The Pilots of ALPA
or the 127 pilots of CommutAir, hear back from management on our 2009 was certainly a busy year. proposals,” Marcin says. “I don’t want FThey essentially built their or- to make any promises, but if the pace ganization from the bottom up while continues and both sides stay on task, I also entering negotiations on their first think this time next year we can sit down contract and dealing with the aftereffects and say ‘here’s our contract.’” of their partner airline Colgan’s Dash 8 Most CMT pilots would agree that crash in Buffalo. one of the biggest items they would like The Conti- to see resolved in their first contract is nental Connec- scheduling. The opening of a new base in tion carrier’s pi- Newark, N.J., last fall forced many pilots CommutAir lots joined ALPA formerly based in Cleveland, Ohio, to in June 2008 become commuters. The lack of com- CommutAir Pilots after they realized they would be better mutable lines and the limited number of protected and enjoy a closer relation- pilots available to fly has put a significant Await Growth as ship with the other pilot groups in the strain on the system. They Build Their Continental system if they joined ALPA. The MEC Scheduling Committee Union The newly elected officers hit the hasn’t waited for a new contract to ground running, integrating themselves help its fellow pilots’ quality of life. The By Rusty Ayers, ALPA Senior into the Association’s structure and Committee convinced management to Communications Specialist attending as many national gather- buy new computer software to replace ings as possible. CMT leaders and the old, inefficient pencil-and-paper volunteers were prominent at ALPA’s method of trip construction. The ALPA Leadership Conference, IT Conference, volunteers have been trained on the Secretary-Treasurer’s Conference, Fee- new scheduling system and are looking for-Departure-Carrier MEC Summit, and forward to helping build more pilot- Executive Board meetings. friendly lines. “It’s been like drinking from a fire hose Marcin and his fellow Council 152 at times, but we built a union in a year— officers were elected to new 3-year with a lot of help,” says Capt. Shawn terms in November. They are looking Marcin, the pilots’ Master Executive forward to 2010 as the year they wrap
A ir ) Council chairman. “We’ve set up all the up contract negotiations, and will work committees we’ve deemed necessary and on building a strategic plan, including have created all the structures. We’ve just close collaboration with ALPA’s Fee-for- seen many volunteers come forward to Departure group. help us set up the shell to where we are The CommutAir MEC has reached out now, and it’s all going very well.” to strengthen its relationship with the The first two committees the MEC Continental MEC and the pilots of fellow
P hotos by f / o A lan K onopka (C ommut was able to fully staff were Negotiations CAL feeders, ExpressJet and Colgan Air. Capt. Sebastien Barone and F/O Don and Scheduling. But the group also has The Cleveland councils of CMT, XJT, Rhoads arrive in Cleveland. volunteers in place doing Safety, Security, and CAL pilots met in a first-ever “CLE Communications, Pilot Assistance, Council Summit” in December. Retirement & Insurance, and Jumpseat Having avoided a threatened round work as well. Some Committees, such as of furloughs last winter, the future now Hotels and Grievance, won’t be needed looks bright for the piots as the airline until the pilots have a contract. has begun hiring again. The signs also CommutAir pilots opened nego- indicate that CommutAir could be tiations with management in February acquiring new aircraft in the near future, CMT at a Glance 2009 and have worked at a fast clip fueling continued growth in the pilot since then, tentatively agreeing to 10 group. Whatever happens, the CMT Piots Joined ALPA: 2008 Number of Pilots: 127 of 31 contract sections. The ALPA team pilots are prepared. Services: A Continental Connection has presented all but two of its openers “The main thing is to not let our carrier since 2000, CommutAir provides to management, including the pay, progress bog down. It’s in both the pilot scheduled service to 21 cities in 9 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. benefits, and R&I sections. group’s and management’s interest to The airline has hubs at Cleveland “I think we’re on a good pace. We’ve successfully conclude negotiations, and Hopkins International Airport and gone from nothing to having almost we’ll take the steps necessary to improve Newark Liberty International Airport Fleet: 16 Bombardier Dash 8-Q200s everything proposed, and we’re in a our position and help the company holding pattern right now, waiting to grow,” Marcin concludes.
January/February 2010 Air Line Pilot 31