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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 n OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION, INTERNATIONAL

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a member service of air line Pilot. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 • VolUmE 80, NUmBER 1

41 Mesaba 42 North American 43 Piedmont 44 Pinnacle 45 PSA 46 Ryan 47 Spirit 48 Sun Country 49 Trans States 50 United 22 Bearskin 51 Wasaya About the Cover COMMENTARY ALPA’s new team. From left, 23 Calm Air 4 Aviation Matters Capt. Randy Helling, vice It’s Time for the Follow- 24 CanJet president–finance/treasurer; Through Capt. Sean Cassidy, first vice 25 Capitol Cargo president; Capt. Lee Moak, 5 Weighing In 26 Colgan president; and Capt. William The Constant of Change 27 Comair Couette, vice president– administration/secretary. FEATURES 28 CommutAir Photo by Jocelyn Augustino. To view a 11 A Q&A with Capt. 29 Compass page-turning Lee Moak, ALPA 30 Continental version of President this issue, 31 Delta scan the Q.R. image on the SPECIAL SECTION 32 Evergreen left with your 33 ExpressJet smartphone. 13 The Pilots of ALPA New to the technology? Down load 34 FedEx a Q.R. reader to your phone, scan 14 AirTran the code, and read the magazine. 35 First Air 15 Air Transat DEPARTMENTS Air Line Pilot (ISSN 0002-242X) is published 36 Hawaiian monthly, except for the combined January/ 16 Air Transport 7 Preflight February and June/July issues, by the Air 37 Island Air Line Pilots Association, International, affili- International Facts, Figures, and Info ated with AFL-CIO, CLC. Editorial Offices: 38 Jazz 535 Herndon Parkway, PO Box 1169, 52 Industry News Herndon, VA 20172-1169. Telephone: 703- 17 Air Wisconsin 481-4460. Fax: 703-464-2114. Copyright © 39 Kelowna Future of Aviation Advisory 2011—Air Line Pilots Association, Inter- 18 Alaska Committee Presents Final national, all rights reserved. Publication in Flightcraft any form without permission is prohibited. 19 American Eagle Recommendations Air Line Pilot and the ALPA logo Reg. 40 Mesa U.S. Pat. and T.M. Office. Federal I.D. 20 ASTAR 53 Shaping History 36-0710830. Periodicals postage paid at Excerpts from Flying the Herndon, VA 20172, and additional offices.

21 Atlantic Line I and II Southeast 54 We Are ALPA ALPA Resources and Contact Numbers

43 AviationMatters It’s Time for the Follow-Through

every resource available to implement CrewPASS. It’s taken far too long, but we’re going to make it happen. We’re not he beginning of every going to let petty politics and parochial self-interests stand in New Year is a time the way of getting CrewPASS implemented and sooner rather than later. to reassess, and 2011 is Getting CrewPASS implemented will be just one of many T obstacles we will overcome as the world’s largest and strongest no differ ent. This year, your pilot union. How? We will make every reasonable and rational move on the board and engage with every party that can have union will demonstrate how an effect on our professional lives and careers if it helps us to ALPA is the most powerful achieve our strategic goals. We’ll move forward with a renewed focus. If we can make it happen, we will make it happen. aviation union in the world, Eighty years ago, visionaries paved the way to ALPA becoming what it is today—the preeminent voice of airline pilots. And bar none. today, ALPA remains the most powerful advocate of line pilots. And although these visionaries paved the way, generations Many factors contribute to this state- after generations of airline pilots have welcomed the burden ment—history, safety record, etc.—but we have two strengths that are unmatched by any other pilot union. The long with my fellow first: we represent more than 53,000 airline pilots at 38 airlines. It is statisti- elected national officers cally verifiable—we are the largest. The and the collective second: ALPA staff. Our immeasurable amount of knowledge and experience support of all ALPA cannot be duplicated. A members, we’re going to carry Together, we make a formidable team. We’re 53,000 pilots that torch, not only for the 53,000 from all different walks of life, flying all different kinds of equip- ment, routes, passengers, and cargo. From time to time, we will members in this union today, but have our differences, but we cannot and must not let those also for the generations of pilots differences define our relationship. Instead, we must focus on the overwhelming amount we have in common and work who will follow us. together to move our profession forward. But we don’t have to do it alone. We’re backed by the best professional staff in the industry. We don’t outsource to and weight that comes along with actively engaging with professional negotiators when we’re in Section 6 negotiations airline industry partners around the world to ensure that airline because we don’t have to; we already have 42 of the best in pilots are not taken for granted. Each generation in its time has the industry on our staff. Pilot groups from around the world vowed to carry forward the priorities of airline pilots. seek out the expertise of our Economic and Financial Analysis Now it’s my turn. Along with my fellow elected national Department, which provides an incredible amount of special- officers and the collective support of all ALPA members, we’re ized data. The Retirement and Insurance Department special- going to carry that torch, not only for the 53,000 members in ists tailor each and every one of the plans for our 38 pilot this union today, but also for the generations of pilots who will groups to meet each group’s unique needs. follow us. On the safety front, ALPA is considered the conscience of It’s time to execute our plan. the airline industry due to the life-long advocacy efforts of our And, it’s time for follow-through. dedicated pilot representatives and Engineering and Air Safety Department staff. Improving aviation safety and security goes to our very core and continues to rank high on our priority list. But we can’t rest on our size and talent alone. We have to execute. One of my first orders of business will be to deploy Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA President

4 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 WeighingIn The Constant of Change

As I assume this office, I am indebted through our access to the inner circles of By Capt. Sean Cassidy to the last administration for the inroads labor, industry, and government and we ALPA First Vice President it made over the past 4 years. I am also are a force to be reckoned with when it Change is the law of honored to serve with Capt. Lee Moak, comes to improving our careers and our incoming ALPA president, and Capt. Tim families’ quality of life. life. And those who Canoll (Delta), incoming executive ad- In addition to being proponents for look only to the past or ministrator, as well as incumbents Capt. change in the traditional areas we are present are certain to Bill Couette, vice president–administra- all familiar with, we also have to be very miss the future. tion/secretary, and Capt. Randy Helling, cognizant of the changes beyond our vice president–finance/treasurer. back yard, because one of the biggest —John F. Kennedy I am excited by the potential energy catalysts for change in the landscape A brief introduc- that resides within our 53,000 members of our profession will almost certainly tion: I’m 46 years and our experienced and qualified staff. come from abroad. Pressure to loosen old, married with That is a very powerful combination, foreign control and ownership rules, the two young boys, and am a Seattle- I hope that by looking forward and based B-737 captain for Alaska focusing on opportunities rather than Airlines, where dwelling on obstacles, you, too, will view I’ve worked for the prospect of change as an opportunity 14 years. Born in 1964, I fall somewhere between the baby to strengthen our union and our boomers and Generation X. As someone profession. who learned to fly in the military and who now flies for an airline that does and together we will ensure that ALPA proliferation of offshoring labor, and the short-haul, long-haul, cargo, and interna- not only continues to be recognized as increasing influence of transnational alli- tional flying, I hope that my background the voice of our profession, but that our ances and corporate entities dictate that and generational perspective will allow influence continues to expand around we must expand our global perspective, me to transcend boundaries relating to the globe. presence, and strategy. We must develop the experiences, successes, and travails Deploying CrewPASS and advocating a plan that acknowledges the inevitable of our 38 pilot groups in the United for changes to the outdated flight-time/ effects that globalization will have on us. States and Canada. duty-time regulations are among the For the sake of our airlines and our jobs, Before January, I was the Alaska pilots’ Association’s top priorities. We will also we must be prepared to execute on that Master Executive Council (MEC) chair- find ways to enhance and defend our plan. man and also served two terms as vice collective bargaining agreements, move As my friends and family will tell chairman. But my passion for unionism closer to one level of safety and security, you, besides flying, winter sports have began in 1999, when I was asked to improve certification and training stan- been one of my lifelong passions. As help create and then chair the Alaska dards, and continue to push for a well- a longtime ski coach, I’ve often been Air Group Labor Coalition. The group funded, modern, and robust air traffic asked for tips on the best way to ski in brought together all unionized labor on control system. the trees. My simple response has been the property in an effort to protect the We are proud that ALPA is one of the that to succeed you need to focus on the quality of life of the employees. I have primary agents for change in our industry openings between the trees rather than been actively involved in local, national, by virtue of the fact that we represent the the trees themselves. Likewise, I hope and international labor issues since the largest and most cohesive group of union- that by looking forward and focusing on beginning of my airline piloting career. ized pilots in the world. And because it is opportunities rather than dwelling on ob- I’ve had the pleasure of working with our labor, our expertise, and our dedica- stacles, you, too, will view the prospect of many pilots from airlines all over the tion that fuels a very significant portion change as an opportunity to strengthen globe and embrace my labor advocacy of worldwide commerce, we have undeni- our union and our profession. role, which I find immensely rewarding able leverage. Combine that with nearly It is an honor to serve as your ALPA and challenging. 80 years of promoting positive change first vice president.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 5 In the 2010 U.S. congressional election cycle, ALPA-PAC provided financial support to 238 incumbents and 15 non-incumbent candidates for the House of Representatives plus 15 incumbents and 11 non-incumbent candidates for the Senate. Of these 279 candidates, 214, or 77 percent, were elected to the 112th Congress. Invest your money wisely. Back the PAC!

• For information or to make a contribution, please go to the members-only site of www.alpa.org and click on the Legislation & Politics link or contact the ALPA Government Affairs Department at 1-800-FLY-ALPA (1-800-359-2572) X4033 or at [email protected]. • Any ALPA member who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident may make voluntary contributions of any amount to ALPA-PAC at any time, up to the legal maximums. • ALPA-PAC, which is connected with the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, will use the money it receives for political purposes, including but not limited to making contributions to and expenditures for candidates for federal elected office. • Federal law requires ALPA to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, address, occupation, and employer of individuals who contribute more than $200 in a calendar year. • Contributions to ALPA-PAC are not tax-deductible, and ALPA members may refuse to contribute without reprisal.

6 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 Facts, Figures, and Info of Interest to ALPA Pilots n Airline Industry Update

 According to Louis profitability this quarter,” said Smith, president of FltOps. ATA Chief Economist John Network Airline System* 3rd Quarter Revenue com, “airline pilot hiring is Heimlich. just beginning and will be the longest and largest pilot  Network airlines’ profit hiring spree in the history of margin in the third quarter the industry.” of 2010 was the highest since the Department of  Airlines are spending Transportation’s Bureau of more on expenses as fuel Transportation Statistics prices continue to rise, (BTS) began issuing quarterly but greater demand for air airline financial numbers travel helped the industry in 2002 while the low-cost remain profitable, reported carriers’ profit margin was the USA Today, according to data second highest, BTS reported recently released by the Air in its recent release of pre- Transport Association. liminary data. “Thanks to a strengthening economy and the  The FAA gave the go- Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Form 41, Schedule P1.2. Data continuing efforts of airlines ahead in early January to *System = domestic + international to adapt to a volatile environ- a $5.2 billion expansion of ment, the increase in costs Philadelphia International extend two runways, add a of one of the country’s most did not stand in the way of Airport, a project that will fifth, and overhaul the layout congested airports, the  MarketWatch Airlines* Parent Company Stock Symbol 12/31/2009 12/31/2010 % Change Air Transport Int’l, Capital Cargo Int’l Air Transport Services Group, Inc. NASDAQ: ATSG $2.64 $7.90 199.2% Piedmont, PSA US Airways Group, Inc. NYSE: LCC $4.84 $10.01 106.8% Continental, United United Continental Holdings, Inc.1 NSYE: UAL $12.91 $23.82 84.5% Alaska Alaska Holdings, Inc. NSYE: ALK $34.56 $56.69 64.0% AirTran AirTran Holdings, Inc.2 NSYE: AAI $5.22 $7.39 41.6% Bearskin, Calm Air Exchange Income Corporation TSX: EIF $12.91 $17.55 35.9% Jazz Air Jazz Air Income Fund3 TSX: JAZ.UN $4.41 $5.20 17.9% Colgan Air, Mesaba, Pinnacle Pinnacle Airlines Corp. NASDAQ: PNCL $6.88 $7.90 14.8% Hawaiian Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. NASDAQ: HA $7.00 $7.84 12.0% FedEx Express FedEx Corporation NYSE: FDX $83.45 $93.01 11.5% Comair, Delta Delta Air Lines NYSE: DAL $11.38 $12.60 10.7% American Eagle AMR Corporation NYSE: AMR $7.73 $7.79 0.8% Atlantic Southeast, ExpressJet4 Skywest, Inc. NASDAQ: SKYW $16.92 $15.62 -7.7% Air Transat Transat A.T. Inc. TSX: TRZ.A $21.99 $18.40 -16.3% Mesa Mesa Air Group, Inc.5 In bankruptcy 1 Continental and United Airlines completed a merger on 10/1/2010. The stock price shown for 12/31/2009 is that of UAUA (United Airlines only). Continental stock price closed on 12/31/2009 at $17.92. Each shareholder of Continental got 1.05 shares of the new United stock for every one share of Continental stock. 2 AirTran Holdings, Inc., agreed to be acquired by Southwest Airlines on 9/27/2010. The acquisition has not closed and AirTran stock was still traded as of 12/31/2010. 3 Jazz Air Income Fund converted to a corporate structure as of 1/4/2011. The new corporation is Chorus Aviation and will be traded on the TSX as CHR.A as of 1/4/2011. 4 ExpressJet was acquired by Atlantic Southeast, a wholly owned subsidiary of Skywest, Inc., on 8/4/2010. ExpressJet operations will be merged with Atlantic Southeast. 5 Mesa Air Group, Inc., filed for bankruptcy on 1/5/2010. The stock was delisted from NASDAQ on 1/14/2010. On 12/31/2009 the stock price closed at $0.12 per share. *ALPA pilot groups and their airlines that are not listed are privately held companies and not publicly traded. n Prepared by ALPA’s Economic and Financial Analysis Department.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 7 Associated Press reported. n LegislativeUpdate The airport is the nation’s ninth-busiest, based on Congressional Committees Gain New Leaders takeoffs and landings, and The 112th Congress convened on January 5, with new leaders at the helm of the U.S. House the 18th-busiest based on of Representatives and many changes in the lineup of congressional committees of interest to passenger volume. In 2009, it ALPA members. While not all committee assignments have yet been made, the following was the fourth-most-delayed committees have new leaders: airport in the country, accounting for upward of 8 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES percent of the nation’s delays.  Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Construction is scheduled Chairman: Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) Ranking Member: Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) to start in 2013 and end in The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has jurisdiction over air transportation matters, 2025. including the FAA, air operations and airports, the Railway Labor Act, international aviation, and transportation of hazardous materials, including lithium batteries. “When passengers buy   Homeland Security Committee an airline ticket, they have Chairman: Peter King (R-N.Y.) the right to know which Ranking Member: Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) The Homeland Security Committee has jurisdiction over transportation security, including the airline will be operating Transportation Security Administration, air cargo, screening, and the FFDO program. their flight,” said Department of Transportation Secretary  Judiciary Committee Chairman: Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) Ray LaHood. “For years, we’ve Ranking Member: John Conyers (D-Mich.) required airlines to inform The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over bankruptcy, competition, trade, consumers about codeshar- and commerce, including some airline mergers. ing arrangements, and we’ll  Ways and Means Committee be monitoring the industry Chairman: Dave Camp (R-Mich.) closely to make sure they Ranking Member: Sander Levin (D-Mich.) The Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over taxes and budgetary matters, comply with the provision of including unemployment compensation, pensions, and health care. the new legislation.” Long-standing DOT rules  Education and Workforce Committee Chairman: John Kline (R-Minn.) require airlines to disclose Ranking Member: George Miller (D-Calif.) codesharing arrangements to The Education and Workforce Committee (formerly known as the Education and Labor consumers before they book Committee) has jurisdiction over workforce issues including Family and Medical Leave, pensions, and health care. a flight, but legislation ad- opted in August 2010 has also  Appropriations Committee clarified the requirements Chairman: Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) Ranking Member: Norman Dicks (D-Wash.) for Internet websites that sell The Appropriations Committee allocates federal spending, including federal funding for FAA airline tickets. l programs and operations, including the HIMS program, and transportation security. n ALPA-Backed and 15 non-incumbent tion process; no member on issues that directly affect candidates for the House dues money is used for this airline pilots, e.g., extending Candidates of Representatives plus 15 purpose. CrewPASS nationwide as Win Big in 2010 incumbents and 11 non- One of the most bipar- soon as possible, reforming Senate, House incumbent candidates for the tisan labor PACs in Races Senate. Of these 279 can- Washington, D.C., ALPA- didates, 214, or 77 percent, PAC supports candidates In the 2010 U.S. congressional were elected to the 112th without regard to election cycle, the ALPA Congress. party affiliation. The Steering bankruptcy laws, and updat- Political Action Committee ALPA-PAC is the only Committee distributes ALPA- ing regulations on flight- and (ALPA-PAC) provided financial way that ALPA participates PAC support based solely duty-time limits and mini- support to 238 incumbents directly in the federal elec- on a candidate’s position mum rest requirements. l

8 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 n FrontLines n Canoll Named Executive He retired from the U.S. Navy Did You Like Last Month’s Cover? Administrator Reserve in 2008 as a captain. To view an animated Effective January 1, Capt. version, scan the im- Tim Canoll (Delta), an MD-88 n Canada Adopts New age on the right with captain based in Atlanta, Ga., Pilot Screening Policy your smartphone. became the Association’s Transport Canada has revised The image is a Q.R. new executive administra- screening procedures for flight or quick-response tor. In late December, Capt. crews at both domestic and code. Down load a Lee Moak, then-ALPA’ s international checkpoints. Q.R. reader to your phone, scan the president-elect, announced Under the new policy, all pilots, code, and watch the animation. l the appointment. both Canadian and non- Canoll, a 20-year Delta Canadian, can expect to be pilot, has flown the B-727, cleared using the same type of B-757/767, L-1011, and MD- screening processes in Canada n Tell Us What You Think 88. He has served his fellow as are now used for pilots in We hope you enjoy the new Air Line Pilot format. The new Preflight pilots as a local executive the U.S. Department was created to give our members information sound bites council rep- These measures will apply regarding ALPA and other segments of the airline industry. Is there a resentative, to all crewmembers who topic you’d like to see us cover? Let us know at [email protected]. l master exec- are in uniform and are in utive council possession of either a valid (MEC) Strike Restricted Area Identity Card Committee (RAIC) or applicable foreign n Benefits News member, air crew credentials. Shoe which went into effect on MEC Security coordinator, removal is not required.  Many people are begin- MEC Strategic Planning Additionally, crewmembers ning to see the early signs January 1. The new require- chairman, MEC Negotiating in uniform—both Canadian of the U.S. healthcare re- ments address dependent Committee member, MEC and foreign—continue to be form passed last year. Most eligibility, annual and vice chairman, and most exempt from liquid, aerosol, pilots recently submitted lifetime plan limits, pre- recently as the Delta MEC and gel (LAG) restrictions, their open enrollment elec- existing conditions, and executive administrator. He provided that they are in tions for 2011 and noticed potential tax penalties on currently serves on ALPA’s possession of a valid RAIC or the changes required by health savings account Special Committee for foreign aircrew credential. the Affordable Care Act, distributions. l Finance, Structure, and Crewmembers are also Services and the Information permitted “front-of-the-line” Technology Advisory access. However, crewmem- Committee. bers are advised to consider Canoll is a graduate of the the potential for negative U.S. Naval Academy, class reactions by passengers in of 1982, and a former Navy the checkpoint queue if this Reserve F/A-18 strike fighter option is exercised, as has squadron commanding officer. been seen on occasion. l

n Membership/Finance

 Election Group II repre- Colgan, Continental, JOHN PERKINSON sentatives begin their term ExpressJet, Pinnacle, n From left, Capt. Dan Adamus (Jazz), ALPA Canada Board of office on March 1. Mesaba, and United president, presented Capt. John Prater, then-ALPA president, Master Executive Councils with the Crystal Goose Award at ALPA’s annual government-  The Finance Depart- on getting merger ex- industry holiday reception in Ottawa, Ont., on Dec. 15, 2010. ment continues to work penses reimbursed by their Assisting Adamus were fellow Canada Board officers, Capts. with Atlantic Southeast, respective companies. l Brad Small, secretary-treasurer (Air Transat), and Nick Di Cintio (Jazz), vice president.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 9

n In Memoriam “To fly west, my friend, is a flight we all must take for a final check.”—Author unknown

2010 Capt. Don C. La Porte Northwest November Capt. A.E. Kessell US Airways July Capt. Russell J. Miller United November Capt. Charles N. Eggert United September S/O Alfred R. Nordby United November F/O Calvin C. Kammeyer Continental September F/O Charles G. Peckham Eastern November Capt. Stephen R. McConnell United September Capt. H.W. Phillips Hawaiian November Capt. Bartling P. Anderegg TWA October Capt. Michael L. Potter TWA November Capt. Joseph R. Cook United October S/O William H. Sherwood TWA November Capt. Waldo R. Harrington Eastern October Capt. M.L. Shirk Delta November Capt. Fred C. Lingenfelser TWA October Capt. Joseph S. Stewart, Jr. Pan American November F/O Gerald F. O’Donnell United October F/O James A. Thomsen United November Capt. William P. Sweetay Delta October Capt. Dean Walton United November Capt. Charles G. Thomas Frontier October Capt. H.W. Watt Eastern November Capt. C. James Via, Jr. TWA October Capt. Donald D. Yorgin Delta November Capt. Frank Q. Vogtner Eastern October Capt. Angelo V. Andon Delta December Capt. David A. Bartlett United November Capt. Donald C. Boyd Northwest December Capt. Paul A. Beach Northwest November Capt. Q.J. Hazellief Delta December Capt. Frank I. Betts TWA November Capt. Olin C. “Buddy” Head, Jr. Frontier December Capt. Walter C. Bybee Continental November F/O William M. Palmer, Jr. US Airways December Capt. Howard F. Cole Braniff November Capt. Rodney A. Penebaker United December Capt. J.F. Glover Northwest November Capt. Charles Raphael United December Capt. Benjamin F. Heald, Jr. Delta November Capt. Steven M. Ruble Delta December Capt. John F. Grimm Northwest November Capt. R.J. Wright United December Capt. H.M. “Harvey” Heckman United November Capt. J.F. Lawson Eastern November Capt. George Koraly Airlift November n Compiled from information provided by ALPA’s Membership Capt. Eugene J. Kempton Transamerica November and Council Services Department Mailbag Canada ALPA is monitoring the progress of three bills: C-42, Strengthening Aviation  Letters to the editor may be submitted via regular mail to USAF, as 2011 is the 50th Security Act; C-481, an act to amend Air Line Pilot, Letters to the Editor, 535 Herndon Parkway, the Canadian Human Rights Act and P.O. Box 1169, Herndon, VA 20172-1169, or by e-mail to anniversary of graduation the Canada Labour Code (mandatory [email protected]. from pilot training and retirement age); and C-541, Passenger navigator training, the last Bill of Rights. On the Bookshelf Calling all cadets year of USAF pilot cadet Stay tuned for more information. l I have a suggestion for the Flying cadets, aviation cadets, training. books every aviator should Navcads, Marcads! Mark your This event will be held read. It’s Solo to the Top calendar for the all-cadet at Silver Wings Field, Corrections of the World by Gustavus reunion April 29–May 1. This home of the Aviation In the print version of the A. McLeod (Smithsonian is for all Army, Navy, Marine, Cadet Museum, in Eureka December 2010 issue of Air Institute, 2003). It’s a terrif- Coast Guard, and Air Force Springs, Ark., 50 miles Line Pilot, the main Front ic book about the author’s cadets, which includes pilots, southwest of Branson, Mo. Lines headline, page 6, should have read “ALPA Submits search for who he is as a navigators, observers, and For more information, Flight-Time/Duty-Time person and the limits of his bombardiers. please go to www.aviation Comments to FAA.” endurance in an unforgiv- We are also inviting cadet.org or call 479-253- Also in that issue “ALPA@ Work,” page 28, cites an article ing environment as he flies student officers, other flight 5008 or e-mail av1cadet@ from the March/April 2010 his open-cockpit Stearman officers, and support personal arkansas.net. issue of Aeromedical Flyer. to the geographical North who trained alongside us and Capt. Errol D. Severe We neglected to give credit to F/O Kristina Huffman Pole. their family members. We will (Delta, Ret.), President, (Alaska), a board-certified Capt. Ronald Johnson be giving special attention Aviation Cadet Museum, radiological physicist, who (Delta) to the 1961 classes from the Inc. wrote the article. We regret the oversight. l

10 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 A Q&A with Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA President Air Line Pilot sits down with ALPA’s new president to talk about his views on the Association and the airline industry. there are countries that outlaw the unionization of air- By Air Line Pilot staff line employees; and not all Open Skies agreements are created equal. With that in mind, we need to ensure that our contracts, our safety standards, and our flying are not negatively affected.

ALP: Similarly, what are the greatest threats to ALPA today? Moak: Independent “unions” are one of the greatest threats. By their very nature, they ignore the fundamen- Air Line Pilot: What, in your view, are the great- tal concept of unionism—that we are better together est threats facing the U.S. and Canadian airline than the sum of our individual parts. It is important to industries? stress that this concept is multi-tiered. Yes, ALPA is the Moak: EMIRATES—and other airlines with similar busi- most powerful pilots union in the world. And because ness models. These companies are well-funded and don’t of that, all airline pilots should want to be members have to live by the same rules as our airlines. of ALPA. U.S. and Canadian airlines can compete with any carri- But this concept goes beyond just ALPA. Because, on ers in the world, but we must establish a strategic plan to a macro-level, it isn’t ALPA that needs all airline pilots level the playing field. It is imperative that we develop a speaking with one voice to be successful. It is the airline cooperative relationship among regulators, management, piloting profession that needs one voice to be successful. and labor and shape the direction in which globalization I’ve been doing labor union work with ALPA off and will materialize on our continent. on for my entire career at Delta, and one thing I have The number of Open Skies agreements is expanding learned is that if you get 12 pilots together in a room to exponentially. The U.S. is now a party to almost 100 discuss an issue, you are going to hear at least a dozen Open Skies agreements. Globalization is here to stay. different opinions. However, as professional airline pilots, Within these agreements there are several facts that in the end, we typically agree on 95 percent of the is- we need to accept: government-supported airlines sues. We shouldn’t let the other 5 percent keep us apart. throughout the world have an economic advantage; Going it alone is never successful.  January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 11 y specific goal as president of this union, Mand as one of the ALP: What do you think elected national officers, is successful merger of are or should be ALPA’s to maintain ALPA’s position as Delta and Northwest? the voice of the airline piloting highest priorities in profession—whether it is in the What was the secret collective bargaining? realm of collective bargaining, to the success of that Contract enforcement? legislation on Capitol Hill or merger? Safety? Security? Parliament Hill, or safety and Moak: It is crucial to be Moak: There is a myth security. and remain actively en- that exists that suggests gaged. The pilots of Delta that ALPA headquarters drives the agenda at the local and Northwest were involved from the earliest stages with level. That’s simply not true. Local pilot leaders chart the management, and this involvement helped to bring about course of negotiations and—through consensus of their a successful merger, which closed with a pilot contract members—make the decisions on priorities. At the na- in place and a seniority integration process established. tional and international level, our highest priority is to help It was an airline industry first and has hopefully set the pilot leaders at different carriers visualize favorable contract stage for and helped other groups in their efforts. patterns across the industry and provide the resources to reach a contract that ensures the greater good for the entire ALP: Do you have any specific goals in mind for profession. Contracts that focus solely on self-interests will changing ALPA’s structure, communications, legisla- inevitably lower the high standards that this union has tive priorities, or allocation of resources? established for eight decades and in the end hurt all of us. Moak: My specific goal as president of this union, and as one of the elected national officers, is to maintain ALPA’s ALP: Tell us about the contributions that strategic position as the voice of the airline piloting profession— planning can make—and already has made— whether it is in the realm of collective bargaining, to individual pilot groups and to the Association legislation on Capitol Hill or Parliament Hill, or safety and as a whole. security. And we, the elected pilot leaders, will do whatever Moak: There are many examples that I could relay. it takes to ensure that happens. I will briefly touch on the strategic planning and cooperation between the pilots of ExpressJet and Atlantic ALP: How do you view ALPA’s role vis-à-vis IFALPA, Southeast. Upon learning about a proposed merger, the associations of pilots who fly for global airline the Master Executive Councils developed a plan to best alliances, the European Cockpit Association, and serve the interest of both pilot groups. They formed other international groups? a Joint Negotiating Committee to achieve a single Moak: I mentioned earlier that globalization is here to contract with the company. The Committee is reviewing stay. We need to remain actively engaged and a leader in both contracts to find common ground and also deter- discussions, movements, and resolutions in all interna- mining where enhancements can be made. The group tional and global topics. Already, we have a solid founda- has been working together to prepare for negotiating tion in this area, due to our dedication, commitment, sessions slated to begin early next year. I commend and expertise in the global arena. The relationship we them for their efforts. build and cultivate with our international counterparts is Similarly, at Delta, strategic planning is critical to paramount to our survival in this aggressively competi- accomplishing anything. As a group, we examine environ- tive marketplace. mental changes, set goals, understand the opportunities for goal completion, assign tasks to complete the goals, ALP: Can you discuss ALPA’s ongoing efforts to and regularly benchmark progress. It is also important organize pilot groups that are not already part of to communicate the elements of a strategic plan to the the ALPA family? members. Maybe Yogi Berra said it the best: “You’ve got Moak: I believe that every airline pilot on our continent to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, should belong to ALPA. They should want to belong to because you might not get there.” Strategic planning is ALPA. There is the strength in numbers argument, but be- critical to achieving your goals—without it, you can work yond that, it’s our responsibility to give other pilots groups really hard and end up somewhere other than where you a reason to want to join ALPA. Our reputation as the ex- wanted to end up. pert on all things related to our profession is unmatched, and we must continue to capitalize on this reputation ALP: What lessons do you think other pilot through continual efforts to better our profession and the groups—and ALPA overall—can learn from the professional lives of the pilots we represent. 12 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA rawn from a diverse mix of aviation professionals, ALPA is Dstronger for the distinct challenges and varying perspectives that distinguish each of its pilot groups. Turn the page to learn more about the foundation of the Association— its members.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 13 THE PILOTS OF ALPA he AirTran pilots’ 2010 Railway Labor Act (RLA). On for its implementation. We New Year’s resolution, May 18, while the AirTran expect management to do Tafter 6 years of negotia- shareholders gathered for the same, and we pledge to tions, came to fruition with their annual meeting, F/O do our level best to see that the signing of a new contract Linden Hillman, the pilots’ an agreement ratified by on November 19. Of the pilots MEC chairman, announced 86 percent of our pilots is casting ballots, 86 percent the results of the strike autho- enforced 100 percent of the voted in favor of the rization vote—98 percent of time.” new agreement. the pilots voted to authorize The MEC also established Throughout 2010, a strike—and then led nearly another committee, the AirTran the pilots’ Master 100 pilots in picketing outside Merger Committee, at the Executive Council the event. end of 2010. Four pilot (MEC) and its volunteers Meanwhile, the SPSC mobi- members, selected to work What’s Next for continued the difficult task of lized volunteers and prepared on behalf of the AirTran pilots AirTran Pilots? bargaining with management. to open a strike center in with the Southwest Airlines By Toni C. Vacinek The MEC and the Negotiating Atlanta, Ga. With the help of Pilots’ Association (SWAPA), ALPA Communications Committee ensured that ALPA staff and the national are in the midst of talks re- Specialist management understood the SPSC, the AirTran pilots had a garding establishing a process lengths to which the AirTran fully operational strike center agreement before beginning pilots were willing to go to as negotiations continued negotiations on seniority into the fall and the MEC list integration. Seniority list prepared for the possibil- negotiations will likely begin ity of seeking a release into in the first quarter of 2011. self-help from the National As AirTran pilots await the Mediation Board (NMB). decision from the Department On the morning of of Justice and the subse quent September 27, however, the decision from the two airlines’ MEC awoke to the unex- shareholders, they know that pected news that Southwest they are not alone—they have Airlines had announced the dedication and support a merger with AirTran. A of ALPA leaders, fellow pilots, new willingness to finish and staff members, which the contract soon brought they have had throughout

DUSTIN SAFRANEK DUSTIN management back to the their negotiations and will AirTran pilots picket in garner a long bargaining table, and a tenta- continue to have throughout May 2010 at the company’s overdue contract. tive agreement was reached the merger transition. shareholders’ meeting in The efforts in 2010 to unify in short order. The agreement Milwaukee, Wisc. the pilot group and send a included pay raises as large as message to management 35 percent on date of signing, ATN at a Glance included launching a vigorous significant work rule improvements, an increased company Pilots Joined ALPA: 2009 communications campaign Number of Pilots: 1,700+ that incorporated billboards, retirement contribution, and Pilot Domiciles: Atlanta, Ga., radio advertisements, banner perhaps most importantly, Milwaukee, Wisc., Orlando, enhanced scope and job Fla. tows, informational pickets, Headquarters: Orlando, Fla. rallies and family awareness security provisions. Operations/Services: events, Strategic Preparedness The new contract became Founded in 1992, AirTran effective on December 1, and Airways is one of America’s and Strike Committee (SPSC) largest low-cost airlines and newsletters, video messages the MEC has established an offers quality jet service with from the MEC, webisodes, and Implementation Committee more than 700 daily flights to resolve disagreements with to 69 destinations. It is the a website dedicated solely to second-largest airline at the negotiations. management that might oc- the world’s busiest airport, The MEC also sought cur over the interpretation of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta the new agreement. Hillman International Airport, and strike authorization from the has major operations in pilot group, giving the MEC says, “We are committed to Baltimore, Md., Milwaukee, authorization to call a strike if abiding by the terms of our Wisc., and Orlando, Fla. new agreement according to Fleet: 86 B-717s and 52 and when deemed necessary B-737s within the guidelines of the the agreed-upon time line

14 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA

or the pilots of Air Transat, solidly behind our highly man of the ALPA Flight Time/ 2010 brought challenges experienced Negotiating Duty Time Committee for Fas the group’s future Committee, and the unity we Canada, believes the time is hinged on the outcome of col- showed and our resolve to right for Canada to amend lective bargaining efforts that stick together paid off for all its flight- and duty-time produced a 13-month roller- of us,” Small says. regulations. “We need a level coaster ride and kept negotia- “Our experience within playing field for everybody, tors for both the the ALPA family leaves us and the Canadian aviation pilots and man- optimistic that contract regulations need to fix that.” agement hanging implementation will move The MEC remains committed Air Transat in the balance. along smoothly because of to working with management After some unex- the resources and support to establish a fatigue risk Air Transat Pilots pected curves along the way, available to our MEC,” says management system on the the pilots ratified a collective Aubin. Throughout the nego- property in 2011. Steer Roller- agreement in October 2010. tiations process, Air Transat The pilot group antici- Coaster The Air Transat Master Execu- pilots were backed by a $1 pates many more challenges tive Council (MEC) credits the million grant from ALPA’s in the coming year—Open Bargaining to pilots’ commitment to solidar- Skies agreements, carbon Safe Ground and ity and their resolve to hold taxes, and fleet renewals are A Solid Contract firm on an unbreakable strike among the most pressing. mandate. “Since we are in the middle By Lynn Konwin, ALPA “Together we worked to de- of an international market, Senior Communications velop the strongest possible we must always look forward Specialist position to achieve the best and be ready to work with outcome for our pilots and for our management as part- management: a viable, profit- ners,’’ says Aubin. able, and sustainable airline,” Air Transat is largely an says Capt. Sylvain Aubin, the international charter operator pilots’ MEC chairman. “We with approximately 14,000 will remain a unified group as flights per year from gateways we now work to implement across Canada. The airline the details of the ratified specializes in both scheduled contract in 2011.” F/O Pierre-Alexandre and chartered flights from The new collective agree- Senechal. several Canadian cities to ment brought wage increases global vacation destinations and significant improvements Major Contingency Fund including the Caribbean, the to job safety and security. (MCF), which provides pilots company’s main business The pilots successfully negoti- with the necessary resources during the winter months. ated for improved working for responding to threats to The pilots transport 3 million conditions that include a new their jobs and to the airline passengers annually to bidding and fatigue risk man- piloting profession. nearly 60 destinations in agement system, and they In addition to contract 25 countries including anticipate that more pilots implementation, the issue of Austria, Belgium, France, will be hired in the spring. In pilot fatigue and the need for Germany, Greece, Ireland, a letter of understanding, Air revised flight- and duty-time Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Transat pilots also negotiated legislation are top priorities Switzerland, and the UK. for the possible integration for the pilots. Using the of narrowbody aircraft into Association’s experience as their current fleet. “We a participant in last year’s TSC at a Glance have a respectable contract FAA Aviation Rulemaking Pilots Joined ALPA: 1999 that reflects the priorities Committee, the group is work- Number of Pilots: 360 Headquarters: Pierre E. of our pilots,” says Capt. ing with other Canadian pilots Trudeau International Airport, Brad Small, the pilot group’s to bring about much-needed Montreal, P.Q. Communications Committee change to current flight- and Pilot Bases: Montreal, P.Q.; Toronto, Ont.; and Vancouver, chairman and a member of duty-time rules that push the B.C. ALPA’s Canada Board. “The limits of pilot exhaustion. Fleet: 18 A310s and A330s pilots of Air Transat stood Capt. Martin Gauthier, chair-

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 15 THE PILOTS OF ALPA he year 2010 concluded quite beneficial to us, and the details of the tentative on a high note for the I couldn’t be happier that agreement. The MEC also Tcrewmembers of Air we obtained a tentative activated its Pilot-to-Pilot® Transport International when agreement within the short (P2P) program on the prop- their Master Executive Coun- time we’ve been part of this erty. These P2P volunteers cil (MEC) Negotiating Com- union,” says Rogers. are ambassadors of the MEC mittee secured a tentative Almost a year ago, the pi- and will be armed with the agree- lots’ Negotiating Committee, most up-to-date information ment in along with Capt. John Prater, relating to the tentative Decem- then ALPA’s president, agreement to relay to their Air Transport attended a dinner with man- fellow crewmembers on the b er. The agement in Little Rock, Ark., line. Road shows will take International tentative and the team shook hands on place in Ohio at the hub city agree- a deal to present to the mem- of Toledo and at the training ment, if ratified, will be the bers. The proposed 48-month center in Cincinnati, and the Air Transport first contract for the crew- agreement includes pay MEC will hold a telephone/ International members since they joined increases as well as improved web conference for those who Crewmembers ALPA in 2009. Although the agreement came to fruition Look Forward to after only nine face-to-face Reaping Benefits negotiating sessions with management, the crewmem- In 2011 bers’ journey to get to this By Tawnya Burket point has spanned more than ALPA Communications 6 years. Specialist While negotiating for their second-ever contract, the crewmembers continued to work under a contract that became amendable in May 2004. On two separate occa- sions, management presented the crewmembers with subpar tentative agreements, and the crewmembers voted down both of them. The pilots and flight engineers F/O David Ryan in front of his B-767 just after arriving in subsequently took a strike Sydney, Australia. vote, and 100 percent of those who participated voted work rules and quality-of-life are unable to attend a live to endorse a strike, if neces- enhancements for the cockpit event. The crewmembers will sary. The crewmembers were crewmembers. vote on the tentative agree- preparing to do whatever it “The tentative agreement ment after the road shows took to get the fair and equi- that we reached on Dec. 3, conclude in February, with table contract they deserved. 2010, has many improve- plans to have results available Led by Capt. Tom Rogers, ments for the crewmembers in March. ATI at a Glance the group’s current MEC including securing home- With the tentative agree- Pilots Joined ALPA: chairman, the crewmembers basing, which has been a ment under their belts, the November 2009 unified and backed a new provision that topped the MEC, pilot negotiators, and Number of Crewmembers: flight plan, which included 180 crewmembers’ list of desires crewmembers can chalk up Operations: DC-8 and B-767 joining ALPA. in every survey since 2004,” 2010 as a productive year, passenger, military, and cargo “Looking back over the Rogers says. and they are looking forward operations around the world past year, I think coming to Base: Home-based The Negotiating Com- to 2011, when they will reap Hub Cities: Toledo, Ohio and ALPA was the right decision mittee is undertaking an the benefits of their hard Miami, Fla. for our crewmembers. The extensive educational cam- work and dedication and the Corporate Headquarters: Association’s resources and Little Rock, Ark. paign in February to inform sacrifices that they’ve made expertise have proven to be the crewmembers about over the years.

16 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA ir Wisconsin pilots in October 2011, stems from bargaining agreements that have 397 reasons negotiations conducted in complement, rather than Awhy they deserve a 1999–2000 and designed compete with, each other.” new and improved contract, to be renegotiated in 2005. Rounding out the Alliance and at their October negoti- However, in 2003 manage- are Colgan (which is now ations opener they present- ment and pilots, in an effort a part of Pinnacle Airlines ed them to Air Wisconsin to retain the United Airlines Corporation), Mesa, and codeshare agreement, negoti- Trans States pilots. ated and ratified a conces- During the 2008 economic sionary restructuring letter of downturn, management Air Wisconsin agreement that resulted in a furloughed approximately contract extension. The com- 60 pilots (about 10 percent Airlines Corporation (AWAC) pany lost the United flying of the pilot group). During Pilots Open management. The 397-point and subsequently invested the furlough period, the Negotiations opener was designed to in US Airways during its pilot group created the With A Roadmap serve as a roadmap to a deal bankruptcy and began operat- Pilot Furlough Assistance that would give contract ing as US Airways Express in Committee to keep in contact To Success gains to the pilots while 2005. with furloughees, provide By Kimberly Seitz, ALPA allowing for the continued The pilots are looking for leads to other pilot jobs, and Senior Communications success of AWAC. four types of change to the negotiate preferential hiring Specialist “We are looking for contract: small adjustments, at other airlines. Fortunately, gains during this round of new concepts, deletions, and all furloughees have been negotiations,” says Capt. additions. All changes in the able to return to active em- Mark Lockwood, the pilots’ opener are designed to ployment, and management Negotiating Committee • adapt the current agree- started hiring new pilots in chairman. “Our detailed ment to Air Wisconsin in 2010. opener focuses primarily on 2010 recognizing the new AWAC is the largest pri- much-needed quality-of-life codeshare partner, new vately held regional airline in improvements and eliminat- domiciles, new leaders, and the United States. With its 70 ing ‘gray areas’ from the changed schedules, CRJs, it exclusively provides current contract. Considering • recover the losses from the feeder services for US Airways that management has been pilots’ concessionary agree- under a fee-for-departure in contract negotiations with ment in 2003, agreement. AWAC aver- the Association of Flight • recognize airline industry ages approximately 500 daily Attendants–Communication issues, such as fatigue and the departures, mostly out of US Workers of America since impending pilot shortage, Airways’ hubs and from LGA

KIMBERLY SEITZ KIMBERLY 2009 and the International • streamline the agreement and DCA. F/O Stephan Wessel, the Association of Machinists and certain processes, and pilots’ Communications since 2008, the pilot group is • clarify various specific provi- Committee chairman, well aware that negotiations sions of the current contract. ARW at a Glance The MEC has also been during news media may not be quick. However, Pilots Joined ALPA: 1982 training in December based on several pilot in close contact with the as a result of the Union of 2010. surveys that the Negotiating other US Airways Express Professional Airmen merger ALPA pilot groups, which with ALPA Committee conducted, the pi- Number of pilots: 665 lot group demands significant have formed the US Airways Operations: Nearly 500 improvements and is ready to Express Pilots Alliance. “The departures per day to 26 Alliance was created to pre- states and 3 Canadian prov- fight for them.” inces; with service to 70 cities The pilots’ Master vent whipsawing one ALPA throughout North America, Executive Council (MEC) and pilot group against another,” the airline carries nearly 6 says Capt. Joe Ellis, the pi- million passengers per year Negotiating Committee spent Headquarters: Appleton, a significant amount of time lots’ MEC chairman. “This Wisc. preparing for these negotia- cooperative effort prompted Domiciles: New York our negotiators to attend (LGA); Norfolk, Va. (ORF); tions, which they hope will Philadelphia, Pa. (PHL); lead to an agreement. ongoing negotiating sessions Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (RDU); Much of the language in at Piedmont and PSA, as all and Washington, D.C. (DCA) three pilot groups work to- Fleet: 70 Canadair 50-seat the pilots’ existing contract, regional jets (CRJ200s) which becomes amendable gether to negotiate collective

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 17 THE PILOTS OF ALPA ith tailwinds of of voting MEC reps in each With all of the changes change propelling base will depend upon the expected in 2011, the MEC Wthem forward, number of pilots in that base. is maintaining its focus on the 1,455 pilots of Alaska Last fall and winter, the pilots the four key objectives it Airlines are soaring toward a elected new LEC officers and established in 2010 to ensure horizon of new technologies block reps who will take office that the pilot group stays on a at their company, the pos- on March 1. Among them are path to success. sibility of new industry new volunteers and returning “Last March, we introduced regulations, and a new reps. The MEC leaders also four key goals for the MEC: leadership structure for saw a change when Capt. Sean improving communications, Alaska their Master Executive Cassidy, then-MEC chairman, committee development, Council (MEC). was elected ALPA’s first vice contract compliance, and Last fall, Alaska Airlines president at the union’s recent contract preparation,” says Working announced that it was Board of Directors meeting. F/O Paul Stuart, the pilot Together, Pilots embarking on two new The MEC also is looking group’s MEC chairman. “As Move Forward programs, which began rolling forward to welcoming more we look ahead, we’re going out in December. In the com- furloughed pilots back to the to continue on the course By Jenn Farrell ing months, all Alaska pilots ALPA Communications will be carrying iPads as part Specialist of a trial program in conjunction with Jeppesen’s Airside F/O Mike Reinmuth, Council Services. If the trial period 67 secretary-treasurer, takes goes well and the initiative minutes at a local council gains final FAA approval, meeting. these iPads will replace the pilots’ traditional flight bags. The MEC is in the process of reviewing the iPad program and will be communicating to the pilot group about any concerns or items to be aware

of as the iPads are distributed. JENN FARRELL Additionally, CrewPASS cockpit. Alaska began 2010 we plotted, because with could soon become a real- with 106 pilots on involuntary all the change around us, a ity. And looming ahead are furlough. By the end of clear and consistent focus potential changes to the 2010, 68 pilots remained becomes even more crucial to FAA’s flight-time/duty-time involuntarily furloughed, and protecting and defending our regulations, which, like the 18 of them have received contract and the quality of rest of the industry, Alaska recall letters for class dates in our careers.” pilots are watching closely. January and March 2011. And as in years past, the While the eventual language “Obviously, we were key to success—whether it is and effect won’t be fully pleased to see that Alaska in the realm of negotiations, ALA at a Glance known until a final rule is Airlines shared our belief defending the contract, safety, Pilots Joined ALPA: 1947 handed down, what happens, that recent vacancies should or security—lies in the unity Number of Pilots: 1,455, when it happens, and how be filled by recalling pilots of the pilot group. including 62 on involuntary any new regulations are to be from furlough,” says F/O “Without the participation furlough as of Jan. 4, 2011; 12 additional furloughed pilots implemented undoubtedly Will McQuillen, the pilots’ of our 1,455 pilots, there is have received recall letters will affect the way business Membership Committee only so much we can do at an and are expected to return by is done. chairman and furlough coor- MEC level,” Stuart says. “What the end of March Operations: 413 daily depar- On March 1, the MEC will dinator. “We are continuing we’ve accomplished, and tures to 61 destinations in the transition its representation to work with management how far we’ve come, is a real United States, Mexico, and structure from the status to advocate for the return of testament to the fortitude and Canada Domiciles: Anchorage, Alaska; representative model to block as many pilots as possible commitment of the Alaska pi- Los Angeles, Calif.; Portland, representation, in which each and will not be satisfied until lot group, and we’re confident Ore., and Seattle, Wash. local council still will elect every furloughed pilot has that by working together, we Fleet: 116 B-737-400/-700/- 800/-900s three local executive council been offered the opportunity can continue moving forward (LEC) officers, but the number to get back into the cockpit.” in a positive direction.”

18 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA merican Eagle pilots of Eagle pilots holding AA the emotion that runs deep are entering the final seniority numbers. At times, it for AA pilots who have seen A2 years of a 16-year has been an uphill battle. their careers stalled. However, contract signed in 1997. They Now, the Eagle pilots are this may be the time to take expect 2011 to be a year of at a crossroads. On one hand, the lead in the industry and great change. The long-term AA may be on the verge of craft a new solution to the agreement was designed to a prolonged period of pilot problem of pitting mainline recalls. There remain ap- pilots against regional pilots.” proximately 450 Eagle pilots The Eagle MEC believes with AA seniority numbers that together with AA pilots American Eagle who may find themselves in it can present a competi- AA training classes in 2011. tive business plan that will bring about stability and put Additionally, due to a recent address scope issues, career American Eagle an end to the whipsawing of arbitration, another 824 Eagle expectations, and job security Pilots Poised for American Eagle pilots by join- pilots will have preferential for both pilot groups, and will ing four separate carriers serv- hiring status when AA is also give AMR a competitive Great Change ing American Airlines (AA): unable to fill its classes with edge in the industry. By Capt. Richard Executive, Flagship, Simmons, AA furlough recalls. Krutenat, American and Wings West. Included On the other hand, it ap- Eagle Communications in the 16-year contract were pears that AMR Corporation, Committee Chairman three contract amendment the parent company of AA, rounds. The agreement was is still intent on divesting signed just months after Eagle. Many Eagle pilots are ratifying a four-party agree- concerned a divestiture could ment with ALPA, the Allied signal a future of AMR revert- Pilots Association (APA), AA, ing back to whipsawing its and American Eagle that regional feeders, just as it did provided furlough protection in the mid-1990s. This will be for AA pilots in the form of RJ a major factor for many Eagle captain positions. This same pilots in their decision to stay agreement gave Eagle pilots with Eagle or go to AA. a way to obtain AA seniority Other Eagle pilots wonder numbers, allowing them to if AMR is looking for ways “flow through” to the main- to “creatively” address AA’s line when AA was hiring. scope clause, which is the “No one could have known most restrictive among that the most traumatic legacy airlines, by divesting Capt. Rich Krutenat, decade in U.S. airline history Eagle and increasing its use Communications Committee EGL at a Glance was right around the corner,” of codesharing. If successful, chairman, gives his son, says Capt. Tony Gutierrez, evading AA’s scope clause Nathan, a tour of the cockpit Pilots Joined ALPA: 1995 (although Simmons had been the pilots’ Master Executive in that manner would hurt of an Embraer 145. an ALPA member since 1986, Council (MEC) chairman. Eagle pilots, AA pilots, and the after the NMB’s 1995 ruling “9/11 and substantial airlines they work for. Whatever happens at that the four predecessor airlines constituted a single furloughs at AA brought “The Eagle MEC strongly American Eagle this year carrier, the Eagle pilots estab- a host of grievances and believes that this is a perfect will largely depend on the lished a single MEC) arbitrations. No one imagined time for AA mainline and decisions of the AA pilot Number of Pilots: 2,857 Pilot Domiciles: Chicago, a scenario and the resulting Eagle regional pilots to group and the AMR Board of Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, ramifications of a flow-back/ come together and make a Directors. Regardless, Eagle Miami, New York JFK and flow-through arrangement stand for the future of the pilots are preparing for some LGA, and San Juan, P.R. Operations: More than 1,700 during simultaneous AA pilot flying profession at American significant movement in their daily flights to more than 150 furloughs and a growth cycle Airlines,” Gutierrez says. “Any seniority list. The American cities throughout the United at American Eagle.” AA pilot can look across the Eagle Training Center is States, Canada, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico The Eagle MEC has spent ramp at Chicago O’Hare and gearing up to hire 300 to 400 Headquarters: Ft. Worth, Tex. the better part of a decade see the proliferation of re- pilots in 2011 to accommo- Fleet: 39 CRJ700s, 118 fighting to protect the Eagle gional airliners that are flying date movement and upgrades EMB-145s, 59 EMB-140s, 18 EMB-135s, 39 ATR 72s pilot group while preserv- routes formerly flown by AA in every fleet and every ing the flow-through rights pilots. This MEC understands domicile.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 19 THE PILOTS OF ALPA

ust one year ago, ASTAR lingering effects of 2008. That layoffs and business closures. employed 517 pilots and year began with the pilots By late 2009, more than two- Jhad a fleet of 44 airplanes. optimistic about their new thirds of the city’s working Today, the number of pilots and enhanced contract, but population was unemployed. remaining on the property the year ended with everyone In spite of these economic is fewer than 100, and just 8 affiliated with DHL doubtful setbacks, ASTAR abided by DC-8s remain active. However, about the future. the contract signed in 2008, the pilots are In 2008, just 3 months including the contract’s looking to the after signing a contract with no-furlough clause. This future, not to the the pilots, DHL announced kept all pilots hired before ASTAR past, to save not plans to hand over to UPS, March 2008 at their pay only their ca- one of its chief competitors, status though March 2010. reers, but also their company. all of DHL’s cargo operations After that date, the company A Time to In late 2010, ASTAR bought in North America. The move furloughed more than 80 Rebuild back from DHL the remaining would have effectively shut percent of the pilots, many of By Jen Lofquist shares of the company, mak- down ASTAR, as well as the whom had been with ASTAR ALPA Communications ing ASTAR fully independent remnants of Airborne Express for more than a decade. Specialist from the shipping company. and a recently built sorting Those pilots who remain Before this, DHL was—in facility in Wilmington, Ohio. on the property are the most The outcry was immediate, senior. All of the current and ASTAR pilots led the active pilots were captains at charge. the once-thriving ASTAR, but After months of negative now two-thirds of them have advertising; picketing in Ohio, been downgraded to first of- Florida, and New York; and ficers and second officers and congressional hearings that have seen their pay rates go openly questioned not only down respectively. The most the legality of the agreement junior active pilot on ASTAR’s between DHL and UPS, but seniority list has been flying also the ethics behind it, with the company for more DHL’s market share plum- than 20 years. meted. The value of the deal “As MEC chairman, my between UPS and DHL was main focus has been to pro- S/O Art Penot, the new addition to being the airline’s now worth just 10 percent tect as many jobs as possible ASTAR S/O rep, in the biggest client—a 49 percent of the original estimates. at ASTAR, and to bring our cockpit of a DC-8 freighter. owner. This move will allow Without much fanfare, DHL pilots home,” says Chetcuti. ASTAR to reorganize its billing and UPS slunk away from the “However, we’ve also been structure, moving away from agreement. working with other ALPA the contractual model to one At the end of 2008, DHL pilot groups to get interviews that is more similar to a fee- announced it was leaving for our furloughed pilots. for-departure operation. the U.S. shipping market Even though these pilots are “We’re hoping that this completely. It proceeded with no longer actively flying for new structure will allow our plans to shut down its facility ASTAR, they are still ASTAR company to pursue other in Wilmington, Ohio, and pilots to us. We will do ev- revenue options,” says Capt. moved all of its remaining erything we can to get them George Chetcuti, the pilots’ operations (mainly packages back in the air—whether here Master Executive Council shipped from overseas to or at some other company.” chairman. “We’re in a the U.S.) to its Cincinnati Left with only eight air- competitive and constrictive facility. Ironically, this site was planes, ASTAR’s future may marketplace, and anything abandoned in 2005 when the hinge on eventually changing that may open up new roads company moved to the then its fleet and bringing in addi- DHL at a Glance for this company is good for new Wilmington location. tional clients. Should this play Pilots Joined ALPA: 1991 the pilots.” DHL was the largest employer out, ASTAR will be able to rely Number of Pilots: 84 But much work needs to in the Wilmington area. The on the expertise and experi- Headquarters: Miami, Fla. Pilot Base: Cincinnati, Ohio be done. The pilot group has aftershocks of the company’s ence of its pilot group to help Fleet: 8 DC-8-73Fs been savaged by not only exit reverberated throughout rebuild the once-thriving the economy, but also the the city, forcing additional company.

20 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA

hen the pilots of Immediately upon learning However, the merger shelved Atlantic Southeast of the merger, the Atlantic these plans and negotiations WAirlines started Southeast and ExpressJet efforts have focused on a 2010, they couldn’t have MECs began colla borating and combined contract. predicted it would end with a formed a Joint Negotiating Going into the merger, merger, joint contract negotia- Committee (JNC) to work the pilots should be proud of tions, and the potential to be toward a single contract. The what they have accomplished. JNC has been reviewing In early 2010 after 2 years the individual Atlantic of work, the group crafted a South east and ExpressJet next-generation preferential Atlantic Southeast contracts to find common bidding system (PBS) that’s ground and areas where designed to be an enhanced the largest regional airline in enhancements can be made. scheduling tool. By creating Focusing on a the world. In November, the JNC sent a their own system, the pilots Merged Future On Aug. 4, 2010, SkyWest negotiations survey to all pilots removed any chance that By Jen Lofquist Holdings Inc., the parent com- to gauge priorities for the joint a company-mandated PBS ALPA Communications pany of Atlantic Southeast, contract. The group has been could be used as a weapon Specialist announced that it intended working closely to prepare for against the pilot group—as to purchase ExpressJet and negotiating sessions slated to PBSs have been used at combine it with Atlantic begin early this year. other airlines. The group also Southeast. The resultant Pilot leaders from both obtained pay raises and im- airline, to be called Atlantic groups have met often to proved working conditions in Southeast Airlines, will be the discuss immediate issues as exchange for extending their largest regional airline in the well as to plan for the future. 2007 contract for one year world—with approximately In December, the groups held and putting the PBS in place. 4,300 pilots and an extensive their first formal meeting The MEC has been oversee- list of destinations, expanding of the two full MECs in one ing the PBS, making sure it the airline’s routes to most of room, providing an excellent meets all of the detailed and the United States. opportunity for in-person strict requirements set forth On November 12, all of discussions. For 3 days, the in the agreements that imple- the legal requirements to groups discussed the status mented the system. proceed were met when of the merger and the pilots’ As work continues toward the ExpressJet and SkyWest expectations for the upcom- a single operating certificate Holdings, Inc., shareholders ing negotiations. and a single seniority list and approved the merger. The “By meeting jointly, we are contract, Atlantic Southeast merged company is now preparing for the day when pilots have every reason to be working toward combining we are one airline and one optimistic about 2011. “We’re the operations and—most pilot group,” says Nieuwenhuis. not only committed to our significantly for the pilots— “This meeting built upon prior airline, we are also committed the employee groups with a work and discussions between to our union,” Nieuwenhuis single operating certificate by the officers and provided points out. “We have the the summer of 2011. an excellent opportunity for strength and the unity to F/O Jonathan Coker in the “If crafted, developed, the pilots to sit down and meet any challenge thrown cockpit of his Canadair jet. and administered well, the forge common goals that will at us and to proactively seek merger of Atlantic Southeast benefit our airline, our careers, and cultivate future opportu- and ExpressJet can lead to a and our profession.” nities.” corporate platform that serves The merger announcement as a model for the rest of the drastically changed the pilot industry—a safe, high-quality, group’s plans for 2010 and ASA at a Glance and profitable powerhouse 2011. On May 20, less than Pilots Joined ALPA: 1987 that respects and shares 3 months before the merger First ALPA Contract: Nov. 28, success with its hardworking announcement, the pilots 1989 employees. We look forward began Section 6 negotiations Number of Pilots: 1,700 Headquarters: Atlanta, Ga. to accomplishing this goal,” by preparing an early contract Pilot Bases: Dulles, Va., and says Capt. David Nieuwenhuis, opener. This would have set Atlanta, Ga. the pilots’ Master Executive in motion negotiations for Fleet: 112 CRJ200s, 38 CRJ700s, 10 CRJ900s Council (MEC) chairman. a new contract during 2011.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 21 THE PILOTS OF ALPA ince the sale of its North- EIC is a positive move,” says ment that will benefit not only ern Division to Wasaya Parnham. “EIC is a progres- the pilot group, but also our Sin 2003, the pilots of sive corporation that capitaliz- airline’s business plan.” Bearskin Airlines have carved es on the potential for growth For the Bearskin pilot out a solid niche, offering in its select purchases.” group, as with many daily scheduled passenger EIC has publicly expressed other Canadian and U.S. pilot service throughout Ontario its intention to expand Bear- groups, fatigue is a critical and Manitoba. skin as the corporation has factor in daily operations. Bearskin Airlines done with the other three Bearskin pilots fly as many as currently oper- airlines it has purchased. The 12 legs per day in 704 aircraft Bearskin ates a fleet of company currently operates in without the assistance of an 14 Metroliners, two niche business segments: autopilot. “As exhausting as with more than 100 depar- special manufacturing and this is, many more carriers With Change tures daily to 17 destinations aviation, consisting of Peri- have no limit to cycles and On the Horizon, in Ontario and Manitoba. meter Aviation LP, Keewatin routinely fly more than 12 Pilots Remain No other airline offers more Air LP, and Calm Air Inter- legs per duty day. Fatigue is service between northern national LP. “Every airline EIC an issue that doesn’t affect Optimistic Ontario’s key cities. Thunder has invested in has seen sub - By Lynn Konwin, ALPA Bay, Ont., and Sudbury, Ont., stantial growth,” Parnham Senior Communications combined feature more than explains. Specialist 25 departures daily and act as Bearskin has also con- Bearskin’s major hubs, linking firmed its intention to take northern Ontario’s five largest over the southbound routes cities and a number of small- from Thunder Bay formerly er communities to Winnipeg, served by Delta Air Lines. The Man., and Ottawa, Ont. airline hopes to develop a Capt. Sean Faid preflights his “Bearskin has found its partnership with Delta, there- Metroliner. place in the commuter world by adding Bearskin flights to and appears to be doing well,” and from Minneapolis, Minn., just our personal lives but says Capt. Danny Parnham, with passengers having the also those of our families and the Bearskin pilots’ Master option to connect to Delta the flying public. An accident Executive Council (MEC) flights as needed. Due to the should not be the catalyst for chairman. The pilots, who are increase in flights, the airline changing our country’s flight- mainly based in Thunder Bay, will be hiring additional pilots. time/duty-time regulations,” with two smaller pilot bases As a result of all this expan- Parnham says. in Sioux Lookout, Ont., and sion, Parnham is optimistic In 2011, the Bearskin MEC Winnipeg, Man., fly routes about the future of Bearskin plans to continue working as far south as Kitchener/ Airlines and its employees. with other ALPA pilot groups Waterloo, Ont., and as far The pilots’ fourth contract to establish improved flight- north as Flin Flon, Man. was ratified in 2006, and time/duty-time regulations East/west operations extend to date no grievances have for Canadian pilots. As an from Ottawa to Winnipeg. been filed. “Our contract is appointed member of the BRS at a Glance Additionally, Bearskin has starting to reap the rewards of ALPA Flight Time/Duty Time increased its service between maturity and a positive labour- Committee for Canada, Pilots Joined ALPA: 1997 (became an ALPA-represented Ottawa and Kitchener/ management relationship,” Parnham says he is 110 pilot group when CALPA Waterloo from three to four says Parnham. Advancements percent committed to bringing merged with ALPA) flights daily. in the current contract focused science-based improvements Number of Pilots: 65 Pilot Bases: Thunder Bay, Change is in the wind once on quality-of-life issues. to the current Canadian flight- Ont.; Winnipeg, Man.; Sioux again for the pilots as they “Contract No. 4 provided pilots time/duty-time regulations. Lookout, Ont. prepare for another sale of with improved work rules “I will advocate to the best of Headquarters: Sioux Lookout, Ont. their airline to the Exchange beyond the basic parameters my ability the concerns of 703 Operations: Daily scheduled Income Corporation (EIC). found in Transport Canada’s and 704 pilots in Canada,” says passenger service between The investment group, which current flight-time/duty-time Parnham. Under Canadian Flin Flon, Man.; Kitchener/ Waterloo, Ont.; Ottawa, Ont.; purchased Calm Air in 2009, regulations,” says Parnham. aviation regulations, the Winnipeg, Man.; and com- made a public offering to buy “When the time comes to 703/704 weight classification munities in between Bearskin for $32.5 million. “I negotiate our fifth contract, refers to airplanes with 19 or Fleet: 14 Metroliners believe the sale of Bearskin to we will strive to reach a settle- fewer seats.

22 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA he past 2 years have the more traditional freight- Calm Air pilots also produced dramatic ers such as the HS 748,” he believe their collaboration Tchanges for the pilots points out. with other ALPA pilot groups of Calm Air as they faced a The experience of other in Canada is crucial to major transition in owner- pilot groups around North improving standards across ship that shifted the airline America, especially ALPA- the airline industry. The MEC from a family-owned business represented pilots, has pro- is committed to helping to a large company, vided a wealth of support and provide input on flight-time/ the Exchange Income knowledge for the Calm Air duty-time legislation by Corporation (EIC). MEC on how best to navigate giving its unique perspective Calm Air Despite the changes, the new environment of a on operating around the adjusting to the new corporate-owned company. clock in one of the most corporate environment was “In the past, negotiations extreme, remote regions in Change Is second nature to Calm Air and pilot issues had been the world—the Canadian A Welcome pilots, who serve the remote dealt with quickly, as Calm Air Arctic. “Even though we Challenge for regions of northern Manitoba was a family business,” says operate in a harsh and and Nunavut. Cenerini. “The new reality for unforgiving environment, our Calm Air Pilots “The biggest challenge both our pilots and manage- great safety record is second By Lynn Konwin, ALPA now, for both our members ment is that we are now part to none,” Cenerini says. Senior Communications and the Master Executive of a large corporation that The pilots’ contract expires Specialist Council (MEC), is to embrace has multiple regional airlines in 2013; however, the MEC the changes and grow with in its holdings.” will not wait until then to the company,” says Capt. For 2011, the MEC start addressing the pilot Dan Cowan, the pilots’ newly members believe they will group’s priorities. “Calm Air elected MEC chairman. The continue to see expansion is a profitable airline, and pilots seem to be doing as new opportunities evolve the pilots take a lot of credit exactly that, with a steadily for Calm Air and its pilots. for making and keeping it growing fleet and an increase They are more than prepared that way,” says Cowan. The in pilot hiring. “We’ve sur- for the growing pains. “We MEC would also like to see are taking an active role to Calm Air progress as an in- ensure that Calm Air is still an dustry leader in the regional/ airline where our pilots can commuter/freight industry establish solid careers,” says regarding pay and working Cowan, who acknowledges conditions. “Management is that many of the pilots have aware of the important role worked hard to build lifelong that ALPA plays in helping

BROCK WEIR BROCK careers at Calm Air and sees to grow the company,” notes A Calm Air ATR 72 lands at passed 100 pilots for the first the trend continuing. “Calm Cowan. Thompson Airport, Manitoba, time in Calm Air history,” adds Air pilots are truly committed Canada. Capt. Rich Cenerini, the pilots’ to seeing the company suc- MEC secretary-treasurer. ceed,” he explains. “We have CMA at a Glance The pilot group has also a strong work ethic, and we have been very fortunate that Pilots Joined ALPA: 1997 earned another noteworthy Number of Pilots: 103 “first”: Calm Air recently the company recognizes this Operations: Scheduled became the first airline to op- and continues to work with passenger and cargo service our union to make Calm Air in northern Manitoba and erate the ATR 72 in Canada. Nunavut, the newest and The pilot group completed a desirable and productive largest territory in northern its certification process in place to work.” Canada, including destina- “Certain areas of the tions along the western September 2010 with the first shores of Hudson Bay and of two ATR 72 freighters mak- contract will require small into the high Arctic ing its initial revenue flight adjustments to facilitate Pilot Bases: Thompson and certain flight operations,” Winnipeg, Man. on September 17. The ATR 72 Headquarters: Thompson, freighters will make northern says Cenerini. “These adjust- Man. routes more efficient, accord- ments go with the territory Fleet: 6 Saab 340s, 2 Hawker and make things more ef- Siddeley HS 748s, 7 ATRs (2 ing to Cenerini. “The ATR 72s ATR 72s and 5 ATR 42s), 2 have a bigger payload and ficient for the pilots and the Cessna Caravans lower operating costs than company.”

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 23 THE PILOTS OF ALPA ransitions are nothing of which is integrating a senger safety.” new to the pilots of communications process that Looking ahead, the CanJet TCanJet. In 2010, the engages the pilots. “We’re MEC is preparing for col- Halifax-based pilots elected eager to get started on this lective bargaining, which is a new Master Executive and a number of goals,” says set to begin in March 2012. Council (MEC) amidst one of Sirros, who has already begun “We are focused on making their busiest hiring periods working on several initia- sure our pilots familiarize in recent history, more tives to improve pilot unity. themselves with the existing than doubling the num- “Implementing more effec- contract,” Sirros says. “We ber of CanJet pilots tive communications tools is want our pilots to know that CanJet since their first contract a key priority for us.” they can reach out to the under ALPA representa- The MEC is wasting no MEC for help if they need it. If tion was signed in 2008. time leading efforts to jump- the MEC is not aware of what Pilots Looking The changes came on start an ambitious plan to is going on, then we cannot Forward to 2011 the heels of a challenging connect the ever-expanding help. I cannot stress how And Beyond phase that began 2 years pilot group, which flies out of important it is for our pilots ago. In 2009, the pilot group locations from Vancouver to to keep the MEC informed By Lynn Konwin, ALPA made international headlines Halifax. The MEC began with of situations encountered on Senior Communications after the flight crew of Flight a quarterly newsletter, The the line.” Mason agrees that Specialist 918, piloted by Capt. James CanJet Compass, and then “it’s important we recognize Murphy and F/O Glenn added monthly gatherings the value of learning from our for pilots and their families at past experiences.” locations near pilot domiciles. CanJet pilots became ALPA A biweekly “Payday Hotline” members in July 2006 and message also goes out to ratified their first collective the pilots to serve as a safety agreement in May 2008. The net for last-minute informa- 4-year agreement provides tion that needs to go out CanJet with job stability, en- on a time-driven basis. “We abling management to focus want to build our present full time on building CanJet committees and work with as Canada’s premier charter them to establish their roles airline. The airline operates within the MEC structure and an all-next-generation fleet of ensure that every one of our B-737-800s that increase fuel members has the opportunity efficiency and range while to be heard,” Sirros says. reducing noise and carbon In addition to the com- emissions. munications efforts, the With progress also comes CanJet MEC is actively challenge. The CanJet MEC is supporting the mission of currently working to resolve the ALPA Flight Time/Duty a scheduling grievance. F/O Adrian Griffiths, CanJet Johnson, successfully thwart- Time (FT/DT) Committee Establishing timely resolu- MEC secretary-treasurer, in ed an attempted hijacking. for Canada, chaired by tions to issues such as crew the cockpit of his B-737. With the tumultuous reper- Capt. Martin Gauthier (Air scheduling, base grievances, cussions of that event behind Transat). Griffiths serves and master seniority list them, the newly elected as a representative on this bidding will continue to be CanJet MEC leaders—Capt. Committee. “Flight-time/ priorities for the MEC as it CJA at a Glance Alex Sirros, the pilots’ MEC duty-time issues are not continues to chart a course chairman; Capt. Jon Mason, simply pilot concerns,” says for 2011. “CanJet pilots are Pilots Joined ALPA: 2006 Number of Pilots: 123 the vice chairman; and F/O Griffiths. “They affect every consistently hard workers, Operations: Provides subcon- Adrian Griffiths, the secretary- single person who steps often putting in long hours to tracting services to vacation treasurer—are looking for- aboard an airplane. We at provide the top-notch service charter airlines Pilot Base: Halifax, N.S. ward to 2011 and beyond. CanJet, along with other the passengers have come to Headquarters: Halifax, N.S. For 2011, the CanJet ALPA members, are proud to expect,” says Sirros. “At the Domiciles: Vancouver, MEC has already begun be making positive changes end of the day, our pilots have Toronto, Montreal Fleet: 11 B-737-800s taking steps to improve pilot for all airline pilots in Canada gone the extra mile to do the communications, the first and to further enhance pas- best job possible.”

24 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA ast July, the Capital Cargo International Airlines Lflightcrew members ratified their first-ever ALPA contract, which included pay increases, a signing bonus, and quality-of-life and work rule

Capital Cargo SATURDAY TERRY The ALPA team makes the new contract official by signing it improvements. Over the life of with management on July 31, 2010, in Orlando, Fla. Clockwise, Flightcrew the contract, flightcrew mem- Capt. Steve Mathis, MEC vice chairman; F/O Chuck Hill, MEC Members Gear bers will see an overall pay chairman; Capt. Brian Frassetto, Negotiating Committee Up for Future increase of 18½ percent. The chairman; Capts. Andrew Forsythe and Doug Brewer, pilots’ Master Executive Coun- Negotiating Committee members; and John Vestal, vice Prospects cil (MEC) has the option of president of Flight Ops. By Tawnya Burket opening the contract as early ALPA Communications as 2012 to begin bargaining Specialist for further enhancements. “The MEC is pleased with the results of the new agreement, which has more than 130 improvements for our flightcrew members,” says F/O Chuck Hill, the MEC chairman. “We look forward

to the opportunity in 2012 ENNIS ROD to gear up for negotiations The Capital Cargo Master Executive Council and Negotiating again with the knowledge and Committee pose after the signing of the new flightcrew experience we gained from member agreement. From left, S/O Tim Swigert, former MEC negotiating our first ALPA secretary-treasurer; Capt. Steve Mathis, MEC vice chairman; contract.” F/O Chuck Hill, MEC chairman; Capts. Doug Brewer and Since the new contract Andrew Forsythe, Negotiating Committee members; Capt. was implemented on Aug. Brian Frassetto, Negotiating Committee chairman; and Terry 1, 2010, management has Saturday, ALPA senior contract administrator. complied with the terms of the agreement, and the were also added to the flight- members. Many of those crewmembers have developed crew team in 2010 with a class changes were positive,” says CCI at a Glance a working relationship with in August and in November. Hill. “We hope to work toward their senior management. This Sixteen first officers and nine even bigger and more posi- Joined ALPA: 2007 Number of Flightcrew mem- relationship is due largely to professional flight engineers tive changes in 2011.” bers: 137 the decision of Capital Cargo’s joined the ranks and are Capital Cargo is an aircraft, Headquarters: Orlando, Fla. parent company, Air Transport now flying B-727-200s out of crew, maintenance, and Operations: Capital Cargo is an aircraft, crew, mainte- Services Group, to replace all Toledo, Ohio. insurance (ACMI) carrier nance, and insurance (ACMI) of the primary management The company added and that provides both domestic carrier that provides airport- personnel with the current changed routes for both and international airport- to-airport transportation services both domestically management team. As a B-727s and B-757s in 2010 to-airport transportation and internationally. result, the new team began and continues to look for services. The Toledo hub Crewmember Bases: Home- working respectfully with opportunities to boost the operates 11 B-727s for BAX based Hub Cities: Toledo, Ohio, and pilot leaders to improve pilot- airline, which makes the Global freight as a domestic Miami, Fla. management labor relations flightcrew members hopeful and international operation, Fleet: Currently operates 11 instead of adhering to the for growth possibilities. while the Miami hub oper- B-727-200s and two B-757- 200 PCFs—all aircraft are old regime of managing the “The year 2010 brought ates two B-757s for DHL as a freighter conversions airline by intimidation. a lot of changes to Capital domestic and international Two groups of new hires Cargo and to its flightcrew operation.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 25 THE PILOTS OF ALPA ecember 17 is a date hard work of a number of Mesaba operations, the of great significance other committees paid off Colgan pilot leaders began Dfor Colgan pilots. On as well. As management an- collaborating with their that day in 2008, ALPA was nounced the addition of new colleagues at Mesaba and certified as the pilots’ bargain- Q400s to the Colgan fleet, the Pinnacle. They immediately ing agent, and they gained Scheduling Committee worked recognized the value in ne- union representation for the diligently to ensure the pilots’ gotiating one contract for all first time. Two years concerns were addressed. later, the Pinnacle- In addition, changes to the Mesaba-Colgan Joint training program were imple- Colgan Negotiating Committee mented to enhance the train- reached a tentative ing experience for flight crews. agreement with Pinnacle The Professional Standards Pilots Adapt to management, paving the way Committee met with pilots Change, Stay for Colgan pilots to secure throughout the system to Focused on their first contract. promote professionalism. And NOMANN OF BARRY COURTESY PHOTO During those 2 years, enhancements to communica- F/O Kyra Ko (who is now a Achieving Their Colgan pilots have had to face tions included a Colgan MEC captain), left, and Capt. Barry Goals some serious challenges— Facebook page and an active Nomann, who is the pilots’ most notably the Flight 3407 Pilot-to-Pilot® program. Negotiating Committee chair. By Barbara Gottshalk accident and its aftermath— In 2010, several positive Lead Communications but they have maintained initiatives also came out of Specialist three pilot groups, and the their focus and their unity the Flight 3407 accident. The Colgan MEC and Negotiating in meeting those challenges Central Air Safety Committee Committee quickly shifted head on. Capt. Mark Segaloff, succeeded in implementing a to joint contract talks. In the Colgan pilots’ Master Line Operations Safety Audit November, as part of the Executive Council (MEC) (LOSA) program and a Flight joint negotiations process chairman, credits the pilot Operations Quality Assurance agreement, they reached a group’s determined and (FOQA) program at the airline. key benchmark in securing dedicated committee volun- Colgan pilots are heavily their rights: the imple- teers, combined with ALPA involved in both these pro- mentation of a disciplinary National’s professional staff grams, working closely with process and the ability to and pilot leaders and the management representatives challenge disciplinary deci- unwavering support of the to produce measureable sions to a System Board of Colgan pilots. “Our pilot group safety improvements. Adjustment—something they is proof that ALPA member- Building a mutual working did not have before. ship has its benefits, no mat- relationship with manage- Colgan pilots will soon be ter what the size of the pilot ment has been another able to exercise one of the group,” Segaloff asserts. priority for the pilots, and as most important benefits of Negotiating their first con- a result, management has ALPA membership—voting tract has been the pilots’ top sought the pilots’ input in on a collectively bargained CJC at a Glance priority since joining ALPA. several areas. For example, tentative agreement. To After opening contract talks Colgan pilots and manage- ensure that all Colgan pilots Pilots Joined ALPA: 2008 Number of Pilots: 540 in fall 2009, the Negotiating ment worked together to have a voice in this process, Largest Pilot Bases: Committee and management develop a new fatigue policy the Membership Committee Houston, Tex.; Newark, N.J.; met regularly, opening on that represents a significant, has launched a campaign to Washington, D.C. (Dulles) Headquarters: Memphis, 25 sections and reaching positive change in the way educate pilots about ALPA Tenn. tentative agreements on fatigue calls are handled. membership. Operations: A wholly owned 16 of them by June 2010. “Despite our differences at As the Colgan pilots subsidiary of Pinnacle Airlines Corporation, Colgan They also finalized a letter of times, we were able to work continue the merger process Air operates as Continental agreement with management collectively in this process,” with their fellow Mesaba and Connection, United Express, that enabled Colgan pilots to Segaloff says. Pinnacle pilots, they remain and US Airways Express, offering daily scheduled service to deduct ALPA dues automati- In July, when Pinnacle focused on the goal of “One 53 cities in the United States cally from their paychecks. Airlines Corporation an- Contract, One List, One Voice” and Canada As the Negotiating Com- nounced that it was acquiring and securing their profes- Fleet: 34 Saab 340s, 14 Bombardier Dash 8-Q400s mittee made significant Mesaba Airlines and would sional futures as a unified progress in contract talks, the combine the Colgan and pilot group.

26 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA n January 2010, Comair also availed themselves of ing the negotiations is the canceled planned furloughs experts at ALPA. Working fact that significant contract Iwhen Delta allocated ad- closely with the union’s improvements have been ditional flying to the airline. Economic and Financial made at comparable airlines. Many Comair pilots saw this Analysis Department, the Although the pilots are antici- as an indication of a brighter pilots gathered data to help pating a tough round of ne- future. But a short 9 months them present options to the gotiations, they are resolved later, on Sept. 1, 2010, company that could mitigate to get the fairest contract Comair management the severe cuts planned for possible, one that recognizes informed the pilots that the pilots. and rewards their high level Comair the company had plans As a result of pilot efforts, of professionalism. to park 49 of the 93 air- Comair management agreed After Comair’s bankruptcy craft on the property by 2012. to offer early out/early retire- in 2005, to save the company Restructuring Comair, which is wholly owned ment plans to those wishing and help it rebuild, the pilots Expectations for by Delta, will be effectively to leave the company volun- gave almost $50 million in The Future cut in half and the pilot group tarily. Approximately 70 pilots contract concessions in 2007. reduced from more than 1,100 took early retirement, which Sacrificing quality of life and By Jen Lofquist to approximately 500. may help some younger pilots pay to help their company, ALPA Communications “Obviously, we are deeply stay on the property as the the pilots expected manage- Specialist disappointed by the com- furloughs start in 2011. ment to follow the employees’ pany’s plans to restructure The pilots have also lead. Unfortunately, they were the airline,” says Capt. Matt struggled with a frustrating disappointed, as management Lamparter, the pilots’ Master game of “musical domiciles.” continued to hold to the In 2009, Comair responded status quo. As 2010 opened to decreased flying out of with the announcement of Cincinnati by changing many recalls, canceled furloughs, pilots’ bases to New York. and a better relationship For many pilots, this meant with a new management, it long commutes just to get to seemed that the company’s work. In September 2010, the outlook was brighter—until company reversed position the September announce- and closed the New York base ment that the airline would at JFK Airport, with some shrink to half its current size pilots staying in Cincinnati by 2112. and others being relocated to As the pilots continue to Detroit as Comair tries to find wrestle with this most recent a consistent staffing solution. turn of events, they are look-

WILLIAM A. FORD WILLIAM A. But these challenges ing toward the future with During the next 12 months, Executive Council (MEC) pale when compared to the wary, but optimistic, eyes. In management plans to retire chairman. “However, our proposed restructuring set to November, the group elected 19 CRJ200s. An additional commitment has been—and begin shortly. Comair seems a new MEC chair, Capt. Erik 30 CRJ200s will be retired remains—to our pilots and intent on moving away from Jensen, to help lead them in 2012. This will reduce the to protecting our contract, the 50-seat regional jets that through this restructuring. current fleet of 50-seat jets our jobs, and our futures. We make up most of its fleet. The MEC also appointed a from 65 aircraft to just 16. intend to use the full array During the next 12 months, Negotiating Committee to of ALPA resources to ensure management plans to retire work for the interests of the that any downsizing of the 19 CRJ200s. An additional pilot group and to protect as company will have the input 30 CRJ200s will be retired in many pilot jobs as possible. of our pilot group and will 2012. This will reduce the cur- The pilots plan to move CMR at a Glance respect our contract.” rent fleet of 50-seat jets from ahead with the same unity Pilots Joined ALPA: 1983 Upon learning of the 65 aircraft to just 16. Comair and strength of purpose they Number of Pilots: 1,100 planned restructuring, the will continue to maintain its demonstrated on the picket active, 150 furloughed Comair pilot leaders com- 15 CRJ700s and 13 CRJ900s. lines in 2001 during their Headquarters: Erlanger, Ky. Pilot Domiciles: Cincinnati, municated immediately with Adding to the pilots’ 89-day strike. Given this pilot Ohio, and Detroit, Mich. their fellow pilots and have stress is that in October they group’s history, there is little Fleet: 69 CRJ200s, 15 kept them informed every opened negotiations for their doubt the pilots will maintain CRJ700s, 13 CRJ900s step of the way. They have next contract. Also influenc- their resolve and solidarity.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 27 THE PILOTS OF ALPA t a time when the open items in the airline’s when called upon. At its first regional airline indus- new pilot contract have been informational picket, held in Atry is engaged in the settled except for the eco- Cleveland this past October, merger equivalent of an arms nomic sections. A wide gulf one-third of the entire pilot race, CommutAir defiantly remains between the pilots’ group walked the line, includ- remains small, although it and management’s expecta- ing virtually every pilot who remains to be seen whether tion on pay rates, despite was off work that day. that deci- the fact that CommutAir has sion will be a remained profitable for the positive one past few years. CommutAir for its 135 “The advantage of media- pilots. tion is that it starts the clock The airline is among the toward a release and puts the Pilots Prepared smallest fee-for-departure car- bargaining timetable under To Do ‘Whatever riers with ALPA pilots, flying federal oversight. Our airline’s It Takes’ to 16 37-seat Bombardier Q200s agreement with Continental for Continental Airlines. As doesn’t expire for a few more Achieve Fair many other regional carriers years. Bringing in the NMB

Contract spent 2010 merging and can expedite the bargaining AYERS RUSTY expanding their operations, process so that our pilots do Capt. Jay Dougherty, the By Rusty Ayers, ALPA Cleveland-based CommutAir not have to wait for manage- Senior Communications pilots’ MEC chairman, right, Specialist faces the same industry chal- ment to renegotiate that and other CommutAir pilots lenges with much less room agreement. We’re prepared to show their resolve at the for error. do whatever it takes to win a Oct. 26, 2010, informational Understaffing and difficult, fair deal,” Dougherty says. picket at Cleveland Hopkins often fatiguing flying sched- The CommutAir MEC International Airport. ules are the major challenges has established its Strategic facing the CommutAir pilots Planning Committee, They were joined by ALPA as they approach the second ramped up its Pilot-to-Pilot® members from 13 other air- anniversary of opening nego- Committee, and plans to lines, speaking to the fact that tiations on their first union create a Family Awareness nearly 54,000 ALPA pilots, contract. The pilots joined Committee in 2011. Com- not just those at CommutAir, ALPA in 2008 and began plicating matters for the are seeking to improve the contract talks under Section group has been the constant airline industry. These strong 2 of the Railway Labor Act on turnover of pilots, both in the showings of support will only Feb. 24, 2009. leadership ranks and among increase when the pilot group “Our bargaining goal has the pilots flying the line. expands its strategic pre- always been to raise our pilots “That’s an indication of the paredness campaign during to the level of our peers at oth- poor quality of life and com- 2011. er carriers, and management’s pensation, and the situation “CommutAir needs to response has been to ask for a has resulted in dire under- move beyond its current 9 percent pay cut that would staffing—some pilots have reputation as a starter airline. make us the lowest-paid small elected to fly in Afghanistan Pilots who have invested CMT at a Glance turboprop pilots in the country rather than to stay here,” says tens or even hundreds of and lower the bar for every- Dougherty, who estimates thousands of dollars to pursue Founded: 1989 one. That’s unacceptable, and 30 to 40 percent of the pilot this career deserve an airline Number of Pilots: 135 Pilots Joined ALPA: 2008 we’re not going to let it hap- group has left the airline in where they can make a career Headquarters: South pen,” says Capt. Jay Dougherty, the past 18 months. “There if they want to stay. At the Burlington, Vt. the pilots’ Master Executive has been high turnover in same time, if pilots choose to Pilot Bases: Cleveland, Ohio, and Newark, N.J. Council (MEC) chairman. the leadership structure, but pursue employment at a larger Operations: CommutAir The pilots asked the the big positive is that people carrier, they should not have flies to 23 cities in the U.S. National Mediation Board continue to step up and do to sacrifice industry-standard Midwest and Northeast and to Canada under a capacity (NMB) to intervene in the work of the union. That’s wages and work rules to do so. purchase agreement with contract talks in December inspiring and encourages all That’s why we joined ALPA,” Continental Airlines 2010, with the first mediation of us to carry on,” Dougherty says Dougherty, “and that’s Fleet: 16 Bombardier Dash 8-Q200s session likely to take place says. what we will achieve in our in January. Virtually all the The group has responded negotiations.”

28 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA he past year has cer- accordance with the Compass Compass MEC also concluded tainly been an eventful flow-through agreement. a new letter of agreement Tone for the pilots of But just a few months outlining the provisions for Compass Airlines, ALPA’s new- later, the landscape before using seniority-list instructor est pilot group. For more than the Compass pilots changed pilots in the training center. 2 years, Compass, created dramatically. On July 1, Delta The agreement is expected in 2007 as a wholly owned sold Compass to Trans States to enhance both career op- subsidiary of Holdings, calling into ques- portunities and security for Northwest tion the Delta flow-through Compass pilots while enhanc- Airlines, agreement. To preserve the ing training quality and grant- Compass didn’t exist Compass pilots’ career expec- ing further flexibility to the as a stand- tations, Compass, Delta, and training department. alone ALPA pilot group but the respective MECs entered On November 15, a Meeting the was instead represented first into multiparty negotiations Compass aircraft was in Challenge by the Northwest Master with the intention of conclud- the news after a birdstrike By Capt. Vince Barnhart, Executive Council (MEC), then ing a negotiated settlement accident when a flight depart- Compass MEC Chairman, by the Delta MEC. within 60 days. ing from Minneapolis-St. and Rusty Ayers, ALPA That changed on March 1, On August 24, a tentative Paul International Airport Senior Communications 2010, when ALPA’s Executive agreement was reached struck a flock of snow geese, Specialist Council created Compass among Compass, Delta, the damaging the radome and Local Council 19 and Compass Compass MEC, and the Delta puncturing the forward pres- became ALPA’s 38th MEC, rep- MEC regarding the con- sure bulkhead. In spite of the resenting 360 pilots. Capt. Eric tinuance of the flow-through damage, Capt. Michal Randt Cowan, F/O Rendell Schmidt, agreement. In simple terms, and F/O Randall Rosen land- and F/O Ryan Breznau served all the pilots on the senior- ed their aircraft uneventfully as interim officers for the ity list as of Aug. 19, 2010, at MSP without any injuries. newly independent pilot group would be grandfathered with From the flight deck to until permanent elections flow-through rights to Delta. the corporate boardroom, were held. The agreement was truly the Compass pilots met every On May 10, Compass’ s first result of relationship-based unexpected challenge duly elected MEC took office bargaining and on the prin- thrown their way in 2010 under a single-council, senior- ciple of honoring the expecta- and emerged successfully. ity block representation sys- tions of the Compass pilots. Their next hurdle is building tem, with Capt. Vince Barnhart October was yet an- their relationship with their as chairman and seniority other eventful month for new owners and preparing block representative 2, F/O the Compass representatives to assist their fellow pilots at Tony Androsky as vice chair- and pilots. At ALPA’s 2010 Trans States, who face dif- man and seniority block rep- Board of Directors meeting, ficult challenges of their own CPZ at a Glance resentative 3, and Capt. Steve the Compass pilots were in 2011. Founded: Compass Airlines Peterka as secretary-treasurer represented by their own was created as a Northwest and seniority block representa- local executive council senior- Airlines subsidiary and began flying on May 2, 2007 tive 1. Tragically, Peterka, who ity block representatives for Pilots Joined ALPA: 2007 had received a 2008 ALPA the first time. Capt. Kimberly Sale and Acquisition: On Superior Airmanship Award Sobiech also made history by July 1, 2010, Delta Air Lines sold Compass to Trans for his leadership during an becoming the first Compass States Holdings, Inc., which inflight cabin fire, was killed pilot to begin working at announced it would operate in July in an auto accident. He Delta Air Lines under the Compass as a carrier separate from its other airlines had served as an MEC officer flow-through agreement. In Number of Pilots: 390 for just more than 2 months, all, some 61 Compass pilots Operations: Compass oper- and his death was a loss for were awarded new-hire class ates more than 160 flights daily throughout the United the entire union. dates at Delta by year’s end. States and Canada as Delta In mid-April, Delta Air Lines November saw the Connection announced that it would Compass MEC launch a new Pilot Bases: Minneapolis-St. ® Paul, Minn., and Detroit, Mich. resume hiring pilots for fall Pilot-to-Pilot program, with ERIC COWAN Headquarters: Minneapolis, 2010. As a result, Compass ALPA staff training an initial Compass F/O Robert Berger Minn. pilots had employment rights class of nine volunteers in preflights an Embraer E175 at Fleet: 36 Embraer E175ARs as new-hire pilots at Delta in Minneapolis, Minn. The La Guardia Airport.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 29 THE PILOTS OF ALPA he Continental pilots are ment with management, and defeat attempts at destructive perhaps better known achieved several milestones pilot whipsawing. Tfor change—and their in negotiating the joint col- Of course, the importance tenacity to emerge strength- lective bargaining agreement of job security and scope ened by it—than any other (JCBA). In December, the issues has to be recognized. pilot group. So in May 2010, Joint Negotiating Committee Continental pilots have one of when Continental Airlines an- presented its comprehensive the more restrictive contractu- nounced its counterproposal to manage- al scope clauses in the airline merger with ment and, in conjunction with industry. United Chairman and United Air- management, petitioned the CEO Jeff Smisek has made no Continental lines, it was National Mediation Board secret of his desire to loosen no surprise (NMB) for assistance. Mediator these scope provisions in the that the Continental pilots Gerry McGuckin was assigned JCBA now being negotiated. Pilots Change were more than prepared to shortly thereafter. Just recently, Continental pilots Focus to Merger meet the challenges of this A merger that will create won an expedited arbitration By Amy Flanagan, ALPA newest chapter in their long the world’s largest airline over management’s deci- Senior Communications history marked by mergers is already noteworthy, but sion to test the limits of the Specialist and change. Master Executive other factors at play with contract and violate scope Council (MEC) leaders, com- the Continental–United provisions by assigning the CO merger could have the code to United feeder flights potential to affect the entire using jet aircraft with more airline industry. Chief among than 50 seats. these is the opportunity to “Outsourcing is an out- reinforce the importance dated practice,” Pierce points of pilot involvement to out. “It’s time for a business completing a truly successful model that promotes expan-

CAPT. KARL NOVAK (CONTINENTAL) NOVAK KARL CAPT. merger. By repeating and sion and growth at the legacy Continental pilots march mittee volunteers, and ALPA building upon the successes carriers and enhances career through the terminal at staff had been planning for from earlier airline mergers, progression for both legacy Newark Liberty Airport in a the possibility of this mega- notably Delta–Northwest, carrier and regional pilots. show of unity and in defense merger for more than a year, and applying them to a very I’m confident that intelligent of their contract. ramping up their efforts after different “merger of equals,” people can come up with the Delta–Northwest merger the Continental pilots can intelligent solutions to this in anticipation that more help smooth the way for problem, if given the chance.” airline industry consolidation other pilot groups. And For 2011, the Continental would occur. since many airline industry pilots will continue to focus “We had done so much insiders anticipate that con- on gaining benefits from work beforehand that when solidation will continue, the the merger: a JCBA that will the dominoes finally fell, Continental–United merger provide both the Continental we already had our working is likely to affect the future of and United pilots with all that CAL at a Glance relationships in place with all airline pilots. they demand and deserve, Pilots Joined ALPA: 2001 our United counterparts and The Continental pilots equity in the merged com- Number of Pilots: 4,760 had much of the framework can also help advance the pany, and a fair and equitable Number of Pilots on completed for our protocol airline piloting profession seniority list integration. They Furlough: 0—All 148 furloughees were sent recall and transition agreements,” through successfully achiev- will also work to secure their notices in 2010. Furloughees explains Capt. Jay Pierce, ing their contract goals via role in advancing the piloting will return by March 2011 the pilots’ MEC chairman. the JCBA. The gains sought by profession for all ALPA pilots. Pilot Bases/Hubs: Newark, N.J.; Houston, Tex.; Cleveland, “We had our organizational Continental and United pilots Says Pierce, “When we are Ohio; Guam structure prepared and were in the JCBA will strengthen finished with the merger and Headquarters: Chicago, Ill. able to easily shift our focus industry cornerstone contract have combined the two MECs Fleet: 25 (on order) B-787- 8/-9, 22 B-777-200ER, from contract negotiations to patterns and enhance the and the two pilot groups, 10/12 B-767-200ER/-400ER, the merger.” ability of other pilot groups we will once again emerge 41/21 B-757-200/-300, Since the merger an- to make similar gains in their stronger for our experi- 39/32/118/12/30 B-737-500/- 700/-800/-900/-900ER nouncement, the MEC has own negotiations. This im- ences. It’s been our history as As Continental Micronesia: negotiated a protocol with portant concept helps ensure Continental pilots, and it’s our 4 B-767-400ER; 4/8 B737- the United MEC, negotiated a that contract gains at all pilot destiny as new United pilots 700/-800 transition and process agree- groups continue and helps within the ALPA family.”

30 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA

ast September marked to be done. With the end of ship Services, Engineering 5 years since Delta (and 2010, the Delta MEC is turn- and Air Safety, and Communi- LNorthwest) entered ing its focus to the contract cations Departments. bankruptcy. It has been a amendable date of Dec. 31, Of special note is the challenging half-decade, to 2012, and full-scale Section newly reinstituted Delta say the least, but contrast that 6 negotiations. The MEC will Pilot-to-Pilot® (P2P) program, with 2010, which has seen enter negotiations financially a subcommittee of the pilot hiring, block hours well prepared, as the Special Communications Committee. increasing, and a profit- MEC Reserve Account (SMRA) As of press time, approximate- able airline. already totals $7 million and ly 100 pilots have volunteered Delta Delta’s turnaround continues to grow. Routine to serve as P2P volunteers. has been dramatic. efforts will continue unabated The program volunteers have In addition to navigating on behalf of the pilots, but already completed their first Delta’s MEC: bankruptcy, the pilot group the MEC’s vigorous and committee-wide conference Protecting Pilot was instrumental in defeating renewed attention will turn to call, and they will soon be Interests a hostile takeover attempt upcoming negotiations. joining Local Executive and faced industry challenges While the Delta MEC Council representatives in By Kelly Regus, ALPA including oil market volatility crew rooms across the Delta Senior Communications and a severe recession. A system in support of MEC Specialist positive turning point was objectives. the successful merger with On January 1, Capt. Tim Northwest Airlines in 2008. O’Malley took the reins as During the merger process, the newly elected MEC chair- the pilots negotiated a man. O’Malley has served as significant equity stake in the the Delta MEC Negotiating company, pay increases, and Committee chairman through contractual improvements. bankruptcy and the merger This January, pay rates and also served as chairman increased by 4 percent, and of ALPA’s Collective Bargaining Delta’s contribution to the Committee. Capt. Jim Van retirement plans increased Sickle and Capt. Kingsley by an additional 1 percent for Roberts were reelected vice DAL at a Glance most Delta pilots. And for the chairman and treasurer, re- Pilots Joined ALPA: first time since 2007, profit spectively. F/O Kevin Guilfoyle Delta—1934, Northwest sharing will occur, providing Capt. Tim O’Malley, the new was elected secretary. —1932 Delta MEC chairman. Number of Pilots: 12,313 Delta pilots the negotiated “Bankruptcy and the Operations: Delta is a leader opportunity to share in the merger are behind us, and the in worldwide alliances includ- company’s financial success. retains direction and over- Delta pilots played a signifi- ing a joint venture with Air sight responsibility of MEC France–KLM and Alitalia. Today, it is difficult to imagine cant and vital role in helping Delta and its connection a viable, healthy Delta with- operations, the day-to-day our company to rebuild and carriers fly domestically and out the unprecedented con- support work is accomplished succeed during a very difficult internationally to more than through the tireless efforts 348 destinations in 64 coun- tributions of the Delta pilots. period,” remarks O’Malley. tries on 6 continents The Delta Master Executive of the extended committee “It’s now time for our own Pilot Bases: Atlanta, Council (MEC) has also structure consisting of more rebuilding and to focus our ef- Cincinnati, Detroit, than 30 committees, subcom- Los Angeles, Memphis, worked tirelessly not only to forts on sharing in the success Minneapolis-St. Paul, New protect Delta pilot interests, mittees, working groups, and that we were instrumental in York City, Salt Lake City, but also to attempt at every hundreds of pilot volunteers. creating.” Seattle In addition, the Association Hub Cities: Amsterdam, opportunity to raise the bar As the newly elected MEC Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, for the entire airline piloting provides support to the Delta officers settle into their Memphis, Minneapolis-St. profession. Unity among pilots with national commit- roles, the Delta MEC remains Paul, New York-JFK, Paris, Salt tees and assigned expert staff Lake City, and Tokyo-Narita ALPA-represented pilot groups committed to continuing Headquarters: Atlanta, Ga. is essential, as a gain in from the Representation, an aggressive and proactive Fleet: More than 700 main- bargaining for one pilot group Economic and Financial strategy of engagement, line aircraft consisting of Analysis, Finance, Information A319s, A320s, A330s, B-737s, can often help strengthen the with every effort focused on B-747s, B-757s, B-767s, bargaining power of other Technology, Human Resources, enhancing and protecting B-777s, DC-9s, MD-88s, and ALPA pilot groups. Government Affairs, Retire - the lives and careers of Delta MD-90s But much work remains ment and Insurance, Member- pilots and their families.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 31 THE PILOTS OF ALPA nother year has come meet debt obligations, ALPA a strike once the pilot group is to an end, and the verified that the airline has given permission to do so by AEvergreen flightcrew been profitable on an operat- the National Mediation Board members continue their fight ing basis in recent years, so we (NMB). with management to secure remain convinced that the “We certainly want a a new, fair contract. With a airline can afford reasonable contract, not a strike,” says rejected tentative agreement, improvements in wages and Fink. “That has been our a no-confidence working conditions for its goal since day one more than vote in their employees,” says Professional 6 years ago. But this strike management, a Flight Engineer William Fink, authorization vote gives us Evergreen strike authoriza- the flightcrew members’ the means to take all legal tion ballot sent Master Executive Council actions to attain the goal of a to the members, and dates (MEC) chairman. “More than fair contract.” Flightcrew set to meet with manage- a decade has passed since we The pilots can request a Members Gear ment and a mediator at the have enjoyed the perks of a proffer of arbitration from the Up for Endgame table, the flightcrew members new contract, and we feel that NMB at any time. If the NMB are preparing for endgame we deserve a pay increase issues a proffer, either party By Tawnya Burket and all the possibilities that and a fair deal to bring us at can reject arbitration. In that ALPA Communications lie ahead. least to 21st-century industry event, a 30-day cooling-off pe- Specialist The flightcrew members standards.” riod would begin, after which and management reached In October, the MEC passed the flightcrew members could a tentative agreement in a resolution stating that the legally engage in the first-ever flightcrew members lack pilot strike at Evergreen. confidence in the airline’s Fink says, “By taking upper management and flight this step, we are prompting operations management. management to stop stalling The crewmembers remained and to finalize a contract that discouraged, as management satisfies the basic needs of its continued to avoid their con- flightcrew members. If man- cerns and made empty prom- agement needs to see more ises. Management’s behavior visible proof of our resolve— of constantly violating the in addition to the overwhelm- contract, not addressing the ing rejection of the subpar pilot shortage that affects the tentative agreement—this flightcrew members’ quality of vote will no doubt prove that.” Evergreen operates a fleet of April 2010 after manage- life, and an attitude that the The MEC also made 10 Boeing 747s, specializing ment claimed the holding flightcrew has had it too good the decision to activate its in charter and contract company, Evergreen Aviation for too long has made the Strategic Planning and Strike freighter operations around International, was in financial pilots extremely frustrated. Committee (SPSC) to begin the globe. distress. The tentative agree- Yet management has hired preparing for endgame scenar- ment was essentially a re- new flightcrew members ios and educate the members newal of the current contract and has made an attempt to on all strike-related issues with that became amendable in acquire new aircraft. However, an SPSC newsletter. December 2004, under which after months of waiting to The NMB has set medi- the crewmembers continue to come back to the negotiating ated negotiations to resume work for 1999 wages and work table since the flightcrew February 22–25 in Dallas, EIA at a Glance rules. The duration of this members voted down a tenta- Tex. The MEC’s Negotiating Joined ALPA: 2007 agreement was only 2 years tive agreement in August, Committee is prepared to Number of Flightcrew to allow management time to the MEC took necessary present management with a members: 228 secure long-term financing of measures to secure a fair proposal that meets the needs Headquarters: McMinnville, Ore. its debt. However, the mem- contract, including sending of the pilot group and, if it’s Pilot Bases: New York (JFK), bers overwhelmingly voted out a strike authorization bal- rejected, will be prepared to Travis AFB, Calif. down the tentative agreement lot. The strike ballot opened move forward using all the Operations: With a fleet of 10 B-747s, Evergreen special- in August 2010 by 96 percent. on December 1 and closed resources ALPA has available, izes in charter and contract “Although the flightcrew January 7. Of the pilots who including a war chest and the freighter operations around members were aware of the voted, 97 percent voted to backing of the union’s 53,000 the globe holding company’s struggle to authorize the MEC to declare members.

32 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA ver the past year, the became clear that Hanley was informed management what ExpressJet pilots have more focused on cutting costs was needed to ensure pilot Odealt with changes and restructuring the airline support: a profitable airline in every aspect of their opera- to prepare the company for that provides long-term stabil- tion, including the departure a possible sale or merger ity and progressive career of respected managers, the than on growing the airline potential for the pilots, fully appointment of a new CEO, internally. complying with the pilots’ understaffing, “Somewhere along the scope and successorship and—most way, ExpressJet lost its viable provisions, a joint collective notably—a merg- business plan and forgot the bargaining agreement that ExpressJet er with another vital role that pilots play in the benefits all pilots, and a fair airline. In the face overall success of an airline,” and equitable seniority list of these challenges, the pilots says Capt. Chris Cashmareck, integration. Pilots Turning remain focused on achieving the pilots’ Master Executive The corporate close of Challenges into an enhanced contract that will Council (MEC) chairman. the merger was completed Opportunities provide them with job security “Despite these challenges, in November. Now officially and career growth, even if they our pilots continue to deliver under the Atlantic Southeast By Lydia Jakub will soon be wearing different outstanding results for our umbrella, the ExpressJet ALPA Communications uniforms. partners and provide our pas- pilots have begun to collect Specialist In early 2010, ExpressJet sengers with the exceptional on the promises that Atlantic service they have come to Southeast management expect on our flights.” made to them. The major- Pilot staffing levels soon ity of grievances have been became a major issue. Instead closed, and the staffing of working with the pilots situation has been resolved. on a staffing solution as had However, MEC leaders successfully been done in the continue to closely monitor past, management ignored staffing to ensure that it the MEC’s repeated attempts meets the pilots’ needs and to help solve the problem. those of the operation. On As the airline struggled to another positive note, all of have enough pilots to fly the ExpressJet’s furloughed pilots routes, contract violations were recalled in 2010, and began to mount. In 2010, management anticipates the number of grievances hiring 96 pilots during the Capt. Chris Belcastro, left, pilots were ready for Section 6 hit an all-time high of more first quarter of 2011. Capt. Mark Wapenaar, and negotiations to improve their than 100 open issues. As the merger continues to other ExpressJet pilots contract. Building on their Management dragged its feet progress, the ExpressJet pilots (not pictured) participate past contract gains, the pilots on setting arbitration dates to find themselves in familiar in a Labor Day parade in had every reason to believe resolve the grievances—until territory. They are ready to Cleveland, Ohio. that negotiations would go the MEC threatened manage- move forward into Section 6 as planned. Instead, they ment with legal action. negotiations and to improve found themselves in a fierce On Aug. 4, 2010, the land- their contract—but this time, XJT at a Glance battle with management. In scape changed again. SkyWest they are joined by their fellow Pilots Joined ALPA: 2004 just one year, the cooperative Holdings, Inc., announced its Atlantic Southeast pilots. Number of Pilots: Nearly labor-management relation- intention to buy ExpressJet “We may be two pilot 2,600 ship built with the company’s Airlines and merge it with groups, but we are one union Operations: Flies more than 40,000 passengers per former president and CEO, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, with one vision and one day to 130 destinations in Jim Ream, who retired in making it the largest regional goal,” says Cashmareck. “It the United States, Canada, 2009, had disappeared. airline in the world with will take the strength, cour- Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean with approxi- In April, Tom Hanley was approximately 4,300 pilots. age, and determination of mately 1,100 departures daily named ExpressJet’s new The ExpressJet MEC spent all 4,300 pilots of the new Pilot Bases: Chicago, Ill.; CEO and immediately gave several weeks reviewing and Atlantic Southeast working in Cleveland, Ohio; Houston, Tex.; Newark, N.J. the pilots a sense that stable evaluating the proposed unison to make the necessary Headquarters: Atlanta, Ga. leadership had returned to transaction with legal counsel, improvements to our contract Fleet: 244 EMB-145 LRs and the company. This sense of subject-matter experts, and and fully realize the benefits XRs stability died quickly when it professional staff. The pilots of this merger.”

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 33 THE PILOTS OF ALPA

he FedEx Express Mas- Action Program (ASAP) and system is unique in that it ter Executive Council a Flight Operations Quality can easily shift the focus of T(MEC) began its second Assurance (FOQA) program its lift requirements on fairly ALPA-negotiated contract at the airline. Both will help short notice so that when talks in 2010. Building on move the corporation forward immediate need is warranted, contract gains from Con- in the area of flight safety as aircraft and crews can be tract 2004, the MEC’s focus they are part of an overall assigned with minimal system is on a timely, nar- safety management system interruptions to our core rowly focused Section (SMS). “While we are closer customers,” says F/O Rich 6 negotiations process, than we have ever been in Hughey, the pilot group’s MEC FedEx respectful of the con- reaching an agreement on Scheduling Improvement tributions the pilots these two programs, much Group chairman. bring to the corporation. The more work is still needed to The 4,494 FedEx Express Pilots Look to amendable date for the pilots’ finalize discussions and then pilots are spread across the Build on Past contract was Oct. 31, 2010. successfully implement the globe, represented by six Successes To date, the pilots have been programs,” Stratton says. councils located in three able to reach tentative agree- The ongoing work to ade- domiciles, which includes By Capt. Chuck Dyer, ment on 12 of 31 sections. quately address cargo screen- the Hong Kong foreign duty FedEx Express “We are encouraged by the ing in a realistic and prudent assignment base. Distance Communi cations current pace of our contract manner was brought home by always poses a challenge Committee Chairman, and Courtney Bland, ALPA negotiations. We remain the tragic UPS B-747 accident when it comes to commu- Communications Specialist hopeful that this negotiation in Dubai early in 2010. Added nicating with the pilots, but will reach a favorable conclu- to that were the attempted the MEC officers and Unity sion in a timely fashion,” says bombings of a FedEx flight in Team members continue to Dubai and a UPS flight in the travel wherever FedEx pilots United Kingdom, which once are located for face-to-face again highlighted the need meetings. Additionally, for enhanced cargo screening. the MEC is using updated The MEC has been working quarterly newsletters, e-mails, with the appropriate agencies videos, its website, and its text and FedEx Corporation to notification service to provide see that positive, prudent the most current information changes are implemented. to its pilots. In 2010, the MEC “These efforts are ongoing, also formed an extensive and the MEC leaders will not Pilot-to-Pilot® Committee rest until we can ensure that with more than 10 percent of the safety and security of our the pilots involved, and this fellow pilots and their aircraft number continues to grow.

CAPT. DENNIS BEAULIEU (FEDEX) DENNIS BEAULIEU CAPT. are attained,” says Capt. With more than 375 F/O Pete Harmon (now a Capt. Scott Stratton, the pilots’ Bill McReynolds, the pilots’ airports served worldwide, the captain) during a flight from MEC chairman. MEC Security Committee airline has an extensive and Delhi to Shanghai while This past year, the pilots chairman. varied fleet. The pilots deliver dodging thunderstorms over reached an agreement with The year also brought the approximately 3.5 million Bangladesh. management to conduct a pilots the opportunity to fly packages and 11 million Line Oriented Safety Audit relief missions to Chile in pounds of freight daily to (LOSA). The observation the wake of the country’s 220 countries and territories, FDX at a Glance flights were completed a few devastating earthquake and including every address in months ago, and the results tsunami and to Haiti after the the United States. With 223 Pilots Joined ALPA: June are currently being tabulated. country’s massive earthquake. million peak holiday season 1993–1996; rejoined ALPA in June 2002 The LOSA is the first step for The pilots also provided lift to shipments, FedEx Express First ALPA Contract: October the pilots in increasing the support the rescue of trapped expects worldwide volumes 2006 airline’s safety awareness. miners in Chile. These flights to increase 11 percent from a Number of Flightcrew Members: 4,494 Over the last several years, continue a long-standing year ago. Headquarters: Memphis, Tenn. the MEC has continually history at FedEx Express of This improvement is wel- Fleet: 77 B-727s, 48 B-757s, attempted to gain an agree- providing logistical support comed by the pilots of FedEx, 11 B-777s, 71 A300s, 53 A310s, 75 MD-10s, 60 MD-11s ment with the corporation for to people in dire situations and they look forward to a instituting an Aviation Safety around the world. “The FedEx profitable 2011.

34 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA

wo years after joining and the only civilian-operated new service to seven commu- ALPA, the pilots and Lockheed Hercules transports nities in the Kivalliq region of Tflight engineers of First in Canada. These civilian Canada’s Nunavut Territory. Air are working with manage- C-130s are in great demand An Inuit-owned corporation ment to improve working for charter flying, usually itself, First Air’s new Kivalliq condi tions at the airline providing heavy lift for min- service will extend the air- while adding new service in ing and petroleum companies line’s reach from the central response to increasing but also for unusual opera- and eastern parts of Nunavut pressure from competi- tions, including disaster relief. into the northwest. tors in the Canadian After a January 2010 earth- Unlike many negotiations First Air Arctic. quake devastated Haiti, both in which compensation is the The flightcrew the Hercs and the B-767 were major issue, quality of life— members’ contract expired kept busy transporting an especially while on trips—is Flightcrew Dec. 31, 2010, and they entire portable water treat- equally important for the Members Spread have been in negotiations ment plant and other relief flightcrew members. Because Their Wings since early December after supplies to rescue workers. food, housing, and the basic assembling a Negotiating The Canadian government necessities of life are extraor- By Rusty Ayers, ALPA Committee and developing dinarily expensive in the Senior Communications a bargaining strategy. Using Arctic even with government Specialist an interest-based bargaining subsidies, pilots working at process, negotiators have the Iqaluit base and elsewhere passed dozens of proposals live in “crew houses” under across the table and have rudimentary conditions. tentatively agreed to several “Think of a dormitory or a contract sections within just a crash pad, only not nearly as few weeks of talks. luxurious,” says Biggs. “Our Capt. Jamie Biggs, the younger pilots especially cockpit crewmembers’ Master spend many of their off-duty

Executive Council (MEC) chair- (UNITED) KAY RORY CAPT. hours sitting in cramped man, says a major goal for the Capt. Jim Merritt stands in crew houses with very little to pilots’ first ALPA contract is to front of a Lockheed L-382 on occupy their time. Improving standardize contract language Doris Lake, Nunavut, Canada. their comfort is a priority in so that the collective bargain- these contract talks, especially ing agreement more closely pays airlines to fly needed since we will likely be creating resembles the contracts of commodities such as food new crew accommodations other ALPA pilot groups. and mail into isolated areas in the northwest as our flying “Our contract is structured on regular schedules. These expands into Kivalliq.” differently from those of other food-mail contracts, an essen- First Air flightcrew ALPA pilot groups. We want tial component of First Air’s members have long been to restructure our contract revenue, are now being ad- represented by an in-house language so that it’s easier to ministered by three northern union, the First Air Pilots FAB at a Glance compare our compensation, retailers instead of Canada Association. FAPA leaders Founded: 1946, as Bradley Air benefits, and work rules with Post, a change that could lead agreed to join ALPA in 2008, Service, First Air is now owned those of our peers, and man- to more competition and recognizing that membership by Makivik Corporation. Pilots Joined ALPA: 2008 agement has been helpful so lower revenues for northern in a large, powerful interna- Number of Flightcrew far in agreeing to those struc- airlines that fly food-mail tional union would give them Members: 130 tural changes,” Biggs explains. routes. a much greater voice and Pilot Bases: Ottawa, Ont.; Yellowknife, NT; Iqaluit, NU; First Air flight crews fly to At the same time, First bargaining power. and Edmonton, Alb. some of the most isolated Air, which once had a near- “It was a good decision Headquarters: Kanata, Ont. places in the world, providing monopoly in serving much for us,” Biggs points out. “We Operations: First Air provides scheduled passenger and a vital lifeline of food, fuel, of the north, is facing new now have substantially deeper cargo service between 30 mail, and other necessities competition from other financial resources and staff northern communities as well to Arctic communities. In airlines serving its routes, support than we ever had as charter service worldwide Fleet: 6 B-737-200s, 1 B-767F, addition to its fleet of combi- including Air Canada, WestJet, when we were a stand-alone 9 ATR 42-300s, 2 Lockheed configured B-737 classics and CargoJet. The airline’s union, but we still have the L-382 Hercules, 1 Hawker- and turboprops, the airline response is to partner with sovereignty to make our own Siddeley 748 operates a B-767 freighter a tribal corporation to begin decisions.”

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 35 THE PILOTS OF ALPA

fter years of living land presence beyond the line’s unique route structure under a concession- West Coast. It recognizes that and sound finances make it Aary bankruptcy-era the West Coast–Hawaii travel an excellent investment, so contract, the pilots of Hawai- market is highly competitive our MEC has made it a top ian Airlines entered 2010 by and offers limited growth priority to be prepared for any ratifying a lucrative new work opportunity, so Hawaiian is potential merger or acquisi- agreement. Their challenge actively seeking East Coast tion activity.” for the coming destinations that are currently One of the pilot group’s year is to help underserved for future growth. greatest successes in 2010 was their airline suc- Looking to Asia, Hawaiian the creation of its new Com - Hawaiian cessfully manage sees even greater growth mu nity Service Committee. its aggressive opportunity. In November, In just more than a month of growth and stay prepared for Hawaiian began daily service work, the Committee raised Gearing Up for the unexpected, especially a to Haneda Airport, located more than $3,000 to buy Growth potential buyout or merger. In in downtown Tokyo, and in Christmas gifts for sick chil- By Rusty Ayers, ALPA a sense, the pilots are victims January 2011, Hawaiian will dren, held a holiday party Senior Communications of their own success, but few inaugurate service to Incheon- at a children’s hospital in Specialist are complaining. After several years of contract negotiations led to an impasse and 99 percent of the pilots approved a strike vote, in January 2010 the pilots ratified a new 5-year contract with industry- leading pay rates for the Boeing 717 and 767 and the second-highest rates in the industry (behind Delta) for

the new A330s coming on the STEENBLIK W. JAN property. The new collective Thanks to their ALPA contract, the pilots of this Hawaiian bargaining agreement also Airlines B-717, on short final for Lihue Airport, earn industry- raised company contributions leading pay rates. to the pilots’ retirement ac- counts, reestablished profit- Seoul, Korea. On the horizon, Honolulu, and began a flight HAL at a Glance sharing, and improved most the company would like to pass donation program to Pilots Joined ALPA: 1948 work rules. add more destinations in reunite families from neighbor Number of Pilots: The new agreement came Japan, with China also on the islands with their hospitalized Approximately 450 Headquarters: Honolulu, none too soon, as Hawaiian airline’s radar. children on Oahu. In 2011 the Hawaii began replacing its B-767 “We’re very excited about pilot group plans to continue Bases: Honolulu, Hawaii, and widebody fleet with A330s the airline’s growth plans, but its charitable work with such Seattle, Wash. Operations: As the only this year. The first 3 A330s the biggest uncertainty we’re organizations as Habitat for transpacific airline based are now on the line, with 13 facing in this era of airline Humanity, the American Red in the Hawaiian Islands, more firm orders for delivery consolidations is whether Cross, the Hawaii Food Pantry, Hawaiian’s widebody fleet flies to all major markets on the over the next 5 years, and the we can survive as a stand- and the River of Life Homeless U.S. West Coast. International airline plans to acquire even alone company,” says Capt. Shelter. operations are conducted larger A350s in the future. Chris Elley, the pilots’ Master “We feel very blessed by to American Samoa, Tahiti, Sydney, Manila, and Tokyo, The A330s offer Hawaiian Executive Council (MEC) all the good things that have with service to Seoul, Korea, increased seating and payload chairman. “The Hawaiian come to us this year, and we set to begin in January 2011. capacity, longer range, and pilots have seen a lot of eq- want to share those blessings Interisland, Hawaiian operates approximately 120 daily flights better fuel economy, which uity funds and management with others,” Elley says. “With a connecting the islands of will allow the airline to pursue teams come and go over proud 80-year history of serv- Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii long-term plans of expanding the years, but the common ing the islands, we’re looking Fleet: 15 B-717-200s, 4 B-767- 300s, 14 B-767-300ERs, and 3 service both east and west. denominator is that none forward to hiring more pilots, A330-200s. Firm orders for 13 Management has publicly of them were interested in flying to more places, and more A330s and 6 A350XWBs, stated that Hawaiian would owning an airline long term. bringing the aloha spirit to with additional Airbus options like to expand its U.S. main- We recognize that our air- more of the world in 2011.”

36 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA

ug. 18, 2010, marked scheduled average times are management will take advan- the 30-year anniversa- reviewed and adjusted as tage of these higher interis- Ary of Island Air, making necessary based upon histori- land load factors and expand it the second-oldest airline in cal average times. Flight times service and/or build strategies Hawaii. The grand celebration are recorded in minutes but to become more competitive paid tribute to the airline’s converted to tenths of an and grow market share. passengers with festivities hour and averaged based “The past several years in the airport, upon rounding upward to the were about survival, and our special services nearest tenth of an hour. company pulled back service aboard aircraft, Grievances, which were to focus on its core business,” Island Air and commemo- once nonexistent at Island says Feddersohn. “With the rative souvenirs. Air, were filed on segment Island Air also named its fleet pay and other issues. In Pilots Are Key to symbolize its past, present, 2010, a number of griev- To Success and future. ances were resolved through By Lydia Jakub “For 30 years, we have settlement discussions. The ALPA Communications provided our passengers segment pay issue, however, Specialist with exceptional service and is scheduled for arbitration; promoted the highest level a two-member System Board of professionalism both in will also convene this year and out of the cockpit,” says to hear pending grievance F/O Diana Feddersohn, the cases. Meanwhile, the MEC pilot group’s Master Executive continues to actively monitor Council (MEC) chairman. and aggressively enforce the “The demand for interisland pilots’ contract. and leisure travel fluctuates In recent years, the with the economy, and significant changes in cor- despite significant challenges porate leadership have had F/O Diana Feddersohn, Island over the past several years, a negative effect on labor- Air’s MEC chairman. Island Air has survived. This management relations; how- viability is a direct result of ever, the pilots are optimistic economy stabilizing and the contributions and sacri- that this relationship is on our profit margins widening, fices we have made over the the mend. There were several it’s time for management years, and we will continue to management changes last to once again evaluate its work to ensure that both the year, including the appoint- business plan and seek op- company and its employees ment of Lesley Kaneshiro portunities in which to grow. are successful.” as the new chief executive Management must also con- The pilots, who provide officer. Kaneshiro previously tinue to communicate with interisland service to airports served as the company’s chief the pilot group and recognize on all the major islands in financial officer; through that together we will make Hawaii, ratified a new 4-year this experience, she became the airline succeed.” collective bargaining agree- familiar with the various in- ment with economic and ternal and external issues and work rule improvements in recognizes the value of having AIS at a Glance June 2009. But what should a productive relationship with Pilots Joined ALPA: 1989 have been a fairly quick im- labor. In reviving the ohana Number of Pilots: 45, includ- plementation period turned culture, one that is based ing 10 on furlough Operations: Approximately into a battle with several of on a collaborative approach, 36 daily flights plus charter the new provisions, as well the pilots are confident that service to all eight major as existing ones, coming the company will be able to airports in Hawaii Service: Island Air is Hawaii’s under fire. One such provision capitalize on opportunities to leading regional carrier, concerns segment pay. Pilots further improve the airline. serving airports on all major are to be paid the greater of Interisland flights increased Hawaiian islands with approximately 338 weekly flights actual flight time, scheduled steadily in 2010, and the between the islands of Oahu, block time, or contractual forecast is for even greater Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai, segment time (i.e., scheduled interisland and leisure travel and the island of Hawaii Fleet: 4 Dash 8-100s average time). Every 2 years, in 2011. The pilots hope that

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 37 THE PILOTS OF ALPA he Jazz pilots racked official name change from in joining our union, and it’s up some impressive Air Canada Jazz to Jazz, af- incumbent upon Jazz and Taccomplishments firming the airline’s status our other ALPA Canada pilot in 2010, most notably an as an independent carrier groups to build a plan that industry-leading contract that positioned to diversify both ensures a cohesive future for produced payroll gains total- the revenue and customer Canadian pilots,” says Adamus. ing upward of $130 million base, and a 5-year charter The Jazz MEC will continue over the remaining contract with Thomas Cook advancing ALPA’s overall 5-year life of the agree- PLC, the world’s second- strategic plan that began in ment. On July 9, after largest tour operator, flying 2008 and was reaffirmed at Jazz an intense collective 6 B-757s to winter getaway the October 2010 Board of bargaining round that destinations. The Jazz route Directors meeting, according spanned 14 months, catch- structure covers continental to Shury. “A major goal is to Jazz Pilots Flying ing the attention of airline North America and has the bring maximum visibility to High With industry analysts and even unique advantage of serving ALPA, International, while Career Contract, members of Parliament, the major hubs as well as remote providing maximum represen- pilots ratified a new collective airports. “We are the second- tational benefit to our mem- Promising agreement that secures their Growth on the future through June 30, 2015. Capt. Brian Shury, the Horizon pilots’ Master Executive By Lynn Konwin, ALPA Council (MEC) chairman, Senior Communications credits the leaders and Specialist support of ALPA and, most notably, the dedication of the Jazz Negotiating and Strategic Planning and Strike Preparedness Committees.

“We could not have done any jOHN PERKINSON of this without the solid back- A Jazz Bombardier Dash 8 is deiced at Ottawa Macdonald- ing of our union and pilot Cartier International Airport in preparation for takeoff. representatives, including the remarkable commitment of largest airline in Canada with bers. Being part of the largest Jazz Pilot-to-Pilot® volunteers the greatest number of de- international pilots union has who executed an outstanding partures per day and the only brought many benefits to communications network for airline serving all 10 provinces Jazz pilots and ALPA Canada our pilots across Canada, from and 3 territories,” says Shury. pilots,” Shury says. Vancouver to Halifax.” The pilots have earned a The Jazz MEC is also look- The contract is a culmina- reputation for maintaining ing at new ways to engage tion of more than 2 years of an impeccable safety record, the junior pilots in the group. JAZ at a Glance strategic planning among flying 800-plus daily flights to “Our pilots continue to get Pilots Joined ALPA: 1997 members of the Jazz MEC destinations in Canada and younger,” says Capt. Terry Number of Pilots: 1,487 and Negotiating Committee. It the United States. The com- McTeer, the pilots’ secretary. Operations: Jazz carries was a hard-fought victory that pany also has an operation “Our older pilots are often approximately 27 million passengers per year on 800+ proved to be worth the long dedicated to charters using surprised to find that they are flights daily to 85 destinations hours they invested at the both Dash 8s and CRJs. flying with someone who was across Canada and the United bargaining table to ensure a Looking ahead, Jazz pilots, born after they themselves States. Under its contract with Thomas Cook, the airlines successful outcome. The pilots along with their colleagues started with one of the found- flies weekly flights from obtained a significant increase from ALPA Canada, will ing Jazz airlines, or perhaps eastern Canada to destina- to their defined-benefit collaborate on initiatives to they are paired with the son tions in the Caribbean and Mexico (using 6 B-757s) pension plan, a 37 percent effectively develop a growth or daughter of another Jazz Pilot Bases: Halifax, N.S.; increase in per diem, a reduc- strategy in Canada, according pilot,” McTeer says. “The Jazz Vancouver, B.C.; Calgary, Alta.; tion of pilot benefit costs, and to Capt. Dan Adamus (Jazz), MEC recognizes that we Toronto, Ont.; Montreal, P.Q. Headquarters: Halifax, N.S. an increase in pay rates. ALPA’s Canada Board presi- must effectively integrate our Fleet: 137 airplanes, includ- The pilot group and the dent. “There are many pilot younger pilots, as these are ing Dash 8-100/300s and airline also claimed two more groups outside of ALPA that the people who will become Bombardier CRJ100/200/705s achievements in 2010: an have shown a great interest the leaders of tomorrow.”

38 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA ith a new contract intention of taking it easy. “It’s pounds of freight across the firmly in place, the time to keep an eye on the country each night. Wpilots of Kelowna details, monitor enforcement, Besides moving freight Flightcraft are not about to and ensure that our pilots with B-727s and Convair lose momentum. After work- are receiving the benefits we 580s on behalf of Purolator ing diligently with manage- worked so hard to achieve,” Courier, Flightcraft provides ment for nearly 2 years to notes Gold. With the support dedicated DC-10 cargo service secure a 6-year of committee volunteers, for Canada Post. The pilots agreement with the motivated pilots plan to of Kelowna Flightcraft are Kelowna Flight- ensure that management ad- spread across domiciles that Kelowna range from Halifax, N.S., to craft Air Charter, heres to the provisions in their Ltd., Capt. Ian agreement. “We now have Vancouver, B.C. Flightcraft Gold, the pilots’ stricter contract language, but For 2011, Kelowna pilots Master Executive we also hope to continue what and management are focus- Council (MEC) chairman, is has been a cooperative rela- ing on economic recovery, New Contract convinced that the hard work tionship with our employer, the growth of the company, For Kelowna is paying off. “The improve- whenever possible, to success- and expanding the fleet and Pilots Sparks ments we secured in our last fully resolve any grievance contract have resulted in sig- issues that might arise.” Enthusiasm for nificantly reduced turnover,” With members spread The Future says Gold. For many of the across six time zones and Kelowna pilots, “Flightcraft,” some 5,700 miles from coast By Lynn Konwin, ALPA as they refer to it, is fast be- to coast, it’s been challenging Senior Communications Specialist coming a career opportunity to keep the group connected and not just a stepping stone, and well informed about the he says. many benefits ALPA member- Gold and the pilot group ship provides. “We want to In addition to DC-10s (above), are proud of their collective keep the pilots as aware as we KFC’s fleet consists of B-727s bargaining efforts. The new can about the broader ALPA and Convair 580s. agreement, drafted from and industry activities that af- scratch, contains industry- fect not only Flightcraft pilots route structure. “While leading provisions for Flight - but all Canadian pilots,” says the new contract contains craft pilots, despite negotiat- Gold. “We must always be pre- significant improvements, ing during one of the biggest pared for change, either with it was constrained by the economic downturns in new business or for changes to economic climate,” says Gold. Canada’s history. “Now more our current operations.” “We will continue to seek than ever, our pilots know Kelowna Flightcraft is one improvements in the next that we are an integral part of of only two freight airlines in contract and to stay abreast Flightcraft’s continued suc- Canada providing widebody, of our peers in the industry.” cess,” Gold says. heavy-lift dedicated airplanes. The next round of bargaining The pilots worked tirelessly It is keen on capitalizing on is set for 2014. to nail down a contract that the expanding demand of this reflects their priorities. The niche market and is poised result is a progressive contract for substantial growth. With KFC at a Glance that includes wage increases the new pilot contract in Pilots Joined ALPA: 1997 in the range of 10–12 per- place, management can now (became an ALPA-represented cent with an additional 9 turn its focus to expanding pilot group when CALPA percent in longevity increases the widebody fleet. merged with ALPA) First ALPA Contract: Nov. 1, over 5 years. In addition, the Kelowna Flightcraft moves 1997 new contract improves the approximately 600,000 Number of Pilots: 125 pilots’ quality of life by allow- pounds of freight every night Headquarters: Kelowna, B.C. Pilot Bases: Hamilton, Ont.; ing them to have a greater and about 300,000 additional Vancouver, B.C.; Halifax, N.S.; degree of control over their pounds for Canada Post. Add Thunder Bay, Ont.; Regina, schedules while reducing it up and it is evident that Sask.; Calgary, Alb.; Kelowna, B.C. involuntary overtime. Canadian commerce depends Fleet: B-727s, Convair 580s, Even with a new contract in heavily on the Flightcraft DC-10s hand, the pilots’ MEC has no pilots pushing nearly a million

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 39 THE PILOTS OF ALPA n Jan. 5, 2010, Mesa ers; and providing creditors into the future. The airline Air Group filed for with a pro-rata share in a note currently has codeshare OChapter 11 bankrupt- payable in 5 years and stock agreements with United cy protection in the U.S. Bank- in the restructured company. through 2013 and US Airways ruptcy Court, Southern District As the company moves through 2017, as it was able of New York. This bankruptcy, toward exiting bankruptcy, to extend its 70- and 90-seat however, was not about the pilots are preparing for US Airways service during the reducing labor costs direct negotiations, which restructuring process. but about eliminating will begin in early February. “We are very pleased excess aircraft. Now, To protect their bargaining with the company’s positive Mesa one year later, the com- rights, the pilots sent manage- financial outlook, as it will pany has submitted its ment a letter of intent to only help us in getting the plan of reorganization (POR) open Section 6 negotiations contractual improvements Emerging from to the court and is poised to in September 2010, before that our pilots deserve,” says Bankruptcy, emerge from bankruptcy as the pilots’ contract became Kolodziejczyk. “We are on Entering a stand-alone regional airline amendable on December 10. the front lines working every in early 2011. The pilot group The pilots made tremen- day; and despite these chal- Section 6 is cautiously optimistic about dous strides at the table lenging times, this pilot group By Lydia Jakub these developments and the during their last round of has remained focused and ALPA Communications outlook for 2011. negotiations, achieving professional. Our operational Specialist “We faced a number of a 2-year agreement that performance during the challenges over the past year, brought them in line with past 6 months has earned and they have taken quite a the industry standard and repeated accolades from toll on this pilot group,” says above it in several key areas. our codeshare partners, a F/O Marcin Kolodziejczyk, Additionally, the MEC proac- fact that we will make sure the pilots’ Master Executive tively sought opportunities the company recognizes at Council (MEC) chairman. “But and initiated discussions with the bargaining table. We are the MEC will management over the past looking to address wages, continue work- 2 years to enhance safety, work rules, retirement and ing to vigor- address contract deficiencies, insurance benefits, and other ously protect, and further improve the areas to substantially improve defend, and pilots’ quality of life. While our pilots’ quality of life and enhance the discussions pertaining to continue to raise the bar for career of every the Aviation Safety Action all ALPA pilots.” Mesa pilot.” Program (ASAP) resulted in ALPA took a letter of agreement, other an active role in discussions pertaining to the MAG at a Glance the bankruptcy preferential bidding system Pilots Joined ALPA: 1987 process as (PBS) and to mitigating the Number of Pilots: Nearly From left, flight attendant a vigilant member of the massive furloughs resulting 1,300, including 496 on furlough (before recall) Amy Larsen, Capt. James Creditors Committee. The from losing the codeshare Operations: Mesa Air Group Varney, flight attendant pilots made no concessions agreement with Delta stalled, includes Freedom Airlines, Cindy Turner, F/O Marcin during bankruptcy, and the as management was not go!, and Mesa Airlines, and operates as United Express Kolodziejczyk, and F/O Jack POR provides that their contractually obligated to and US Airways Express Ensor at San Luis Obispo contract will be assumed address the pilots’ issues. under contractual agreements County Regional Airport. in its entirety and that the Section 6 negotiations and independently as go! in Hawaii. Serves 126 cities, 40 company will be responsible present a new flight plan, states, Canada, and Mexico for paying all amounts that one that the pilots have long with approximately 800 daily are due under the contract awaited. In evaluating the departures Bases: Charlotte, N.C.; (and the processing of all company’s POR and disclo- Chicago, Ill.; Honolulu, grievances or claims) in the sure statement, it’s apparent Hawaii; Kahului, Hawaii; ordinary course of business. that management is forecast- Lihue, Hawaii; Phoenix, Ariz.; Washington, D.C. The POR includes a new nine- ing financial improvements Headquarters: Phoenix, Ariz. member Board of Directors, and believes the company Fleet: 75 aircraft, including six of whom will be appointed will achieve and maintain CRJ100s/200s, CRJ700s, CRJ900s, ERJ145s, and Dash by the Creditors Committee; significant operational profit- 8-200s wiping out existing sharehold- ability and flexibility now and

40 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA

merica’s oldest re- ness plan, identified potential Colgan aircraft to the current gional airline, Mesaba leverage points, and extracted Mesaba certificate. The three AAirlines, began trans- as much value as possible MECs intend to make the porting passengers within for the pilot group while transition as seamless and northern Minnesota in 1944. helping to build a strong, simple as possible for the Originally founded as a private profitable airline and achieve entire pilot group. company with only a few small an industry-leading collective Although Mesaba and the prop aircraft, the air- bargaining agreement. pilots’ MEC will cease to exist line expanded steadily Working as one unified as a stand-alone entity later throughout its 67-year pilot group, the collective this year, there is no doubt Mesaba history to become Delta MECs were able to achieve that the Mesaba legacy will Air Lines’ largest opera- key job security provisions tor of 76-seat CRJ aircraft. to prevent management Mesaba Pilots: Mesaba’s history includes from whipsawing one group Turning flying as an independent against another by requiring Challenges carrier with no major airline that all flying performed for affiliation, starting and then the holding company is done And Threats into spinning off AirTran Airlines, under the new tentative Strengths and and operating flights for agreement. By pooling their Delta Air Lines, Northwest resources quickly after the Opportunities Airlines, and Republic Airlines. merger was announced, the By F/O Zohrab Grigorian Mesaba pilots have had many Pinnacle, Mesaba, and Colgan Capts. Aaron Busch and Mesaba Communications successes throughout their MECs established a Joint Greg Wertz in Minneapolis– Committee Chairman history but have also had to Negotiating Committee that St. Paul. overcome many challenges was able to reach a tentative along the way. agreement on a joint contract continue to thrive within the Among those challenges: in record time. “One Contract, pilot group. Mesaba pilots narrowly One List, One Voice” was and “We are confident that we averted a strike during their remains the goal of pilots at can turn the new challenges 2004 contract negotiations, the combined airline. that lie ahead into oppor- faced management threats The tentative agreement tunities, not on our own as of downsizing or elimination on a joint contract was a huge Mesaba pilots but as Pinnacle as a consequence of the accomplishment and a major Corporation pilots working holding company’s acquisi- milestone in the merger cooperatively with our ALPA tion of “alter-ego” Big Sky, process. The three MECs met brothers and sisters at Pinnacle and endured a 2006 “sham” in mid-January to discuss and Colgan,” says Capt. Mark bankruptcy. the merits of the tentative Nagel, the Mesaba pilot Currently, the Mesaba agreement as a group. Shortly group’s MEC chairman. pilots are in the process thereafter, each MEC met sep- of merging with Pinnacle arately and each unanimously Airlines and Colgan Airlines. approved sending the TA to MSA at a Glance Throughout Mesaba’s rich the combined pilot group for Founded: 1944 but turbulent history, its pilots membership ratification. Pilots Joined ALPA: 1987 Number of Pilots: 1,092 have successfully turned If the pilots ratify the Headquarters: Eagan, Minn. challenges into opportunities agreement, the seniority list Pilot Bases: Minneapolis- to strengthen the pilot group, integration process calls for St. Paul, Minn., Memphis, Tenn., and Detroit, Mich.; a with the result being one of a final list by early May 2011. La Guardia, N.Y., base is also the best pilot contracts in the Once a new integrated senior- being created regional airline industry. ity list is final, the three MECs Operations: Named after an Ojibwa word that means The pilots’ Master will become one. This will “soaring eagle,” Mesaba Executive Council (MEC) and mark the end of the Mesaba flies to 64 cities in the U.S. their counterparts at Pinnacle pilots’ MEC. Midwest, East, and Southeast as a subsidiary of Delta Air and Colgan took a similar Current plans are to Lines. In 2011, the airline will strategic approach after transfer all existing Mesaba also begin operating service Pinnacle Airlines Corporation turbojet aircraft (60 CRJs in out of LGA for US Airways Fleet: 19 CRJ200s, 41 announced the merger. They total) to the Pinnacle Airlines, CRJ900s, 29 Saab SF340s analyzed the company’s busi- Inc., certificate and move all

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 41 THE PILOTS OF ALPA ne year after choos- by Capt. Bill Bushy, imple- the pilots and the Flight ing ALPA as their rep- mented online grievance filing Operations Department. Oresentative, the pilots via the MEC website to make The Accident Investigation of North American Airlines are it easier for pilots to report Committee was also es- proof that ALPA’s approach contract violations. tablished with Capt. Frank to representing pilots—local Scheduling Committee Rojas as chairman, enabling autonomy supported by their members also accomplished pilots to be included in any several important improve- potential incident/accident ments. They enhanced investigations and providing a transparency and succeeded Go Team to assist. The ASAP North American in gaining access to the com- Committee, chaired by Capt. pany tracking system for Capt. Bill Emmanuel, worked with union—works. Soon after Pete Risko, the Committee management and FAA repre- North American becoming one of the Asso- chairman, and Gallo, allowing sentatives to determine com- Pilots: Fully ciation’s newest pilot groups, pilot representatives to work mon safety issues, offer strong Participating they began building a strong with management to ensure recommendations to improve infrastructure that uses ALPA compliance with the schedul- trouble areas, and uphold the In Their Union resources and staff experience ing section of the contract. airline’s high level of safety. In By Barbara Gottshalk and expertise to the fullest. Capt. Bob Cooley, the fact, the FAA recognized the Lead Communications First, the Membership Communications Committee effectiveness of the airline’s Specialist Committee, chaired by Capt. chairman, and Committee program by ranking it among Al Campos, launched an members attended an ALPA the best in the airline industry. aggressive membership drive orientation in which they Recognizing the value of that resulted in 99 percent of developed and immedi- peer interaction, the North the pilots joining ALPA. The ately implemented a plan American pilot leaders have MEC also established a robust to regularly communicate also taken advantage of the committee structure that with members about union many opportunities to work focused on grievance, sched- activities. The Jumpseat with other ALPA pilot groups. uling, communications, safety, Committee, chaired by Capt. They started an open dialogue and professional standards. Nick Cercone, succeeded in with their ALPA colleagues at Capt. Al Gallo, the pilots’ opening up the airline’s Air Air Transport International, Master Executive Council (MEC) Mobility Command flights Evergreen, and Ryan who chairman, says, “Our MEC involving airline airports to share similar issues and have and all of our committees pilots from other airlines. the same types of customers. are unanimous in our com- The Professional Standards While the pilots have ben-

PHOTO COURTESY OF PETE ZEPP COURTESY PHOTO mitment to defend our pilots Committee, led by Capt. Pete efited from these accomplish- North American Airlines with absolute loyalty to them. Pugsley, saw favorable out- ments, they have also given F/O Pete Zepp. We have no other agenda.” comes to the cases it handled back to the Association. They With Capt. Andy Danziger, throughout the year. have supported other ALPA the pilots’ secretary-treasurer, Through the union, the pilot groups in their strategic overseeing a real operating Central Air Safety Committee planning committee activities, budget to fund pilot activities (CASC) was able to strengthen participated in numerous (something they didn’t have line pilot involvement with union activities such as the NAA at a Glance previously), committee mem- various company depart- Air Safety Forum, and worked Pilots Joined ALPA: 2009 bers received the necessary ments. Capt. Dan Smith, the to advance the Association’s Number of Pilots: 190 training that ALPA provides to CASC chairman, takes the strategic plan and to promote Pilot Base: New York (JFK) pilot volunteers. pilots’ views and concerns national committee initia- Headquarters: Jamaica, N.Y. Operations: North American The committees also made to bimonthly companywide tives, such as the Education Airlines provides air transpor- full use of ALPA’s programs safety meetings. As worldwide Committee’s ALPA ACE Club, tation services throughout the and services. For example, events occurring in many in which F/O Stan Adams, the world, operating both charter and scheduled service for the the pilots’ top priorities are places where the pilots fly pilots’ MEC vice chairman, is U.S. military, tour operators, enforcing their contract, caused security concerns, involved. As the pilots enter government agencies, and educating the pilots about the Security Committee was their second year of ALPA sports teams, among others, and as an ACMI carrier for their rights under the contract, activated with Capt. Dave membership, they continue to other scheduled airlines and streamlining the griev- Mares as chairman, leading demonstrate the adage, “You Fleet: 5 B-757-200s, 5 B-767- ance process. To that end, the to enhanced communications get out of your union what 300ERs Grievance Committee, chaired and coordination between you put into it.”

42 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA t the end of this year, improved contract that would with terse “current book or there will only be 377 provide substantial reasons for less” responses—indicating APiedmont pilots, and new pilots to join the airline. that management would only that number looks as if it will The pilots are looking for agree to the current language continue to decline. Just 6 improvements not only in pay, in the contract or concessions. months ago, there were 100 but also changes in quality- In addition to not responding more pilots on the property; of-life issues. Scheduling and to pilot proposals, manage- but unlike many time off also remain top ment also resisted setting up airlines, the main concerns for these pilots. dates for negotiating sessions. cause isn’t fur- When negotiations started After almost a year of contract Piedmont loughs. In fact, in May 2009, the pilot group talks, only two sections were the 24 pilots who assumed that manage- agreed upon by both sides. are currently on furlough are ment would be receptive to “When we entered into Pilot Attrition expected to be called back by improvements; but as nego- negotiations in May 2009, Threatens One this April. tiations drag on into their sec- we didn’t expect it to be an Of the Oldest “It’s simply attrition,” says ond year, it’s no surprise that easy process,” Martinak says. Capt. Chuck Martinak, the pi- some pilots are losing hope. “However, we did expect Airlines lots’ Master Executive Council The negotiations started management to fully engage By Jen Lofquist (MEC) chairman. “Our younger with Piedmont pilots working in the process—which, simply ALPA Communications pilots are leaving for other closely with pilots from other put, it hasn’t.” Specialist airlines, or leaving the aviation US Airways regional carri- In August, management industry entirely. Many are ers. As the process moved and pilots met under the taking a pay cut to start their forward, the other groups watchful eye of an NMB careers over again. When we saw significant progress in negotiator. While some ask them why they are leaving, their own negotiations, while progress has been made, few it’s not for pay—it’s for quality Piedmont’s stagnated. For economic sections have been of life, time with their families, months, management simply touched. Negotiating sessions and better schedules.” Adding to the frustration of the younger pilots is the lack of opportunity at the airline, F/O Katelyn which, as a regional carrier, Potts flies a has some of the most senior Dash 8. pilots in the industry. So senior is the list that management seems ready to offer early retirement incentives to those on the upper end of the list. “I’ve been with the company for more than 20 years,” says Martinak, “and I’m still a reserve captain. For me, this didn’t move and balked at the are only planned for January company is my career; but presence of other ALPA pilot and February, and an end to for younger captains and first groups in their negotiations— negotiations doesn’t appear officers, the wait to move up sometimes to the extent that to be in sight. is too long, especially with management representatives “We need management to no flow-through options with would not even speak to the recognize the problems, but PDT at a Glance the mainline carrier.” And Piedmont negotiators. either it can’t or, even worse, it Pilots Joined ALPA: 1952 with an aging fleet of Dash On April 22, 2010, ALPA, won’t,” says Martinak. “We’ve Number of Pilots: 377 8 turboprops and no word of on behalf of the Piedmont got an aging fleet, a shrink- Headquarters: Salisbury, Md. any plans to replace them, pilots, formally applied for ing pilot group, and stalled Pilot Domiciles: New Bern, N.C.; Charlottesville, Va.; Piedmont, a wholly owned mediation from the National negotiations. The pilots are Roanoke, Va.; New York, subsidiary of US Airways, Mediation Board (NMB). The committed to this company, N.Y. (LGA); Harrisburg, Pa.; has a staffing problem in the pilots cited management’s but we need reassurance that Salisbury, Md. Fleet: 44 DHC-8s making. practice of routinely counter- management is committed to What may help is an ing proposals from the union the pilots.”

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 43 THE PILOTS OF ALPA innacle Airlines pilots TA, but a full contract was still Pinnacle pilots. At the same celebrated Christmas just out of reach. In June, the time, Pinnacle announced the Pearly this year when the talks moved to Washington, opening of a new domicile at Pinnacle-Mesaba-Colgan Joint D.C.; and after 3 long days New York’s John F. Kennedy Negotiating Committee (JNC) of intense negotiations, no International Airport. reached a tentative agreement agreement was reached. The Shortly thereafter, the (TA) on a joint collective bar- NMB representatives indi- Pinnacle, Mesaba, and Colgan gaining agreement. Pin- cated that additional negoti- MECs submitted a proposal nacle pilots look to 2011 ating sessions would not be to Pinnacle Corporation for as the year they start reconvened until 2011. a three-party integration, Pinnacle receiving the increased “Pinnacle pilots saw our and Pinnacle, Mesaba, and wages and benefits of a share of ups and downs Colgan pilots stood united in new contract that has eluded this year,” says Erickson. their goal of “One Contract, Tentative them for nearly 6 years. “Yet through it all, we have One List, One Voice.” The JNC Agreement “This TA marks the end of remained professional, con- began intense, expedited nearly 6 long years of contract sistently providing top-notch contract talks with manage- Reached at negotiations for Pinnacle pi- service and maintaining a safe, ment in early September. Pinnacle Airlines lots,” says Capt. Scott Erickson, the pilots’ Master Executive By Kimberly Seitz, ALPA Council (MEC) chairman. “The Senior Communications Specialist terms of the new joint TA reward the tireless dedication of the Pinnacle pilot group with a contract that lifts the profession, and it will clear the way for us to join our brothers and sisters at both Mesaba and Colgan to form one of the world’s largest contract Capt. Kory Kilbourne, a carriers.” The TA includes Detroit-based pilot, by a significant improvements in CRJ200. all cornerstone areas of the contract, including job security, secure flying environment for After two continued dead- compensation, benefits, and our passengers.” lines and many hours of talks, quality-of-life provisions. On July 1, Pinnacle Airlines a TA was reached in the early This past year started off Corporation, which owns afternoon of December 17. with Pinnacle pilots entering Pinnacle Airlines, Inc., and The three MECs met their fifth year of contract Colgan Air, announced the on January 17 and 18 and negotiations hopeful and purchase of Mesaba Airlines. unanimously approved send- optimistic that an industry- While the news came as a ing the TA out to the pilots of standard contract was within surprise to the Pinnacle pilots, Pinnacle, Mesaba, and Colgan reach. In 2009, after a major- they remained steadfast in for a vote in February. PCL at a Glance ity of the pilots voted down their desire to continue their “This is an exciting time to a TA that included many quest for a successor TA. be an airline pilot,” Erickson Pilots Joined ALPA: 1988 (as Express Airlines before contractual improvements, The Mesaba purchase says. “The industry is poised changing its name to Pinnacle the pilots were eager to brought a renewed energy to for growth, and we finally in 2002) address the problem areas Pinnacle Airlines, which start- have a contract that recog- Number of Pilots: 1,260 Operations: More than 740 in key sections of the failed ed hiring pilots in August— nizes our contributions to the Delta Connection flights daily TA. After consulting with the the first new hires since 2008. continued success of Pinnacle to 120 airports across the National Mediation Board Once released to flying, the Airlines. Working alongside United States and Canada Pilot Domiciles: Atlanta, Ga.; (NMB) in February, the two new hires (comprised initially the Colgan and Mesaba pilots Detroit, Mich.; Memphis, sides reentered unmedi- of Mesaba furloughed pilots to raise the bar for ongoing Tenn.; Minneapolis, Minn.; ated talks to work through as per a memorandum of un- negotiations at other ALPA New York’s JFK Headquarters: Memphis, many unresolved issues as derstanding signed after the pilot groups has been benefi- Tenn. possible before reengaging Mesaba purchase) brought cial and rewarding. We look Fleet: 126 Canadair CRJ200s the NMB. The parties made much-needed relief to the forward to the future with and 16 CRJ900s solid progress on a successor understaffed and overstressed optimism and hope.”

44 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA hinking outside the box (Expenses), 21 (System Assurance (FOQA) program of traditional Section 6 Board), 25 (Scheduling), and in 2010, and the pilots ex- Tnegotiations has paid 26 (General). The parties also tended their agreement with off for the pilots of PSA. In reached a letter of agreement management to continue negotiations since June 2009, (LOA) establishing pay rates the Aviation Safety Action the pilots were making little for additional regional jet Program (ASAP). Captains also progress at the bargaining types. have the option of participat- table, and the Master This revitalization process ing in a company-sponsored Executive Council has extended beyond negotia- leadership training program. (MEC) leaders knew it tions and has had a positive The training program has PSA was time to do things effect on MEC committees been redesigned so that differently. and volunteers. As a result, first officers will now receive “Last year was about revi- many of the committees that simulator training every 6 A Union talizing our union from the were once dormant are now months—just as captains Revitalized inside out,” says Capt. Tom active and producing tangible do—as opposed to every 12 By Lydia Jakub Arline, the pilots’ MEC chair- results that pilots can see on months. Another change in ALPA Communications man. “We focused on engag- a daily basis. training is the introduction of Specialist ing our pilot group, building Hotel Committee repre- our committee structure, and sentatives were successful working with management on in becoming part of man- mutually beneficial solutions agement’s hotel-selection to the issues we faced.” process to review and select Last year, management hotels. Committee volunteers agreed to accelerate the pace also worked successfully of negotiations by doubling to change the locations of the number of bargaining ses- multiple hotels and improve sions from October through the overall quality of pilots’ December. This strategy paid accommodations. A PSA CRJ200-ER in the off, and substantial progress The Central Air Safety blocks awaiting its next flight. was made at the bargaining Committee, Security table. The pilots introduced Committee, and Human Line Oriented Flight Training proposals on all sections of Intervention and Motivational (LOFT) in simulators to train their collective bargaining Studies Committee participat- pilots in more realistic and agreement, and tentative ed at the ALPA National level, less repetitive scenarios. agreements were reached on attending training seminars The LOFT and leadership nearly half of the contract and other conferences. programs are especially sections, including: The Grievance Committee important because in 2010 • Section 6 (Moving filed more than 80 grievances pilots were recalled from fur- Expenses), in 2010. Many of the issues lough and captain upgrades • Section 9 (Instructors), were resolved through the occurred for the first time • Section 10 (Transfer to Non- grievance resolution process, since 2007. The pilots are Flying and Managerial Duty), particularly by the pilots’ optimistic that this trend will • Section 11 (Training), review committee, which first continue through 2011, and PSA at a Glance • Section 17 (Uniforms), investigates the issue. Other they look forward to welcom- Pilots Joined ALPA: 1988 • Section 18 (Discipline), cases were resolved through ing all furloughed pilots back Number of Pilots: • Section 19 (Grievances), settlement discussions and to the line. Approximately 455, including 30 on furlough • Section 20 (Grievance arbitrations. The pilots con- “We have accomplished Operations: PSA is a wholly Review Committee), tinue to work to resolve the a lot in a short amount of owned subsidiary of US • Section 22 (Seniority), remaining grievance issues. time,” says Arline. “Over the Airways Group, Inc. It operates as US Airways Express • Section 23 (Furlough), On the safety front, the next year, we will continue to and serves 65 airports in the • Section 24 (Vacancies), pilots are working with focus on engaging our pilots, United States with more than • Section 29 (Agency Shop), management to maintain building our committees, and 125 departures daily Bases: Charlotte, N.C.; and and improve the overall negotiating an agreement Dayton, Ohio; Knoxville, Tenn. • Section 30 (Professional safety of their airline. PSA, a that recognizes the value that Headquarters: Dayton, Ohio Standards). wholly owned subsidiary of our pilots bring to the opera- Fleet: 35 CRJ200s, 14 CRJ700s Significant progress was US Airways, implemented a tion, our passengers, and US also made on Sections 5 Flight Operational Quality Airways.”

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 45 THE PILOTS OF ALPA s crewmembers of a growth of the MD-80 fleet, Egan notes that the vast charter-based opera- will likely require additional majority of the Ryan pilots Ation, Ryan pilots occu- pilot hiring. Management are commuters, another py a special niche within the recently hired several pilots important consideration Association. The fluid nature on both the MD-80 and the when constructing schedules of their flying and their fluctu- B-757/767. and thinking about negotiat- ating customer base set them Egan describes his pilot ing priorities. Flight-time and apart from their coun- group’s relationship with duty-time rules will also be terparts at scheduled management as cordial but of interest to the pilot group passenger and cargo not as productive as he would with the acquisition of B-777s Ryan airlines. With contract like. “We’ve had several recent and regulations for long-range negotiations to begin meetings with management operations, which are pro- later this year, the demands personnel regarding griev- jected to change. Pilots Gear Up of their unique operation ances. They’ve been willing Throughout its existence, For Negotiations combined with the projected to listen to us and appear Ryan has reinvented itself to By John Perkinson growth of the airline will be interested in moving forward meet the needs of its transi- Staff Writer important considerations for constructively, but much of tioning customer base. The the Ryan pilots as they plot a the time there is little or no course for their future. follow-up,” Egan says. In fact, Operating a fleet of one the pilot group has a large B-757, six B-767s, and two backlog of grievances, ad- MD-80s, Ryan flies contract dressing infractions from as work for the U.S. Depart- far back as 3 years ago, and ments of Defense, Energy, the pilots plan to step up their Homeland Security, and arbitration efforts this year. Justice, as well as sports and The pilots’ contract be- tour charters. However, to comes amendable in March broaden its operation and 2012. However, the pilots the scope of its opportunities, intend to use the duration the airline will be adding the clause, which allows either B-777 to its fleet during 2011. party to open negotiations as “The airline recently early as 6 months before that closed a vacancy bid for this date. Preparing for a contract new aircraft that awarded opener will require pilot lead- positions for 12 crews,” says ers to solicit feedback from F/O Jesse May, the Ryan MEC Capt. James “Mike” Egan, the pilots and conduct strate- secretary-treasurer, prepares the pilots’ Master Executive gic planning to determine the for departure. Council (MEC) vice chairman. pilot group’s priorities and However, the pilots initially the best approach to take to Ryan Aviation Corporation responded to this good news maximize collective bargain- began operations in 1976 as a with some trepidation as ing efforts. fixed-base operator providing management expressed an Because of the transitional fueling and maintenance interest in pursuing a pilot nature of the airline’s busi- services in Wichita, Kan. Five tri-type qualification for the ness, Ryan pilots typically bid years later, the airline began B-757, B-767, and B-777. for 56-day reserve periods hiring pilots and hauling RYN at a Glance Fortunately, better judgment vs. the monthly schedules cargo and changed its name prevailed. “Management that most airline pilots fly. to Ryan International Airlines. Pilots Joined ALPA: 1998 Number of Pilots: 138 pilots realized that this move would On occasion, the airline will Ryan also shifted from a Part Pilot Domicile: Rockford, Ill. pose too many problems, ink a long-term aircraft, crew, 135 certificate holder to a Services: Ryan International so the Triple Seven will be maintenance, and insurance Part 121 operator. In 1984, Airlines (not to be confused with Ireland-based RyanAir) treated as a separate fleet,” (ACMI) contract, or a wet- Ryan began transporting provides scheduled and char- Egan says. leasing arrangement. This passengers on a charter basis tered services for customers Currently, all furloughed variance from typical pilot and in 2004 parked the last around the globe, including substantial flying for the U.S. Ryan pilots have been scheduling requires a differ- of its freighters. The airline Department of Defense recalled to work. The acquisi- ent approach when consider- moved its operations to its Fleet: 1 B-757, 6 B-767s, 2 tion of a second B-777 later ing collective bargaining goals current location in Rockford, MD-80s in the year, as well as possible and strategies. Ill., in 2006.

46 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA n the summer of 2010, Spirit Airlines resumed flying. Spirit pilots celebrated “Our leaders strongly Iachieving a new contract, believe that this is the fair but that celebration was and affordable agreement short-lived. In September, that our pilots asked for back just a month after signing in 2007 when we started the agreement, management negotiations,” says Creed. refused to abide by the “Thanks to the efforts of our terms of Section 25: negotiators and the support Scheduling. The viola- of our international union, Spirit tion forced the pilots to we were able to reach a fair file a grievance—even and equitable agreement. before the agreed-upon lan- I am proud not only of our Spirit Airlines: guage in the new contract Negotiating Committee, but

New Contract, was set to be implemented. of every single Spirit pilot who STAFF DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATIONS ALPA Same However, the pilots were walked the line and refused Spirit pilots on the picket line helped by a valuable clause to accept any agreement that at Atlantic City International Management in the new contract—an did not treat us as valuable Airport on the first day of the By Jen Lofquist expedited grievance process. partners in Spirit’s continued strike. ALPA Communications Before the new contract success.” Specialist was signed, management’s The 5-year contract im- effort to force management stalling tactics forced the mediately increased hourly to abide by the agreement. pilots to wait months before wages by an average of 10 Management used stall tac- an arbitrator would hear a percent for captains and tics at every turn, determined grievance. The new process 18 percent for first officers. to postpone what turned out allowed the pilots to file the It also included important to be a series of ALPA arbitra- grievance and stand before clarification on existing work tion victories so that manage- an arbitrator by late October, rules and gave all Spirit pilots ment could reap as much with testimony continuing in a substantial signing bonus. benefit from its contract November. Both sides have Despite the shortness violations as possible. submitted their final argu- of the strike, the contract As a new year begins, the ments to the arbitrator and was a long time coming. pilots find themselves in a are now awaiting a decision. Spirit pilots had been in very familiar place—battling Despite the grievance, negotiations since October a management that seems the pilots are proud of the 2006. Nine months later, the uninterested in following any contract they achieved in pilots applied to the National agreement that doesn’t put June, after shutting down the Mediation Board (NMB) for more cash in the coffers. This airline for 5 days. At 5:01 a.m. mediation. In spite of the time, however, the pilots have on June 12, Capt. Sean Creed, company’s multimillion-dollar a firm process in place to the pilots’ Master Executive profits, management contin- achieve the quickest resolu- Council (MEC) chairman, ued to ask for unprecedented tion possible, and they have called for and instituted a concessions that would strip the knowledge that the group lawful strike on Spirit Airlines. pilots of work rules and keep has gone to battle before and For nearly a week, Spirit their wages at the bottom has come back victorious. gates were abandoned, and of the industry. On May “Although we hoped that airplanes sat empty on the 12, the NMB declared an a new contract would bring ramp. Meanwhile, hundreds impasse and offered bind- about a new cooperation of Spirit pilots, joined by ing arbitration, which the with our management,” says fellow ALPA pilots and other pilots promptly rejected. This Creed, “we weren’t surprised SPA at a Glance union members, marched in started the 30-day countdown that the new contract was Pilots Joined ALPA: 1996 picket lines that grew in size to the June strike. just another agreement to Number of Pilots: 460 each day. By Tuesday, June During the 4 years of violate, disregard, and ignore. Headquarter: Miramar, Fla. 14, management was back at negotiations, management This pilot group will continue Pilot Domiciles: Atlantic City, N.J.; Detroit, Mich.; Ft. the table; and after 24 hours repeatedly violated the cur- to fight for every word in this Lauderdale, Fla. of intense negotiations, the rent contract. The pilots and agreement. And, just like our Fleet: 27 A319s, 3 A320s, two sides reached a tentative ALPA attorneys were con- strike in June, we will emerge 2 A321s agreement. On Friday, June 17, stantly filing grievances in an victorious.”

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 47 THE PILOTS OF ALPA he picture couldn’t Chapter 11 is Department of National Airport. It plans to have been much bleak- Transportation approval of revive a route between DCA Ter for Minneapolis- the airline’s new certificate and Lansing, Mich., that based Sun Country Airlines holders; but once that’s Northwest Airlines had oper- as it entered 2010: its CEO accomplished, the pilots will ated until 2006. was in jail, its ownership was celebrate the significant feat Another potential revenue in question, the airline was in of emerging from bankruptcy stream is military charter fly- with their contract unscathed. ing, but that goal raises some Sun Country experienced difficult negotiations issues a number of historic firsts since management would be Sun Country in 2010 that bode well for asking pilots to be out of the the airline’s future. After country for extended periods bankruptcy, and the employ- winning ETOPS certification of time and to fly into some Brighter Skies for ees had endured temporary in the spring, the airline flew possibly dangerous places. Sun Country 50 percent pay cuts the previ- its first transatlantic trip in This is being addressed in By Rusty Ayers, ALPA ous year. seasonal scheduled service Section 6 negotiations, along Senior Communications But just a year later, the from Minneapolis–St. Paul with efforts to clear up a Specialist airline, which is still known backlog of grievances. primarily for flying snow- “This MEC seeks to work weary Midwesterners to tropi- collaboratively with manage- cal vacations, is profitable, ment to realize opportunities coming out of bankruptcy, that will secure our futures, and adding new pilots to its while steadfastly striving to ranks as it expands operations obtain a new labor agreement worldwide. that appropriately recognizes “We are very pleased to and rewards the valuable finally be getting some good contributions our pilots have news,” says Capt. Dennis always made each and every Vanatta, the pilots’ Master day,” says Vanatta. Executive Council (MEC) Sun Country’s strategy chairman. “Thanks in part under Gadek is to diversify to the combined efforts of the carrier and strengthen its CEO Stan Gadek, a dedicated F/O Chuck Doyle is a second- revenue base, with a major and experienced pilot group, generation ALPA member. goal of making the airline their ALPA representatives, profitable year round, not and all the hard-working to London’s Stansted Airport just during the busy winter employees of Sun Country on June 11. That service was vacation season. The plan has SCA at a Glance Airlines, things are starting to so popular that manage- worked so far, with the airline Founded: 1982, by pilots and improve around here under ment has announced that posting enough revenue to flight attendants from the Mr. Gadek’s direction and it’s expanding the route for send out profit-sharing checks former Braniff International leadership after the neglect of 2011, moving it to London’s to employees in 2010. The Airlines Pilots Joined ALPA: 1996 earlier years.” Gatwick Airport and offering airline has also recalled all its Number of pilots: 163; The pilots’ contract became twice-weekly service from furloughees, added aircraft to all furloughees have been amendable last March, and MSP from Memorial Day both its seasonal and perma- recalled and the airline trained 10 new-hire pilots in they have been in Section through Labor Day. nent fleet, and trained two November 2010 6 negotiations for almost a Also in June, Sun Country new-hire classes this winter. Pilot Base: Minneapolis-St. year. Negotiations have gone operated its first transpa- “It’s a great pleasure to Paul Operations: Based in slowly in large part because of cific flight in charter service have our furloughed pilots Mendota Heights, Minn., the company’s slow emer- from Phoenix to Honolulu, back and to welcome new Sun Country flies scheduled gence from bankruptcy, opening up a potentially pilots to our airline as well. service to 32 destinations plus charter flights to numerous made more complex because lucrative destination for its The additional aircraft and locations in the continental former CEO Tom Petters, now vacation charter business. crews should allow Sun United States, Hawaii, Alaska, in federal prison, still owes And in November, the airline Country to take advantage of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom. The billions of dollars to creditors beat out AirTran, Republic, further business opportuni- airline is also actively seeking he defrauded in a massive Southwest, and US Airways ties, so we are cautiously military charter flying Ponzi scheme. to win a coveted landing optimistic about the future,” Fleet: 12 B-737NGs The last hurdle to leaving slot at Washington’s Reagan Vanatta says.

48 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA rans States pilots en- small economic gap between “While these programs can dured another tough the parties and walked away enhance safety, they need Tyear in their quest for from the table, Trans States pilot buy-in,” says Ruszin. an industry-average contract, Holdings (TSH), the airline’s “Trans States’ desire to utilize but the pilots, their elected parent company, purchased a TSH employee as a FOQA leaders, and ALPA staff con- Compass Airlines for $21 gatekeeper, instead of an tinued to work diligently to million. TSH indicated that ALPA representative, has resolve their Compass would operate raised serious concerns about ongoing con- separately from Trans States the program’s effectiveness. tract disputes and GoJet (another sister Pilots won’t participate un- Trans States with manage- company owned by TSH)—a less they feel the program’s ment. major disappointment for the key elements of anonymity The end of 2010 closed pilots who have worked hard and confidentiality are main- Trans States out the pilots’ fifth year of to build TSH into a profitable tained. We hope this will be Pilots Continue bargaining under Section holding company. TSH man- rectified before the program To Fight for a 6 of the Railway Labor Act agement has been reluctant is implemented.” (RLA), four of which have to see the economic benefits The pilots have also settled Contract been assisted by the National for the company and the job numerous grievances this By Kimberly Seitz, ALPA Mediation Board (NMB). In security benefits for the pilots year, most notably a case in Senior Communications June, the pilots’ Negotiating that would result from a fair which management violated Specialist Committee (NC), ready to and equitable consolidation the contract by ceasing train- conclude the often conten- of the three companies. ing while at the same time tious negotiations, In July, management continuing the use of captain- was once again issued a letter to all pilots qualified first officers. In the dismayed by man- highlighting its positions and settlement, management agement’s unwill- concluding with a threat to paid a total of $76,000 to ingness to close the begin an orderly dissolution affected pilots. Another case, deal. Eight sections of the company if the NMB the termination of a pilot who of the contract proffered the case. “This was was an MEC officer and vocal remain open, and seen not only as a threat to opponent of management’s most of those have the pilots,” Ruszin explains, maintenance practices, has only a handful of “but an attempt to under- been heard by the System issues remaining to mine the NMB’s ability to use Board and is pending with be resolved. its statutory authority under the arbitrator. No negotiating the RLA. During the last half of Capt. Jason Ruszin, left, sessions have been conduct- “As a result, the MEC 2010, the pilots’ Strategic MEC chairman, and Capt. ed since June, but the pilots’ launched a communications Preparedness and Strike Jeff Shatley, SPSC chairman, Master Executive Council campaign detailing the dif- Committee (SPSC) worked dili- at the annual MEC holiday (MEC) and NC continue to ag- ferences in the company’s gently with the national SPSC dinner in St. Louis. gressively pursue every option offer and the pilots’ proposal,” to bolster communications to produce an agreement. Ruszin continues. “The pilot and strike readiness. Activities While the ultimate goal is an group responded overwhelm- included opening a new strike industry-average contract, ingly to a subsequent web office at ALPA’s offices in TSA at a Glance the MEC continues to sup- survey and indicated strong Herndon, Va., and soliciting port and pursue a proffer if disapproval of manage- volunteers to achieve the Pilots Joined ALPA: 1993 management is unwilling to ment’s bargaining positions. pilots’ objectives if legal self- Signed First ALPA Contract: 1994 change course. Additionally, a strong majority help becomes unavoidable. Number of Pilots: 290 active, “The MEC and NC hold the of pilots stood behind the “While we remain commit- 130 furloughed long-standing position that NC’s and MEC’s positions.” ted to achieving our goals,” Operations: More than 180 daily flights to 39 cities, the pilots deserve a contract Despite the negotiating Ruszin says, “I am confident serving more than 2.4 million that is on par with their peers struggles, the pilots’ leaders that a favorable agreement passengers annually while in the industry. They are uni- continued to work hard on can be reached without the flying as United Express and US Airways fied in achieving that goal,” multiple fronts. The Central need for self-help. But should Pilot Domiciles: St. Louis, says Capt. Jason Ruszin, the Air Safety Committee made it be necessary for us to Mo.; Washington Dulles pilot group’s MEC chairman. improvements in ASAP and employ a legal work stoppage, Headquarters: St. Louis, Mo. Fleet: 28 EMB-145s Just 2 weeks after manage- continues to track the devel- we are ready to carry out that ment refused to bridge the opment of a FOQA program. mission.”

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 49 THE PILOTS OF ALPA or the pilots of United, agreement (JCBA). The Joint Securing scope and job the merger between Negotiating Committee, protections in the JCBA are FUnited Airlines and Con- comprised of members from a top priority for United tinental Airlines represents each pilot group’s Negotiating pilots along with increasing more than just the creation Committee, recently en- pay, improving pilot quality of the world’s largest airline. listed the help of the National of life in the work rule area, It presents the opportunity to Mediation Board (NMB). and enhancing benefits. But have a positive, “Success at this airline will without scope and job secu- lasting effect on not be achieved from the top rity, industry-leading wages their careers and down,” Morse says. “The and work rules are meaning- United future. success of this merger will less. United pilots know that United’s new be accomplished through providing secure jobs and management team also has management working with its having management more Management been given the chance to pilots and other employees closely control the daily Must Work with start anew for the betterment toward shared goals. This will flying and ensure consistency Pilots for Merger of the company, the pilots only be accomplished through of the product is good for and other employees, and interaction and partnering the pilots, good for the To Succeed for the passengers who trust with ALPA. The achievements flying public, and good for By C. David Kelly, ALPA United Airlines to deliver and contributions that United United. It’s also essential to Senior Communications them to their destinations. pilots have made to the success return the 1,437 furloughed Specialist “The May 3, 2010, an- of United Airlines over the pilots to the cockpit. “It is nouncement of the merger past 84 years are well chroni- our hope that United’s new between United Airlines and cled. And we look forward to management chooses the Continental Airlines represent- continuing our leadership role option of working with us as ed, in so many ways, a renais- in the new United Airlines in an invaluable partner in the sance for a pilot group that ushering in the new era.” airline,” says Morse. “We’re has come through so many The pilots believe it is in ready to help with the task challenges,” says Capt. Wendy the best interest of United of completing the merger, Morse, the pilots’ Master Execu- management and the pilot participating fully in success- tive Council (MEC) chairman. group to secure an industry- ful flight operations, ensuring “It represented a pivotal point leading contract sooner rather safety, and promoting our where we could continue our than later. For the company to company within the industry leadership role as we consis- enjoy the advertised synergies and with the public. tently have in the past, the from the merger, it’s impera- “United Airlines has too role of building a new United tive that management and the much riding on this merger,” Airlines into the preeminent pilots find common ground. Morse declares. “It is impera-

WILLIAM A. FORD WILLIAM A. powerhouse that we all know “We’ve clearly demon- tive that management fully For the pilots of United, the it should be. The unity, profes- strated that we stand ready engages United’s pilots as full merger between United Air- sionalism, and determination to be equal partners in the partners. Together, we must lines and Continental Airlines of United pilots, both old and new United and continue as work on the same issues represents more than just the new, will be key in the success leaders of this new airline,” important to us and to our creation of the world’s largest of this new enterprise.” says Morse. “Having the pilots airline. The airline industry is airline. It presents the oppor Morse says the new airline’s fully on board has a powerful watching. The financial com- tunity to have a positive, culture will require adapta- outcome. It must be pointed munity is watching. And our lasting effect on their careers tion and dynamic evolution, out, however, that the value passengers are watching.” and future. not simply adopting policies we bring must be recognized effective on a smaller scale. in the new agreement.” It’s vital for the airline’s newly The United pilots peti- UAL at a Glance minted management team tioned the NMB on Dec. 17, Pilots Joined ALPA: 1932 to reinvest in its pilots and 2010, for assistance in the Number of Pilots: Approximately 8,500 (1,437 employees and to take full ongoing JCBA negotiations. on furlough) advantage of the resources the The NMB has named Gerry Headquarters: Chicago, Ill. pilots bring. United’s pilots, McGuckin as the mediator, Pilot Domiciles: Washington Dulles, Chicago, Seattle, along with Continental’s, and the pilots hope that the Denver, San Francisco, New are involved in negotiations NMB’s involvement will help York (JFK), Los Angeles with management to attain the two sides reach an agree- Fleet: A319s, A320s, B-757s, B-767s, B-777s, B-747s a joint collective bargaining ment in a timely manner.

50 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 THE PILOTS OF ALPA ilots at Wasaya Airways safety and security, then the improvements to their work have had a novel experi- services are considered es- rules, pay, and quality of life. Pence since October— sential, and work stoppages In December 2009, the working under a negotiated (either by strike or lockout) pilots and management, both collective bargaining agree- are prohibited. concerned about the lack of ment. This new 2-year con- Wasaya provides the ma- movement, sought help from tract had been in the works jority of lift to 25 First Nation the Canadian government since the group communities in northwestern and applied for conciliation formally joined Ontario. These communities from the Federal Mediation ALPA on Jan. 16, are often inaccessible by and Conciliation Services Wasaya 2008. It imple- road and depend solely on air (FMCS). The request for FMCS ments many cargo flights to deliver food, assistance was part of the systems that are standard fuel, and medical supplies. Maintenance of Activities Forging a New at other airlines, including a Any halt to operations could and Dispute Resolution Future seniority system and the first greatly affect the residents of Agreement between the By Jen Lofquist “sick bank” on the property. these communities. Simply parties. The FMCS appointed ALPA Communications Before this agreement, pilots put, the region of northwest Federal Conciliation Officer Specialist often went without pay if Ontario was too dependent Jennifer Webster, regional they were ill. on the services of Wasaya to director–Ontario region, to “I’m pleased to see our allow any interruption. After help the two parties come to pilots finally working under months of talks, the pilots an understanding that would a negotiated contract,” says and management signed a benefit them both. Capt. Jeff Braun, the pilots’ Maintenance of Activities These mediated talks were Master Executive Council and Dispute Resolution only planned to last until (MEC) chairman. “Although I Agreement. February 2010; but the par- know many of our pilots are Braun says, “Although ties began to move toward disappointed that we were we’re disappointed we are not a tentative agreement, and not able to see improvement allowed to use this important it was agreed to extend the in some areas, I believe this tool for negotiations, Wasaya negotiations under the as- first contract will set the pilots understand that our sistance of Webster. Without stage for future negotia- most important commitment this extension, the pilots and tions and encourage a more is to the populations we management would have productive relationship with serve.” been required to submit all management.” Under the auspices of the remaining issues in dispute to The contract vote, taken agreement, negotiations went an arbitrator, and this neutral in mid-September, put before on for the next 10 months party would make a final the pilot group a tentative with little advancement in the resolution without judicial agreement proposal that was collective bargaining process. review. With the conciliator’s reached in August. Getting The pilots continued to ask for assistance, Wasaya pilots and to the agreement was not management were able to easy, and the struggle seemed avoid this outcome and reach to last longer than the 20 a tentative agreement. months of negotiations. Less With their first contract in than a month after joining place, the pilots are looking ALPA in 2008, the Wasaya ahead to their next. This pilots served management agreement lasts 2 years, WSG at a Glance with a notice to bargain for a and much remains to be collective agreement. improved. However, by dem- Joined ALPA: 2008 One year later, the situa- onstrating that management Number of Pilots: 83 Hub: Thunder Bay, Ont. tion changed dramatically, and pilots can work together Domiciles: Thunder Bay, and both sides agreed that for the good of the company Ont.; Pickle Lake, Ont.; Sioux Wasaya Airways’ services and with the foundation laid Lookout, Ont.; Timmons, Ont.; Red Lake, Ont. should be considered es- in the new contract, the pilots Fleet: 27 aircraft, including sential. Under the Canadian hope that the next contract Beech 1900Ds, Cessna Labour Code, if a disruption F/O Ray Keatley with a will result from even more C-208Bs, Hawker Siddeley HS748s, and Pilatus PC-12s of services could pose a Pilatus PC-12. He is now a cooperation, less disruption, significant threat to public Cessna C-208B captain. and quicker negotiations.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 51 IndustryNews FAAC Presents Final Recommendations

tive U.S. airline industry and By Ana McAhron-Schulz prosperous workforce by Just the FAACs Director, ALPA Economic strengthening the competi- Established in May 2010, FAAC was tasked with providing “information, and Financial Analysis tive position of airlines to at advice, and recommendations” in five specific areas: Department • Balancing the aviation industry’s competitiveness and viability, least ensure equality with • Ensuring a world-class workforce necessary for a robust aviation industry, he Future of Aviation foreign airlines. • Securing stable and sufficient funding for aviation systems, Advisory Committee • Build upon and expand • Addressing environmental challenges and finding solutions, and (FAAC) had its final • Ensuring safety in aviation. T DOT’s Open Skies initiative, FAAC members met several times throughout the year and received a meeting on Dec. 15, 2010. focusing on large, fast- considerable amount of information and debated all recommendations. FAAC later presented its final growing markets that remain Members of the Committee, which included Ana McAhron-Schulz, director recommendations to DOT Sec- of ALPA’s Economic and Financial Analysis Department, were encouraged constrained, ensure a level to submit recommendations. Given the diversity of the FAAC (consisting of retary Ray LaHood and FAA playing field for U.S. airlines, representatives from airlines, airports, labor, manufacturers, consumer in- Administrator Randy Babbitt. and promote employment of terests, finance, academia, and general aviation), many issues did not result Secretary LaHood said in consensus, including foreign ownership, bankruptcy reform, outsourcing U.S. airline workers. of foreign repair stations, and human rights conventions. the recommendations would • Commission an indepen- be implemented in a timely dent study of the federal Task Force to implement a Environment manner and that he would aviation tax burden on pas- national strategy focused on • Promote U.S aviation as a seek help from Committee sengers, airlines, and general recruiting, training, and culti- first user of sustainable alter- members. The final recom- aviation to determine if exist- vating aerospace workers. native fuels. mendations are available at ing levels of taxes and fees • Urge the National • Accelerate aircraft technol- www.dot.gov/faac, but a brief are adequate or burdensome. Mediation Board to expedi- ogy R&D by extending tax summary follows. • Ensure transparency in tiously implement Dunlop credits and funding programs. airline pricing, disclosure of II’s recommendations, which • Advocate for substantial ad- Competitiveness and flight operations, contracts addressed the various chal- ditional investment to acceler- viability of carriage, and air travel lenges faced in collective ate NextGen implementation. • Enable global airline allianc- statistics. bargaining, and advocate • Advocate for a coordinated es that enhance the viability • Examine the Essential Air for adequate funding and global and domestic frame- and global competitiveness Service program and analyze resources to implement such work for regulating aviation of U.S. airlines, airports, and other methods of intermodal recommendations. CO2 emissions. manufacturers and protect operations. • Implement an aviation and create U.S. aviation jobs. • Work with the U.S. industry workforce-manage- Safety This includes recognizing Commodity Futures Trading ment conference. • Seek comprehensive legal that revenue- or cost-sharing Commission (CFTC) rulemak- protections for voluntary and arrangements between a U.S. ing process regarding the Financing mandated safety data pro- airline and its foreign part- effect of investor and specula- • Support federal legislation grams and information. ners could result in shifting tive activity on the price of to extend the alternative • Provide resources to flying opportunities between oil and support regulatory minimum tax (AMT) exemp- develop improved tools and partners. Secretary LaHood is intervention to reduce the tion for airport private activity methods to provide a robust considering placing a condi- volatility attributable to such bonds. aviation system that can tion on the approval of any speculative activities. • Undertake a significant predict safety risks. grant of antitrust immunity financial investment to equip • Find potential new and valu- that ensures the U.S. airline Workforce/labor airline and general aviation able sources of safety data. does a portion of the interna- • Develop and implement aircraft to accommodate • Ensure that safety perfor- tional flying covered by the plans that include STEM (sci- NextGen capabilities and mance standards and training proposed business arrange- ence, technology, engineering, procedures. are embedded in NextGen ment that closely correlates and math) education pro- • Ensure that the FAA delivers planning, implementation, to the portion of revenue that grams and raise the visibility the operational capabilities, and monitoring. the U.S. airline generates. of aerospace and aviation. procedures, and approvals • Provide criteria for the FAA • Ensure an economically Encourage the Interagency necessary for operators to to prioritize its current and healthy and globally competi- Aerospace Revitalization realize NextGen benefits. future rulemaking program.

52 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 ShapingHistory ALPA’s 80 Years as Pilot and Aviation Safety Advocate

1919 AirmAil Strike By John Perkinson, Staff Writer As ALPA prepares to celebrate ing fatality score. its 80th anniversary later this

year, Air Line Pilot introduces a “For the first generation of pro- ARCHIVES ALPA PHOTOS: new column—“Shaping His- fessional airline pilots, the most Pilots working for the Post Office Department in 1918 stood tory: ALPA’s 80 Years as Pilot persistent problem was not low only a one-in-four chance of surviving until private contractors and Aviation Safety Advocate.” pay, but safety—and the related took over in 1926. The column will feature excerpts question of job security. A pilot from Flying the Line and Flying the who played it too safe, who can- They had precedent on their intendent of the airmail (himself Line II, the George Hopkins’ books celled flights too often because of side, for even the Army allowed a pilot, although not a regular that detail the many struggles and weather or some other consider- its pilots some discretion in this airmail pilot), the pilots went accomplishments ALPA experi- ation, could get fired.” (Flying the area. The pilots agreed that if back to work on July 26, four enced during its first 50-plus years Line, page 18) one pilot refused to fly, all of them days after Smith had refused to as it endeavored to improve air “Early airline pilots were made fly. Working feverishly behind the travel and make being an airline to feel that arriving on time Go to the scenes while Praeger made a fool pilot a more sustainable, lucrative, counted for more than arriving Source! of himself in public, Stanton had and sought-after profession. safely, but late.” (page 19) Want to read more about the air- arranged a deal whereby if the In this first installment, follow “The issue of ‘pilot pushing,’” mail strike of 1919? Read George pilots went back to work, either along as Hopkins examines the or forcing a pilot to fly against his Hopkins’ Flying the Line and Fly- Praeger or the postmaster general ing the Line II, now available in post-World War I era of airmail better judgment, was acute, par- electronic format at www.alpa. would meet with a committee of delivery pilots, when aviation ticularly in the last days of single org/epubs. their representatives to discuss struggled to balance scheduling engine airmail operations when The Flying the Line books chron- grievances.” (page 29) icle the formation of ALPA, along integrity with numerous opera- passengers were still scarce. In the with the growth of the airline in- “The pilots learned two cru- tional challenges and a burgeon- easy money climate of the 1920s, dustry from its grassroots infancy to cial lessons from the strike: a time of cheap nonunion labor its emergence as a complex global first, they needed some kind transportation network.—JWP and readily available materials, of organization, or structure, the operators could well afford through which they could com- an occasional smashed airplane would refuse to fly. When Leon municate with each other and and dead pilot.” (page 19) Smith said ‘no,’ they were as good protect themselves; second, they “In midsummer 1919, the as their word, and the strike was needed a leader, someone from East Coast experienced a period on.” (pages 26–27) among their own number who of extremely bad weather, but “Upon receiving a telegram was willing to step forward and Post Office supervisors, most of of protest signed only ‘Air Pilots,’ stick his neck out by acting as whom were not pilots, insisted [the U.S. assistant postmas- spokesman.” (page 30) that the pilots fly as usual. As ter general in charge of airmail a result, there were 15 crashes, Otto] Praeger warned the pilots Solution to this month’s two of them fatal, in the two- that by sending an anonymous ALPA sudoku on page 54. week period before [Leon] Smith telegram they were ‘conspiring 2 9 1 3 6 4 8 7 5 [was fired because, as a pilot, he] against the government.’ The 4 3 5 8 9 7 6 2 1 refused to fly. The deaths forced pilots responded in an open letter 7 6 8 1 5 2 9 4 3 the pilots of the Eastern Division released to the press that it was 5 1 6 4 2 3 7 9 8 to hold a series of meetings dur- not conspiracy ‘to avoid killing 9 7 3 6 1 8 2 5 4 8 2 4 9 7 5 3 1 6 Iconic airmail pilot William ing which they decided to assert oneself for the sake of a two-cent 6 4 7 5 8 9 1 3 2 C. “Big Bill” Hopson died what they regarded as the pilot’s stamp’….” (page 28) 3 8 2 7 4 1 5 6 9 when his airplane crashed in prerogative to determine whether “Largely because of the efforts 1 5 9 2 3 6 4 8 7 Polk, Pa., in 1927 or not the weather was flyable. of Charles I. Stanton, the super-

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 53 ALPA Resources and Contact Numbers National Officers For complete biographical information on ALPA’s national officers and executive vice presidents, visit resident’s Office resident’s

www.alpa.org. P

Capt. Lee Moak Capt. Sean Cassidy Capt. William Couette Capt. Randy Helling Capt. Tim Canoll President First Vice President Vice President– Vice President–Finance/ Executive Administrator Administration/Secretary Treasurer

Executive Vice Presidents For more information on who executive vice presidents represent, please visit www.alpa. Capt. Bill Bartels Capt. Larry Beck Capt. Joe Fagone F/O Michael Hamilton Capt. Thomas Maxwell Capt. Bill Patterson org/evp. Delta Continental FedEx Express United Alaska, American Eagle, Air Wisconsin, Evergreen, ASTAR, Mesa Air Group, ExpressJet, Hawaiian, Piedmont, Ryan, Island Air, Pinnacle, Trans States Sun Country

F/O Todd Ortscheid Capt. Mark Segaloff Capt. Dan Adamus AirTran, Capital Cargo, Air Transport Int’l, Air Transat, Bearskin, Comair, Compass, North Atlantic Southeast, Calm Air, CanJet, First American, Spirit Colgan, CommutAir, Air, Jazz Air, Kelowna Mesaba, PSA Flightcraft, Wasaya

ALPA Sudoku (Rating: Moderate) 2 9 1 3 6 4 8 7 5

Complete the sudoku puzzle so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 4 3 5 8 9 7 6 2 1 3×3 sub-grids that compose the grid contains all of the digits from 1 to 9. 6 1 4 3 The solution to this month’s ALPA sudoku can be found on page 53. 5 6 4 2 7

9 4

4 7 5 3 6

6 4 9 3

2 4 5

9 2 6 8 7

54 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011 ALPA Resources and Contact Numbers

ALPA Information Membership Numbers Services The following ALPA resources may be To obtain membership account information or reached by e-mail or by dialing, toll-free, to update your records or your postal or e-mail Director of Communications 1-888-359-2572 (1-888-FLY-ALPA). Once address via the Internet, go to the My ALPA Marie Schwartz connected, dial the last four digits of the area of Crewroom.alpa.org; or dial the toll-free Editor Sharon B. Vereb number listed below. number 1-888-359-2572 (1-888-FLY-ALPA) and Technical Editor Jan W. Steenblik Accident Investigation ([email protected]) choose menu option 3. Associate Managing Editor Susan Fager 703-689-4312 Listed below are the telephone numbers Accounting and Finance ([email protected]) of MEC offices. Design and Production Editor William A. Ford 703-689-4144 AirTran–ATN MEC 404-763-5165 Staff Writer John Perkinson Air Line Pilot ([email protected]) Air Transat–TSC MEC 1-888-337-2033 Contributing Writers Susan Burke, 703-481-4460 Air Transport International–ATI MEC Molly Martin, Linda Shotwell ALPA main number 703-689-2270 505-263-8838 Web Coordinators Cicely Jenkins, Chris Weaver ALPA‑PAC 202-797-4033 Air Wisconsin–ARW MEC 757-754-7687 Alaska–ALA MEC 206-241-3138 ASPEN 703-689-4220 American Eagle–EGL MEC 817-685-7474 Air Line Pilot is not responsible for unsolicited Balloting ([email protected]) 703-689-4173 manuscripts, photographs, or other materials. Unso- ASTAR Air Cargo–DHL MEC licited materials will be returned only if submitted Cashiering ([email protected]) 859-282-1475 with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Opinions 703-689-4385 expressed by authors do not necessarily represent *ATA–ATA MEC 773-284-4910 official ALPA position or policy. Communications ([email protected]) Atlantic Southeast–ASA MEC 404-209-8566 Subscriptions: Subscription rate for pilot members, 703-481-4440 Bearskin–BRS MEC 807-628-5683 $25, included in ALPA membership dues; for stu- Computer help line ([email protected]) Calm Air–CMA MEC 204-471-1000 dents, $37; for U.S. nonmembers, $50; for foreign, 703-689-4357 $65. Residents of the state of Washington must CanJet–CJA MEC 1-800-959-1751 add 8.8 percent sales tax. To subscribe online go to Council Services ([email protected]) Capital Cargo–CCI MEC 256-289-0428 www.alpa.org/subscriptions or call 703-481-4460. 703-689-4311 Colgan Air–CJC MEC 1-877-MEC-CJC1 To request address changes, call 703-481-4460. Comair–CMR MEC 859-282-9016 Address Changes for Members Only: Disciplinary and discharge 703-689-4226 E-mail to [email protected]. CommutAir–CMT MEC 440-985-8579 Economic and Financial Analysis Air Line Pilot is printed in the ([email protected]) 703-689-4289 Compass–CPZ MEC 952-853-2373 United States and published for Continental–CAL MEC 281-987-3636 professional airline pilots in the United States and Election dates LEC/MEC 703-689-4212 Canada who are members of the Air Line Pilots Delta–DAL MEC 404-763-4925 Engineering and Air Safety ([email protected]) Association, International. 703-689-4200 Evergreen–EIA MEC 503-474-3880 ALPA Headquarters: 1625 Massachusetts Ave., NW, ExpressJet–XJT MEC 281-987-3636 Washington, DC 20036 FAA legal actions 703-689-4226 FedEx Express–FDX MEC 901-752-8749 Postmaster: Send address changes to Air Line Pilot, Government Affairs First Air–FAB MEC 1-877-459-3272 PO Box 1169, Herndon, VA 20172-1169. ([email protected]) 202-797-4033 Freedom–MAG MEC 602-306-1116 Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40620579: Return undeliverable magazines sent Human Resources Hawaiian–HAL MEC 808-836-2572 to Canadian addresses to B & M Mailing Services ([email protected]) 703-689-4262 Island Air–AIS MEC 808-838-0188 Limited, 35 Van Kirk Drive, Unit 15, Brampton, ON L7A1A5. E-mail: [email protected]. Information Technology and Services Jazz–JAZ MEC 1-800-561-9576 ([email protected]) 703-689-4223 Kelowna Flightcraft–KFC MEC Other Organizations Legal ([email protected]) 202-797-4096 250-878-7950 ALPA Aeromedical Office 303-341-4435 703-689-4326 ALPA Federal Credit Union 1-800-747-2349 Mesa–MAG MEC 602-306-1116 Assn. of Flight Attendants 202-434-1300 Membership Services ([email protected]) Mesaba–MSA MEC 952-853-2389 1-888-359-2572 (1-888-FLY-ALPA), *Midwest Airlines–MEA MEC 508-360-3112 ALPA Accident/Incident Hotline option 3 North American–NAA MEC 732-778-6969 If you are involved in an accident, incident, or alleged violation of a federal aviation regulation, contact your IT Operations and Services ([email protected]) Piedmont–PDT MEC ASPEN, ext. 3274 703-689-4245 local or central air safety chairman, regional safety Pinnacle–PCL MEC 901-527-0355 chairman, or the worldwide ALPA accident/incident Organizing 703-689-4179 PSA–PSA MEC 603-674-9683 hotline at 202-797-4180 (collect calls are accepted) for an immediate response 24 hours per day. As a backup Publishing Services ([email protected]) Ryan–RYN MEC 1-800-292-ALPA number, call 703-892-4180. 703-689-4185 Spirit–SPA MEC 1-800-662-2572 To report a safety problem or airspace system defi Purchasing ([email protected]) Sun Country–SCA MEC 952-853-2393 ciency, call 1-800-424-2470 or e-mail [email protected]. 703-689-4319 Trans States–TSA MEC 610-805-5387 2011 EBCB Schedule Representation ([email protected]) United–UAL MEC 847-292-1700 The Association’s Election and Ballot Certification 703-689-4375 Wasaya–WSG MEC 807-627-9443 Board’s schedule for counting ballots is February 10, March 10, April 11, May 10, June 10, July 11, August Real Estate ([email protected]) 10, September 12, October 11, November 10, and 703-689-4105 *Pilot group in custodianship December 12. Retirement and Insurance ([email protected]) Any ALPA member in good standing may be present as an observer during any meeting. Contact the Asso- 703-689-4115 ciation’s Membership and Council Services Department System Board 703-689-4226 for scheduling.

January/February 2011 Air Line Pilot 55 Have You Moved? Please call Membership Services at 1-888-359-2572, or e-mail your new address to [email protected], or clip out this form—along with the mailing label on the left—and send it to: ALPA Membership Services PO Box 1169, Herndon, VA 20172-1169 Name______Member #______Airline______New address______Apt.______City______State______Zip______

56 Air Line Pilot January/February 2011