Jim Corbo (Sun AVIATION DAY Country). 27 EIGHTH GRADER Download a QR reader TAKES ON OPEN SKIES to your smartphone, scan the code, and read the magazine. DEPARTMENTS Air Line Pilot (ISSN 0002-242X) is pub lished monthly except for combined January/Feb- 7 PREFLIGHT 7 ruary and June/July issues by the Air Line Pilots Association, Inter national, affiliated with AFL-CIO, CLC. Editorial Offices: 535 Herndon Parkway, PO Box 1169, Herndon, VA 20172-1169. Telephone: 703-481-4460. Fax: 703-464-2114. Copyright © 2015—Air Line Pilots Association, Inter national, all rights reserved. Publica tion in any form without permission is prohibited. Air Line Pi- lot and the ALPA logo Reg. U.S. Pat. and T.M. 36 THE LANDING Office. Federal I.D. 36-0710830. Periodicals Busiest Airports in the postage paid at Herndon, VA 20172, and additional offices. 29 ALPA@WORK United States and Canada Postmaster: Send address changes to Roundtable Gives Pilots Air Line Pilot, PO Box 1169, Herndon, VA Chance to Share Negotiating 38 WE ARE ALPA 20172-1169. Experience, Knowledge ALPA Resources and Canadian Publications Mail Agreement Contact Numbers 21 #40620579 30 HEALTH WATCH Canada Post: Return undeliverables to P.O. Box 2601, 6915 Dixie Rd, Mississauga, ON Choosing the Right Blood L4T 0A9. Pressure Meds 32 FROM THE HILL ALPA Tells Congress UAS Need Greater Oversight 34 OUR STORIES Endeavor Air Pilot Makes His Mark in the NFL 34 November 2015 Air Line Pilot » 3 Air LineBeyond Pilot Feature Article the » TITLE Page HERE Look for these icons throughout the magazine to get access to even more information, including additional content, videos, and audio clips—or to get feedback on a question. Read More Web Address Video Link Audio Link E-mail Address Web Address Video Link Audio Link E-mail Address This is the only aisle we care about. ALPA-PAC is the most bipartisan labor PAC in the country. Conservative, liberal, or somewhere in between: we don’t care what side of the aisle they’re on, as long as they’re on our side. Back the PAC! www.ALPAPAC.org Disclaimer: The descriptions of the Air Line Pilots Association PAC are not a solicitation to contribute to the PAC. Only ALPA members, ALPA executives, senior administrative and professional staff personnel, and their immediate family members living in the same household are eligible to contribute to ALPA-PAC. ALPA-PAC maintains and enforces a policy of refusing to accept contributions from any other source. ALPA members may learn more about ALPA-PAC and about contributing to Photo: iStock.com Photo: ALPA-PAC by entering the members-only portion of www.alpa.org. A member service of Air Line Pilot. 4 » Air Line Pilot November 2015 OurUnion for unions. Democracy In this edition, ALPA highlights our elected representatives’ responsibility to listen to their constituents as part of the democratic equation. Is the Core of We report on Nick Morgan, the 13-year-old son of F/O Suzie Morgan (United), who came to Discovery Washington, D.C., to talk with his congressman about the U.S. Open Skies policy. He spoke with n Nov. 24, 1805, after crossing the Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) about the cur- North American continent to reach the rent problems with the U.S. Open Skies agree- O Pacific Ocean, Lewis and Clark’s Corps ments with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar of Discovery was in search of a site for winter and the need for the U.S. government to enforce encampment. Three locations held both prom- the agreement by opening consultations. Please ise and peril. The over-winter site was crucial–– turn to page 27 to read more and, if you haven’t for every individual in the corps, the resources already, join the fight to save airline jobs by that might or might not be available there could visiting ALPA’s website. mean life or death. We have also seen democracy in action as To make the decision, Lewis and Clark took the hallmark of our union’s representation and a remarkable action—they called on every governance. Earlier this year, 95 percent of Vir- individual in the corps’ diverse membership to gin America pilots participated in the vote with vote, regardless of race or gender. For what was 75 percent voting for ALPA representation—one a military expedition, holding a vote was ex- of the highest counts in ALPA history. ceptional. Given the times, ensuring that every Since January, our members have ratified member had a voice was extraordinary. five tentative agreements. ALPA’s leaders at The vote marked a reflection of the new these pilot groups are to be congratulated for country’s commitment to democracy, but it was their dedication and drive at the bargaining also a tribute to the deep respect that the Corps table and for capitalizing on their union’s of Discovery members held for one another. resources and expertise through road shows, Crossing an uncharted continent and enduring economic analysis, and communications. enormous physical hardship necessitated—and ALPA pilots have also voted down several inspired—an exceptional team. tentative agreements this year. It’s our union At ALPA, democratic principles and ex- leaders’ job to listen carefully to the reasons for ceptional teamwork mark our every action. dissent and use it to discover new ways to help Through it, we are able to discover new infor- our pilot group leaders achieve their members’ mation, forge new strategies, and achieve even goals. As with the Corps of Discovery, unity more to advance our industry and our mem- going in, unity throughout, and unity in the bers’ interests. end will lead to the productive discussion of This month, democracy is front and center the pros and cons that is essential to moving in both the United States and Canada. In the forward. United States, the FAA’s current reauthoriza- While the Lewis and Clark expedition was tion has been extended until March 31, 2016–– not without controversy then or now, the vote ALPA pilots and staff are pressing hard for to winter on the south side of the Columbia lawmakers to pass a robust safety bill by that River proved pivotal. It resulted in the safe re- deadline. The off-year national election just turn of the team of explorers and the reporting took place, and the 2016 presidential election is of new discoveries. on the horizon. For ALPA, democracy lies at the core of In October, Canadian citizens voted in a new discovery. government. ALPA looks forward to introduc- ing the Liberal Party to ALPA’s pilot-partisan agenda, including action on flight- and duty- time regulations, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and reporting requirements Capt. Tim Canoll, ALPA President November 2015 Air Line Pilot » 5 WeighingIn Preparing for ALPA’s Tomorrow By Capt. Randy Helling, ALPA Vice President– examined and made recommendations on the Finance/Treasurer operations and size of the fund to ensure its viability for near-term needs and for future ’m pleased to report that ALPA continues to generations of airline pilots. successfully manage its operating margins. In Secondly, ALPA is allocating $1.1 million to I reviewing the union’s year-to-date financial its wholly owned captive insurance company, performance, its projected dues income for 2016, Kitty Hawk. Established in 1991, Kitty Hawk and its recently reduced exposure to risk from liti- provides insurance and reinsurance coverage for gation, it’s clear to me that we’ve put our financial the Association related to fiduciary obligations house in order.