Canadian North, Days Off for Our Pilots
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THE PILOTS OFA L PA 2 012 anding on gravel worked many days without “Over the last year, we have runways and ice strips receiving credit,” says Kampen. worked to bring about several Lmight not be the “Now we receive credit for positive changes regarding norm for many pilots, but for everything, which means more Dash 8 operations, including the pilots of Canadian North, days off for our pilots. improved scheduling with less ALPA’s newest member, it’s “Our first agreement deadheading, better over- all in a day’s work. Canadian before joining ALPA was only night accommodations, and 10 pages,” says Kampen. “We increased pay for new hires,” now have a document with Kampen says. The MEC lead- more than 70 pages.” The pi- ers continue to encourage the Canadian lots’ new collective agreement pilots to communicate with represents more than two one another so that everyone North years of hard work by Capt. is informed and to get in- Jake Nagy, the Negotiating volved with their union. Committee chairman, and The company has been Smooth North pilots fly throughout Negotiating Committee mem- hiring more pilots, especially the Nunavut and Northwest bers Capts. Derek Thomas, ones who are eager to make Landings Ahead Territories, often operating Chris Drossos, Scott Hyslop, a career at the airline. For ALPA’s in demanding environments and Kampen. The group had “Canadian North is a great Newest Pilot where instruments like mag- been involved since the early place to work and offers just netic compasses are unreli- stages of the negotiations the right mix of stability and Group able. “The work we do is very and worked together to challenging work,” notes By Lynn Konwin, ALPA challenging but extremely achieve an agreement that Kampen. “A junior pilot on Senior Communications rewarding,” says Capt. Chris reflects the goals of the pilot the Dash 8 can expect long Specialist Kampen, the pilots’ Master group, including advances in eight-day pairings and on the Executive Council (MEC) employment protection for 737 can expect a lot of back- chairman. “We operate in a long-term job stability, pay of-the-clock flying.” rate increases, and overall In April 2011, ALPA’s quality-of-life improvements. Executive Board unanimously Kampen credits the pilot approved a merger with group’s success to ALPA’s the Canadian North Pilots leadership and support and Association, and the 100-plus to the pilots’ experience pilots of Canadian North and dedication. “We could overwhelmingly voted in not have completed this as favor of the merger, which quickly without the strength became effective on May 1. and solid backing of ALPA Canadian North is ALPA’s A Canadian North B-737 at very harsh but beautiful part and the remarkable commit- ninth Canadian pilot group, Doris Lake Aerodrome, a of the world that very few ment of our pilot volunteers joining eight other Canadian privately owned ice runway people will ever see.” who executed an effective pilot groups—Air Transat, located on Doris Lake, Since joining ALPA in 2011, communications network for Bearskin, Calm Air, CanJet, Nunavut, Canada. the pilots have seen a whirl- all of our pilots,” he says. First Air, Jazz, Kelowna wind of change, including For 2012 and beyond, Flightcraft, and Wasaya. successfully ratifying a new Kampen and the other MEC Canadian North is a major collective agreement. “The officers, Capt. John Hankirk, provider of scheduled passen- CNP at a Glance transition from the Canadian vice chair; Capt. Korey ger and cargo services from n Flightcrew members joined ALPA: North Pilots Association to Hazelwood, secretary-trea- Edmonton, Alb., and Ottawa, May 1, 2011 ALPA has been a smooth surer; and F/O Regan Bosch, Ont., to points throughout n Number of flightcrew members: one,” Kampen says. “And executive administrator, “im- the Northwest Territories and 130 pilot morale has improved provement” and “communica- Nunavut. The airline offers n Bases: Edmonton and Calgary, Alb. n Headquarters: Yellowknife, NT considerably from what it was tion” are priorities. “We are nonscheduled charter flights n Operations: Scheduled flights and in the past.” engaging with the company throughout Canada and cargo services throughout Nunavut and Positive change also in- to improve safety procedures,” the U.S. Canadian North is the Northwest Territories, as well as cludes the implementation of says Kampen. The MEC also headquartered in Yellowknife, charter operations throughout Canada a credit system that was previ- worked to improve schedul- NT, and operates a fleet of and the U.S. n Fleet: B-737-200s, B-737-300s, Dash ously nonexistent for Canadian ing across the board on B-737-200s, B-737-300s, and 8-100s North pilots. “In the past, we both the Dash 8 and B-737. Dash 8-100s. 30 Air Line Pilot January/February 2012 .