CLOSING THE ARGO AP C Page 22 G

Talk about Take Care of App-solutely FABulous Flying! Your Eyes Addicted Page 27 Page 35 Page 37 PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 1 Watch updates from Capitol Hill on the Export- Import Bank reform, funding for the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, and one level of safety and security for both passenger and cargo airline pilots. Plus, take a personal tour of the B-787 cockpit and crew rest facilities.

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Facebook LinkedIn YouTube 43 To learn more, visit www.alpa.org/stayconnected A member service of Air Line Pilot. JUNE/JULY 2012 • Volume 81, Number 5

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About the Cover 27 14 The joys of flight: In cruise, staring into a merciless sun, many time zones yet

COMMENTARY to cross. Photo by F/O David 4 Take Note Putze (FedEx Hate to Be the Last to Express). To view Know? a page-turning version of this 5 Aviation Matters issue, scan the QR code with Everything Matters. your smartphone. New to this Everything. 16 technology? Download a QR reader to your smartphone, scan 6 Guest Commentary the code, and read the magazine. Ensuring Safe Skies Air Line Pilot (ISSN 0002-242X) is published­ 7 Pilot Commentary monthly, except for the combined January/ February and June/July issues, by the Air Our Futures Are Linked Line Pilots Association, International,­ affili- DEPARTMENTS ated with AFL-CIO, CLC. Editorial Offices: 535 Herndon Parkway, PO Box 1169, FEATURES Herndon, VA 20172-1169. Telephone: 703- 8 Preflight 481-4460. Fax: 703-464-2114. Copyright 8 © 2012—Air Line Pilots Association, 18 The 67th Annual Facts, Figures, and Info International,­ all rights reserved. Publica­ IFALPA Conference: tion in any form without permission is 31 From the Hill prohibited. Air Line Pilot and the ALPA logo Collaborating to Reg. U.S. Pat. and T.M. Office. Federal I.D. Cassidy Denounces EU ETS 36-0710830. Periodicals postage paid at Advance Global Pilot as “Job Killer” During Sen- 34 our Stories Herndon, VA 20172, and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Issues ate Hearings; ALPA Praises Slipping the Surly Bonds: Air Line Pilot, PO Box 1169, Herndon, VA Export-Import Bank Reforms; Sun Country Pilot Recalls 20172-1169. 22 Closing the Gaps Canadian Publications Mail Agreement ALPA Calls on Congress to Space Shuttle Days #40620579: Return undeliverable maga- 25 Negotiations Raise Airline Industry to One zines sent to Canadian addresses to 2835 Level of Safety Kew Drive, Windsor, ON, Canada N8T 3B7. 35 Health Watch Under the RLA How to Shop for Sunglasses 27 FABulous Flying 37 The Landing Pilot-Preferred Apps 38 We Are ALPA ALPA Resources and Contact Numbers 18 Take HOW TO READ Note THIS ISSUE Hate to be the last to know? Then you If you’re... should check out Flying into New York, Philly, or D.C. ALPA Daily. Flip to page 16 and find out when and where the We all know that what happens glob- ally affects us locally. And in the aviation Known Crewmember program will show up next. industry, it couldn’t be more true. At a recent Ready for an update International Air Transport Association on eliminating conference in Beijing, the cargo carveout Qantas Airlines Check out “Closing the Gaps” on page 22. CEO Alan Joyce was elected IATA chairman. Meanwhile, his airline Wanting to get has been thwarting possible takeover bids into the cockpit of a 787 resulting from plummeting stock prices. Take the personalized tour with Despite rumors of a takeover offer, the

chief executive of Emirates has said the BOEING The FlightDeck on page 11. airline has no interest in Qantas. Back at the IATA conference, global aviation Trying to see better leaders called out the EU for its emissions Read “Health Watch” (page 35) to find trading scheme while China threatens to out what sunglasses are best for you. App-solutely addicted Check out pilot-preferred apps in “The Landing” (page 37) to see which ones you must download on your smartphone.

impound European airplanes if the EU Making a connection fines China for not complying with the Get Capt. Richard Swindell’s (Air Wisconsin) EU’s scheme. There’s also news that a take on why pilots should lose their (self) full-out trade war is on the horizon. It’s identifiers page( 7). amazing how decisions halfway around the world can determine what’s going in your airplane tomorrow. Wondering where the We covered it all in one edition of ALPA best place is to see the Daily, which brings you the latest industry news from around the globe on issues northern lights that matter most to pilots. We’re including Turn to “FABulous Flying,” page 27, to everything from airline business news to learn the challenges First Air pilots face safety and security stories—and especially operating in the high Arctic. what’s happening at your airline. ALPA Daily is posted each day at www. alpa.org with articles from USA Today, Barron’s, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Reuters, and more. It’s just one of the latest publications we’ve developed to keep you informed of the latest airline news. So check it out— and, as always, if there’s something you want to see, let us know.

Marie Schwartz Director, ALPA Communications [email protected]

4 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 AviationMatters Everything Matters. Everything.

that will explore many facets of developing and maintaining a arlier this year I had the privilege of riding the jumpseat well-trained pilot. The conference will bring together regulators, on some First Air flights. Personally, it was an incredible management, academia, and subject-matter experts to discuss Eopportunity to experience first-hand operating in the high the latest advances in pilot recruitment and qualifications, Arctic. I’ll never forget meeting a small group of First Air pilots training technologies, and training programs. in Iqaluit one night—and looking south to watch the northern In June, your union released a white paper titled “Leveling lights. You can read more about the the Playing Field.” This paper sets the foundation for a solid astonishing kind of flying that the First aviation policy that, among other things, addresses safety Air pilots do every day in “FABulous issues. It also offers solutions on how to ensure that only those Flying” on page 27. who meet the highest of standards are hired to be airline But I’d like to point out just a few of my own highlights: We landed on gravel or more than 80 years, the Air Line Pilots runways topped with hard-packed FAssociation, International, has championed snow at Arctic Bay and Resolute. The pilots who flew me to Resolute couldn’t for well-trained, highly motivated, professional RON, as they usually do, because no pilots in every airplane. mechanic was on duty. The mechanic had broken his arm a few days earlier and had been flown south for medical treatment. pilots—because we all know that flying today’s complex The ATR 42 had to divert to Pond Inlet for the night. airline aircraft in very congested and complicated airspace is a My stay in Resolute was longer than anticipated because a challenging undertaking even for experienced pilots. You can chartered Dornier blew a tire after taxiing onto the runway for read the white paper at levelingtheplayingfield.alpa.org. takeoff—the wheel rim dug into the snow and gravel, closing Our challenge is to address the systemic global reality that the runway for several hours. The ATR 42 circled but bingoed entry-level pilots hired by airlines over the past few years to Arctic Bay. An ATR 72 that was flying into Pond Inlet had to generally have less experience than pilots hired in previous divert three hours back to Iqaluit because the temperature at years. In some cases, pilots barely meet the qualifications Pond Inlet dropped below –35 degrees, the operating limit for and competencies established as the accepted minimums for the airplane. In addition, they operate in an environment where airline pilots. navaids are being decommissioned and RNAV capability is slow Because fewer experienced pilots are available for hire, to come on line. many countries have implemented training programs designed Each of these challenges came within a small window to produce pilots in a short period of time with virtually no of time, and they truly illustrate the extreme conditions in experience. In addition, many airlines have lowered their the high Arctic and the tremendous professionalism that is minimum hiring requirements. In some cases, the hiring required of, and demonstrated by, the pilots who fly up there. requirements have been lowered to the minimum allowable to The First Air pilots’ skills were above and beyond the everyday acquire a commercial pilot certificate. norm. When they were flying, they were always preparing for Recent accidents in the U.S. have led Congress and the FAA the next emergency. to recognize the inherent shortcomings in today’s qualification Now I know that we don’t all fly in such extreme conditions, standards. Numerous Aviation Rulemaking Committees but these pilots’ abilities emphasize the type of experience have developed many recommendations that the FAA is needed to get into the cockpit of any airplane. The fact remains presently compiling into a proposed rulemaking to amend that—even in the most ideal climate—we all must ready the requirements regarding the flight training, qualifications, ourselves for the next emergency when we’re flying. screening, and mentoring of the next generation of airline For more than 80 years, the Air Line Pilots Association, pilots as mandated by the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation International, has championed for well-trained, highly motivated, Administration Extension Act of 2011 (P.L. 111-216). professional pilots in every airplane. As airline pilots, we are the ALPA remains engaged at every level and will continue most important safety feature on any airplane for the simple leading the industry here and abroad in our quest for the safest reason that the flight crew is responsible for making hundreds possible flying culture. of decisions on each and every flight in order to operate in the safest manner possible—despite the great advances in airline technology that have immeasurably improved safety. In July, ALPA is hosting a one-day forum on pilot training Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA President

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 5 GuestCommentary Ensuring Safe Skies

and the airplane was destroyed by the pilots out of the improved flight- and By Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) impact and resulting fire. duty-time regulations just does not make ecently there was an accident at These tragic accidents demonstrate sense. They, too, need rest in order to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport in which that ensuring that all pilots are well safely perform their jobs. Ra cargo airliner clipped a passen- rested when they step into a cockpit I am proud to join Senator Snowe in ger airplane on the taxiway. Luckily, no is a crucial safety measure. The supporting this bipartisan legislation injuries were reported, but this incident issue of fatigue in transportation that would direct the secretary of reminds us that operations is not new; it has been Transportation to apply the same flight- cargo airliners on the NTSB’s list of “most wanted” and duty-time regulations to pilots of share many of safety recommendations since the passenger and cargo airliners alike. We the same runways list was started in 1990. We simply are also very grateful for the support and the same cannot wait any longer to implement of the Air Line Pilots Association. The airspace as pas- comprehensive fatigue management pilot’s perspective—your perspective— senger airliners. plans for all airline pilots. on this issue is a crucial one. You are It is also a clear Under the new rule issued by the the ones who face the challenges and example of why cargo airlines and passenger airlines should operate to the I am proud to join Senator Snowe in supporting this same safety standards. That is why my colleague Senator bipartisan legislation that would direct the Secretary of Olympia Snowe and I joined together Transportation to apply the same flight- and duty-time to introduce bipartisan legislation that regulations to pilots of passenger and cargo airliners improves aviation safety by addressing the critical issue of pilot fatigue. The Safe alike. We are also very grateful for the support of the Skies Act of 2012 will close a loophole Air Line Pilots Association. The pilot’s perspective— in the Department of Transportation’s your perspective—on this issue is a crucial one. recent rule on pilot fatigue and ensure that pilots of cargo airliners are Department of Transportation updating meet the responsibilities of flying safely. just as well rested and prepared for pilot duty and rest regulations, pilots Your commitment to one level of safety their important work as the pilots of of passenger airliners will be limited to speaks volumes and will help us move passenger airliners with whom they flying eight or nine hours depending on this bill forward. share runways and airspace. the start time. Minimum rest periods This science-based, commonsense Following the tragic crash of Colgan will be 10 hours, with the opportunity legislation will address a critical safety Flight 3407 in 2009 outside of Buffalo, for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. issue so that all pilots—whether N.Y., Senator Snowe and I introduced This new rule, which will take effect passenger or cargo pilot—will meet the the Ensuring One Level of Aviation in January 2014, is an important step same flight and duty standards and have Safety Act, which aimed to address forward for the safety of both pilots and the same opportunities to rest and safely several important aviation safety passengers. perform their jobs. issues, including the need to update Unfortunately, cargo pilots were left Our nation’s passenger and cargo pilot fatigue regulations to reflect new out of the rule, undermining the one airline pilots have come together to scientific research. level of safety we are trying to achieve in support this important safety bill. The NTSB has cited pilot fatigue as our aviation system. Senator Snowe and I look forward to a factor in many aviation accidents Current rules regarding cargo flight working with our colleagues in Congress, over the years, and it is a factor that operations permit cargo pilots to be including Representatives Chip Cravaack does not just affect pilots flying for on duty as many as 16 hours during a (R-Minn.) and Timothy H. Bishop passenger airlines. In 2002, a FedEx 24-hour period, regardless of when they (D-N.Y.), who have championed this B-727 struck trees during final approach begin their shift. Compared to passenger legislation in the House, to pass the Safe to Tallahassee Regional Airport due to pilots, cargo pilots are permitted to fly Skies Act of 2012 so we can continue fatigue. The captain, first officer, and 60 percent more hours—as many as 48 to improve the safety of our nation’s flight engineer were seriously injured, hours in a 6-day period. Keeping cargo aviation system.

6 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 PilotCommentary Our Futures Are Linked

airlines and around the industry. regional airlines to provide feed, though By Capt. Richard Swindell I also attended the Regional Airline potentially coupled to mainline scope (Air Wisconsin), MEC Chairman Association summit along with the relief reducing or ultimately eliminating ontract negotiations, seniority in- master executive council chairmen from the 50-seat market. And we will almost tegrations, bankruptcies, furloughs, Atlantic Southeast, Comair, ExpressJet, certainly experience a labor shortage Cand other career uncertainties are Pinnacle, and SkyWest. We heard (despite the number of furloughs as a just a few of the issues regional pilots regional airline CEOs, airport executives, result of poor corporate stewardship) face in today’s and industry experts discuss the state if the airline industry cannot make this competitive of the regional industry and U.S. air career more attractive and stable. marketplace. transportation. Many of their concerns are As ALPA pilots, we have a vested Sound familiar? ours—pilot hiring and labor shortages, interest in the entire industry—not just It should. Pilots fuel costs, capacity purchase agreements in our fleet, airline, or segment. It’s that around the world myopia that has gotten us into trouble are dealing with in the past. We should want to leave similar issues Through our our industry in better condition than regardless of the we found it. Together, we must develop type of aircraft Association, we have realistic solutions to the problems they fly. With multiple airlines in bank- worked hard to tear facing the industry and our careers, and ruptcy, furloughs, mergers, mass pilot down the barriers look for opportunities to help keep our retirements, the absence of an entrant companies competitive while advocating pilot workforce, and new flight-time/duty- that separate us and for employees and their families. time (FT/DT) regulations being imple- should not allow Foreign cabotage or the dealings of mented within the next 18 months, it’s ourselves to be defined the Export-Import Bank may not be as anyone’s guess. high on the typical regional pilot’s list I did, however, gain additional insight as regional, mainline, of concerns as grievances, schedules, into the industry after attending a couple cargo, supplemental, airline stability, and career advancement; of meetings during the past few months. or Canadian pilots. however, this doesn’t mean we should The first was the International Federation disregard those issues. The industry of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) and mainline flying contracts, aging is cyclical and will—in one form or meeting in December. As an Air Wisconsin aircraft, etc. The regional industry was another—come back around. To obtain pilot, why would I attend a meeting with born out of $20-per-barrel oil and $5 our collective goals, we need to be pilots from across the globe when we refinement. Now, oil costs $90–100 per engaged with our union, our companies, have plenty of domestic issues? Because barrel, and refining costs are $35–45. and our fellow pilots here in North our issues are largely the same. Most regional carriers were set up for America and abroad. Our futures are We’re concerned about violating pilots to move to a mainline airline in linked. If you don’t believe me, do a White House airspace out of DCA, a few years, yet the regional slice of the little research into the history of the and Mediterranean pilots are worried industry now finds itself with little vertical airline industry or ask any pilot from about violating Libyan airspace. We’re career movement, comprising more than United, Continental, Delta, Northwest, troubled about scope and flying being 50 percent of the domestic fleet with US Airways, America West, AirTran, transferred to another airline, and the 53 percent of domestic departures and Southwest, American, Pinnacle, Mesaba, Qantas pilots have similar worries. And providing lift for more than 25 percent of Colgan, Atlantic Southeast, or ExpressJet. 191 members of the International Civil daily passenger enplanement. Our success depends on all of us as Aviation Organization (ICAO) have been Through 2012 and beyond, we could ALPA members. Through our Association, waiting along with U.S. pilots for the new see the resurgence of relatively fuel- we have worked hard to tear down the FT/DT regulations. The similarities are efficient turboprops such as the Q400, barriers that separate us and should endless, and there is no doubt that we are suffer additional regional consolidation, not allow ourselves to be defined as connected to a larger, global industry and endure sustained mainline capacity regional, mainline, cargo, supplemental, economy. It’s important for us to keep our discipline, and bear the continuation or Canadian pilots. We are ALPA pilots. industrial visual scan moving and harness of high fuel prices despite some recent That’s not just a catchy slogan but a information to resolve issues at our own drops. We’ll also see continued use of fundamental truth of our organization.

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 7 Facts, Figures, and Info n Airline Industry Update tion also continues to expand, ize one billion people crossed airport in Canada for 2012  Passengers were removed from an American Eagle and 49 new GPS RNAV routes borders,” said Carlos Vogeler, in FlightNetwork.com’s airplane after its tail was were established in 2011. director of the Organization’s State of Air Travel poll. clipped by the right wing  The Los Angeles Times Americas region. “It shows Respondents were asked to of a B-747 cargo airplane reported that the Trans- from a sociological point name the best and worst at O’Hare International portation Security Admin- of view how things have airports and select the top Airport on May 30, reported istration (TSA) is soliciting changed.” three factors that influenced the Chicago Tribune. Eagle proposals for developing a  The FAA reported that U.S. their choice. The time re- Flight 4265 was headed to hand-held screening device civil aviation accidents rose quired to go through security, Gate G20 at Terminal 3. EVA that would significantly from 1,500 in 2010 to 1,550 the quality of service, and Flight 661 was on a taxiway reduce the number of pas- in 2011 and that fatalities dining facilities available were when its wing clipped the senger pat-downs. The TSA increased from 469 to 485. top factors determining rudder of the Eagle airplane, is seeking a device capable All of the fatalities were in the outcome of the according to Karen Pride, a of determining within 15 general aviation and on- spokesperson for the Chicago seconds whether an object is demand FAR Part 135 opera- Department of Aviation. a weapon or an explosive. “If tions (charter, air taxi, air tour, possible, the goal is to detect and air medical operations). survey.  According to the FAA’s progress report on NextGen all threats, including metal Twenty-eight accidents were  Sen. Kirsten implementation released and explosives,” the TSA said. recorded for scheduled FAR Gillibrand in March, more than 300  Per the Associated Press, Part 121 airlines, and four (D-N.Y.) has ADS-B ground stations were the UN’s World Trade accidents were recorded for proposed installed by the end of 2011, Organization projects that scheduled Part 135 com- legislation with the rest of the planned the total number of interna- muter operations. aimed at 700-plus stations slated to tional tourists will reach the  According to The Province, speeding be installed by early 2014. one billion mark this year. “It Vancouver International the removal of Canada Performance-based naviga- is quite iconic when you real- Airport was voted best geese from the Jamaica MarketWatch Airlines Parent Company Stock Symbol 5/31/2011 5/31/2012 % Chg. Spirit Spirit Airlines, Inc. NASDAQ: SAVE $11.80 $20.61 74.7% Piedmont, PSA US Airways Group, Inc. NYSE: LCC $9.10 $13.22 45.3% Comair, Delta Delta Air Lines NYSE: DAL $10.08 $12.10 20.0% Hawaiian Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. NASDAQ: HA $5.54 $5.78 4.3% Bearskin, Calm Air Exchange Income Corporation TSX: EIF $23.36 $23.90 2.3% Alaska Alaska Holdings, Inc. NSYE: ALK $33.77 $34.30 1.6% FedEx Express FedEx Corporation NYSE: FDX $93.64 $89.14 -4.8% Continental, United United Continental Holdings, Inc. NSYE: UAL $24.15 $21.50 -11.0% AirTran Southwest Airlines NSYE: LUV $11.83 $9.03 -23.7% Air Transport Int’l, Capital Cargo Int’l Air Transport Services Group, Inc. NASDAQ: ATSG $7.45 $5.07 -31.9% Jazz Air Chorus Aviation TSX: CHR.B $4.83 $3.01 -37.7% Atlantic Southeast, ExpressJet SkyWest, Inc. NASDAQ: SKYW $15.43 $7.05 -54.3% Air Transat Transat A.T. Inc. TSX: TRZ.B $13.00 $4.84 -62.8% American Eagle AMR Corp.1 OTC: AAMRQ.Q $6.27 $0.47 -92.5% Colgan, Mesaba, Pinnacle Pinnacle Airlines Corp.2 OTC: PNCL.Q $4.87 $0.08 -98.4% 1 AMR filed for bankruptcy on 11/29/2011. The price shown for 5/31/2012 is the over-the-counter traded value. 2 Pinnacle Holdings, Inc., filed for bankruptcy on 4/1/2012. The stock was delisted from NASDAQ on 4/11/2012. The price shown for 5/31/2012 is the over-the-counter traded value. n Prepared by ALPA’s Economic & Financial Analysis Department

8 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 n Airline Industry Update

Bay (N.Y.) Wildlife Refuge Tokyo in November 2010 for two consecutive quarters, will begin this year to add a to help reduce the number and also flies to Osaka and delivering strong results terminal and renovate infra­ of bird strikes, reported the Fukuoka. against what is most impor- structure to raise capacity to Associated Press. Through  The 15 largest U.S. air- tant to passengers: arriving 13 million passengers per year. March 31 of this year, the FAA lines posted an 84 percent safely on time and with their The airport, built to accommo- has received reports of 1,090 on-time arrival rate for the bags,” commented Nicholas date 7 million travelers a year, bird strikes. first quarter of 2012, better- Calio, president and CEO of handled 8.5 million passen- ing the previous record of A4A. gers in 2011. The expansion is  USA Today reported that Hawaiian Airlines plans to 81.3 percent, per Department  Bloomberg reported that part of Kuwait’s $111 billion begin service from Honolulu of Transportation data. Kuwait’s government will four-year development plan to New Chitose Airport “Thanks to mild weather and spend $6 billion to almost announced in February 2010 on the Japanese island of operational improvements double the number of pas- to expand the airport; build a Hokkaido in November. that our members continue sengers its international subway and rail network; and Hawaiian entered the Japan­ to make, airlines set impres- airport is able to handle construct roads, power sta- ese market with service to sive on-time arrival records by the end of 2016. Work tions, hospitals, and a port. l n FrontLines n Delta Pilots to Vote on TA Mediation Board (NMB), ob- the days of “bankruptcy-era On May 14, the Delta pilots’ jecting to ALPA’s request for agreements” at United/ Negotiating Committee an agreed-to June 15 deadline Continental “need to be over, reached a tentative agree- and a release from mediation now.” ment (TA) with management in the current negotiations for To read Moak’s letter, scan on an amended collective a joint collective bargaining the QR code below. bargaining agreement, agreement covering all United On May 23, Capt. Jay more than seven months pilots. McKeen said that NMB Heppner, the United pilots’ in advance of the Dec. 31, mediation “will continue to Master Executive Council 2012, amendable date. In be productive” and that the (MEC) chairman, and Capt. a letter to the Delta pilots, parties should be prepared Jay Pierce, the Continental mediation.… Capt. Tim O’Malley, the pilots’ to continue mediation until pilots’ MEC chairman, sent a “While we absolutely Master Executive Council the American and US Airways letter to the 12,000 pilots who prefer to achieve a contract (MEC) chairman, said, “The negotiations are resolved. fly for United Continental through negotiations and are Negotiating Committee and United’s position to the Holdings, saying, in part, “It committed to staying fully its expanded team have NMB contradicted its own is our intent to complete and productively engaged, we accomplished a great deal of CEO’s recent letter to the negotiations according to the are just as willing to proceed work in the last two months, United pilots, arguing that schedule that was agreed to down the path of release reaching a comprehensive now is the time to “get it by all the parties on May 15. from voluntary mediation Section 6 agreement in just done.” But ALPA believes that, However, we must also be if the company will not over two months, a process in the absence of a definitive prepared should they not. For conclude a new contract that normally takes years.” backstop, negotiations will this reason, we will continue with the pilots in the coming As of press time, the pilots continue to drift as they have to pursue the parallel track weeks, and if such a release were voting on the TA. for the past two years. of seeking a release from will drive the parties to reach Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s closure.” n United/Continental’s president, promptly To read the entire letter McKeen Asks NMB to Reject responded to the McKeen from Heppner and Pierce, Release from Mediation letter. In his May 30 letter scan the QR code above. On May 28, Douglas McKeen, to the NMB, Moak made senior vice president of clear that negotiations n Pilots Address Air Labor Relations for United have dragged on too long Transport Int’l, Capital Continental Holdings, sent and that there needs to be Cargo Int’l Merger a letter to Linda Puchala, “a negotiated outcome by Air Transport International chairman of the National mid-June.” He added that pilots and Capital Cargo 

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 9 n FrontLines (continued) International pilots have n Pilots Honored, Present RTCA’s annual symposium Capt. Fred Eissler (FedEx indicated that they see value ALPA Views at RTCA held June 5–6 in Washington, Express), ALPA’s Aviation in the announced merger be- Symposium D.C. Security chair, represented tween the two cargo airlines. On June 5, F/O Scott Graham Capt. Ed Folsom (United), the Association’s views on a Air Transport Services Group, (United) received the RTCA SC-221 airline industry panel titled “Security—What Inc., the parent company of Significant Contributor Award co-chair and former ALPA Is the Impact on NextGen?” both airlines, announced the for his work as a subcom- Security Award recipient, RTCA, Inc., is a not-for- merger of the two airlines on mittee chair of RTCA Special was also honored for his profit organization that May 10. Committee 221 (SC-221). In leadership of the group. develops technical guidance “Our crews have been 2008 the group began work With the strong support for use by regulatory through a lot of change to develop performance of ALPA, which has long authorities and industry. ALPA endorsed the concept of cosponsored a portion of the Delta, FedEx Express MECs Reach cockpit secondary barriers, two-day symposium. the FAA requested that the 100 Percent PAC Participation RTCA undertake this project. n ALPA, Aviation On May 15, the Delta Master Executive Council (MEC) Based on the work of SC-221, Community Support Military became the first multi-council pilot group to reach 100 design standards are now Biofuels Initiatives percent ALPA-PAC participation this year. Nearly 24 hours later, the FedEx Express MEC accomplished the same available to airlines that On May 23, ALPA and mem- feat. The two groups now join the Compass MEC as the choose to install secondary bers of the aviation com- first pilot groups to reach this milestone in 2012. barriers on their airplanes. munity wrote to the Senate ALPA-PAC’s goal for the Association’s 2012 Board of The two-day symposium, Armed Directors meeting is to achieve 100 percent participation at “Advancing the Goals Services every MEC and 20 percent participation ALPA-wide. Go to alpapac.com to learn more about the PAC and to support its of NextGen,” brought Committee efforts to promote pro-pilot majorities in the U.S. House and Senate. l together industry leaders to urge and technical experts to its support recently, but we welcome this standards for airplane sec- discuss efforts to modernize of the plan to merge and hope to ondary cockpit barriers and airspace and air traffic military’s see the benefits of combining alternative flight deck security control procedures. Capt. work on operations and pilot groups,” procedures. Graham’s contri- Sean Cassidy, ALPA’s first advanced said F/O Chuck Hill, Capital bution was flagged as key to vice president, presented biofuels in Cargo pilots’ Master Executive completing the comprehen- the Association’s views in a the National Defense Author­ Council (MEC) chairman. sive package delivered to the panel discussing “Unmanned ization Act. Contrary to the “This merger will ensure FAA in the fall of 2011. The Aircraft Systems (UAS)—How Department­ of Defense’s the survival of an airline Award was presented during Do They Fit into NextGen?” stated security needs, the and many jobs,” said Capt. House of Representatives Brendan Twomey, the Air included language that Transport International pilots’ would limit these efforts, MEC chairman. “We believe potentially thwarting the that working together will U.S.’s ability to achieve its create great opportunities for energy independence and our crewmembers.” security goals. Both pilot groups are As fuel is the No. 1 cost working closely with ALPA to the airline industry, ALPA staff to make sure that has long supported policies provisions are in place to to encourage developing protect the interests of the Agam Sinha, chairman of the RTCA Board of Directors, alternative fuels, such as the crewmembers as the airlines presents the Significant Contributor Award to F/O Scott Domestic Fuel for Enhancing merge. Graham (United), left, and the Outstanding Leader Award to National Security Act of 2011 For more information, go Capt. Ed Folsom (United) during the RTCA’s annual symposium (S. 1079). to www.alpa.org. held in Washington, D.C., in June. The letter noted that,

10 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 “while aviation operators Committee on Homeland incident. ALPA played a critical have the strong incentive Security Subcommittee role in supporting the passage of the high cost of fuel to on Transportation hearing of this new federal legislation be extremely fuel efficient, titled “Access Control Point and jointly announced with they are part of a worldwide Breaches at Our Nation’s the FAA the agency’s use aviation coalition that has Airports: Anomalies or of civil penalties against

proposed a ‘global sectoral Systemic Failures?” lawbreakers last summer. MARTIN MOLLY approach’ to further address To read Cassidy’s entire Crew rest quarters aboard aviation carbon emissions testimony, scan the QR code n House Proposes $10 Million the new B-787 Dreamliner. through an aggressive set of below left. Boost to FFDO Funding measures and targets…with Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.) n Dreamliner Debuts an aspirational goal of a 50 n DOT/FAA to Pursue offered a floor amendment In Washington percent reduction in carbon Stricter Penalties for to boost Federal Flight Deck ALPA representatives dioxide emissions by 2050 Laser Incidents Officer (FFDO) program were on hand on May 7 as relative to 2005 levels. In another move that funding for fiscal year (FY) Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner “Our plan is to achieve advances the Association’s 2013 to $35 million in the landed at Ronald Reagan these goals through campaign to stop the il- House Homeland Security National Airport, making new aircraft technology, legal use of personal lasers Appropriations bill, a $10 its Washington, D.C., debut. sustainable alternative against flight crews, on million increase over current ALPA leaders and staff were aviation fuels, and air May 16 Department of funding levels. ALPA supports invited to tour the Dreamliner traffic management and Transportation Secretary Ray the increase and will continue and to see firsthand the infrastructure improvements. LaHood announced plans for to work with congressional innovative features on the Each of these pillars is vital, the FAA to pursue stricter leaders to ensure robust fund- airliner, many of which reflect but the contribution of civil enforcement penalties ing levels in the Senate. the contributions of ALPA alternative fuels could in fact for incidents involving the In May, the U.S. Senate members. be a ‘game changer.’” laser illumination of aircraft. Homeland Security Appro­ As has been the case with To read the entire letter, Since June 2011, the priations Committee elected other new Boeing airplanes, scan the QR code to the left. FAA has initiated 28 laser to maintain the current an- ALPA’s Air Safety Organization enforcement actions and nual funding level for FY2013. pilot representatives and n ALPA Pushes Congress for conducted dozens of addi­ The FFDO’s current FY alloca- Engineering & Air Safety One Level of Airline Security tional investigations. A first- tion is $24 million. Department staff, as well as “Controlling access to secure time offender can incur a “The FFDO program is master executive council airport areas is critically maximum civil penalty of a proven and cost-effective safety committee represen- important to the safety and $11,000. The FAA will pursue component of transportation tatives, met frequently with security of the airline industry stiffer penalties for repeat security in this country and the B-787 design team to and the traveling public,” offenders, proposing fines up has often been praised by offer pilots’ perspectives on said Capt. Sean Cassidy, to $30,800. the Transportation Security flight deck design and crew ALPA’s first vice president, The civil fines levied by Administration for the ad- rest facilities. following his testimony the FAA are in addition to ditional layer of protection it To tour the Dreamliner, on May 16 at a U.S. House criminal penalties authorized brings to air transportation. scan the QR code below.  by Congress in 2011 making it Through this essential securi- a federal offense to knowingly ty program, thousands of fully aim a laser at an aircraft trained and deputized ALPA or in its flight path. That and other professional pilot legislation provides for fines volunteers are positioned to or imprisonment of up to secure the nation’s airline five years, or both. Currently, flight decks and protect potential fines under the airline passengers, crews, and criminal provision can be cargo,” said Capt. Lee Moak, as much as $250,000 per ALPA’s president.

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 11 n FrontLines (continued) n ALPA Urges DOT and Hazardous Materials harmonizing DOT hazardous Association commended the To Tighten Regs for Safety Administration materials regulations with ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel Transporting Lithium (PHMSA) published a notice the new International Civil for changing the dangerous Batteries in Cargo of proposed rulemaking on Aviation Organization (ICAO) goods standards to ensure The Department of April 11, 2012, to solicit the technical instructions. that safety standards that Transportation (DOT) Pipeline airline industry’s views on In ALPA’s comments, the cover shipments of many Canada

n Canada Board Leaders was formed to give more effective Infrastructure, and Communities, have roomier, ergonomically Meet with Transport Minister representation to the CLC’s affili- and James Nealon, the U.S. designed leather seats with Capt. Dan Adamus (Jazz), ates. ALPA has been a member of Embassy’s deputy chief of mis- state-of-the-art touchscreen Canada Board president, and the CLC since the ALPA–CALPA sion on behalf of John Pistole, ad- personal entertainment Capt. Georges Dawood (Jazz), merger in 1997. ministrator of the Transportation systems. Other improvements Canada Board secretary- During its two-day meeting, Security Administration, made include redesigned lavatories treasurer, recently met with the Council discussed the CLC’s the announcement. and enhanced light systems. the Honourable Denis Lebel, efforts to oppose Bill C-377, Cargo shipped on passenger Because of the redesign, the the minister of Transport, legislation that would put in place airliners will now be screened A330 will be lighter, which will Infrastructure, and Communities, administratively expensive and only once for security reasons at result in fuel savings. to discuss issues of importance burdensome reporting require- the point of origin and will not Cabin interior refurbish- to ALPA members. The pri- ments on labour organizations. need to be rescreened before ments for the remaining A330 mary issue they raised was some ALPA has been monitoring this being uploaded on an airplane fleet will be completed gradu- airlines’ use of the Temporary legislation very closely and has in the other country. This will ally during a two-year period at Foreign Worker Program to aug- opposed its passage in meetings reduce delays and economic costs a cost of $4 million per airplane. ment their crew complement on with cabinet ministers, as it brought about by both countries Three A330s with the new a seasonal basis. would have an adverse effect on screening the same cargo twice. interiors were slated to begin The ALPA representatives unions in Canada. “With our vast geography, service by summer, flying on Air also asked Lebel to oppose Bill Council members also Canada’s economy relies on the Transat’s European routes. C-377, the legislation that would discussed the Labour minister’s safe and efficient movement of The first refurbished A330 impose onerous and adminis- recent interventions in collec- goods by air. Mutual recognition to enter service was unveiled tratively expensive reporting tive bargaining by imposing of air cargo security programs will in Toronto on May 15 at requirements on labour orga- back-to-work legislation. Labour improve efficiency and cut costs special events attended by 500 nizations. They also discussed unions most recently affected for businesses and consumers on guests and then on May 17 in several other topics, including by this legislation were the Air both sides of the border,” Lebel Montreal. the potential effect that cuts in Canada Pilots Association, which said. the government’s recent budget represents the airline’s pilots, “The mutual recognition of n Jazz Wins International may have on the level of service and the International Association air cargo security programs is Safety Award from Transport Canada to the of Machinists and Aerospace just one of the first initiatives Jazz won the top prize at aviation industry, the Flight and Workers, which represents Air in the Beyond the Border the 2012 European Safety Duty Time Working Group’s Canada’s ground workers. Perimeter Security and Economic Management Symposium, tak- progress, and the perennial Thomas Mulcair, the leader of Competitiveness Action Plan ing home the first Innovation problems of excessive taxes and the opposition in Parliament, ad- announced by Prime Minister in Aviation Safety Management user fees in the airline industry. dressed the gathering, giving his Stephen Harper and U.S. Award. views on how the current session President Barack Obama,” noted “We are thrilled to be n Adamus Sworn In as of Parliament could proceed. Nealon. “Through this program, recognized for our deeply Member of Canadian Council we will be able to move goods entrenched safety culture,” Of CLC n Canada, U.S. Announce between the U.S. and Canada said David Deveau, Jazz vice Capt. Dan Adamus (Jazz), presi- Improvements to Air Cargo faster, more efficiently, and most president of Safety, Quality, and dent of ALPA’s Canada Board, Security securely.” Environment. “Safety is our top was sworn in as a member of On May 31, Canada and the priority at Jazz.” the Canadian Council of the United States announced that n Air Transat Unveils The Award recognizes an Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) both governments have agreed to Redesigned A330 innovative approach to applying during the Council’s meeting mutually recognize, and cooper- Air Transat recently unveiled Safety Management Systems in Ottawa last month. The ate on, air cargo security in both its first A330 with a redesigned and their relationship with Canadian Council, a new govern- countries. The Honourable Denis cabin interior. Passengers in improved business performance ing body within the Congress, Lebel, minister of Transport, club and economy classes will and profitability. l

12 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 n ALPANegotiationsUpdate The following is a summary are under way on the 2010. A joint Section 6 notice 2010. Negotiations are of the status of ALPA con- Continental/United joint col- was filed on March 28, 2011. under way. tract negotiations by airline lective bargaining agreement Negotiations are under way United—Negotiations are as of June 15, 2012: (JCBA). The parties requested for the Atlantic Southeast/ under way on the United/ assistance from the National ExpressJet JCBA. Continental joint collective Air Wisconsin—A Section Mediation Board (NMB) on *First Air—A notice to bar- bargaining agreement 6 notice was filed on Oct. 1, Dec. 17, 2010. Mediation gain was filed on Oct. 1, 2010. (JCBA). The parties re- 2010. Negotiations continue continues. Negotiations are under way. quested assistance from the August 28–31. Delta—A Section 6 notice Mesa—A Section 6 notice National Mediation Board Atlantic Southeast—A was filed on March 13, was filed on Sept. 10, 2010. (NMB) on Dec. 17, 2010. Section 6 notice was filed 2012. On May 14, the pilots’ Negotiations continue. Mediation continues. on May 20, 2010. A joint Negotiating Committee Piedmont—A Section 6 Section 6 notice was filed reached a tentative agree- notice was sent on March *Editor’s note: ALPA negotia- on March 28, 2011. Atlantic ment with management. As 13, 2009. An application for tors at this Canadian airline Southeast/ExpressJet joint of press time, the pilots were mediation was filed with have experienced many de- negotiations continue. voting on the agreement. the NMB on April 21, 2010. lays in bargaining because of Bearskin—A notice to Evergreen—Negotiations Negotiations continue. management shakeups and bargain was sent on Sept. began in December PSA—A Section 6 notice was the loss of Flight 6560. Since 1, 2011. Negotiations 2004. ALPA became the sent on Jan. 19, 2009. A joint bargaining opened in 2010, continue. pilots’ bargaining agent in application for mediation was the pilot group has had two CanJet—A notice to bargain November 2007. A tentative filed on July 12, 2011. CEOs, three vice presidents was filed on Dec. 1, 2011. agreement was reached on Negotiations continue. of flight operations, and four Negotiations continue. April 16, 2010. The pilots Ryan—A Section 6 notice company lead negotiators. Comair—A Section 6 notice voted against ratification on was sent on Sept. 2, 2011. However, the team members was filed on Sept. 27, 2010. Aug. 16, 2010. Negotiations continue. remain confident they will Negotiations continue. ExpressJet—A Section 6 no- Sun Country—A Section 6 make progress in the coming Continental—Negotiations tice was received on May 28, notice was sent on Feb. 23, sessions. l dangerous goods aboard ment staff videotaped aircraft also apply to lithium World War II veterans from IT News: ALPA.org Log-in Changes battery shipments to Minnesota and Wisconsin safeguard passengers, crews, who visited the National Beginning May and cargo. ALPA’s message to World War II Memorial in 14, ALPA volun- the DOT: PHMSA must adopt Washington, D.C., as part of teers and repre- and harmonize DOT the Honor Flight program. sentatives who hazardous materials regula­ To view footage of the have existing tions with the ICAO technical event, visit flightdeck.alpa. alpa.org e-mail instructions without delay. org and check out Episode addresses are 16 of ALPA’s monthly video now required n FlightDeck Meets Up production.  to use the With Honor Flight Vets in same credentials for the ALPA website that are used for Washington a number of other Association web-based applications. ALPA Communications While these specific individuals may also use their ALPA World War II veterans Depart­ number to log in, they will be required to use their e-mail from Minnesota and password instead of the old web password. It’s important Wisconsin visited to note that passwords are now case-sensitive. the National World To change your password and/or to set up a password War II Memorial in reset profile, go to http://helpdesk.alpa.org and click on Washington, D.C., as the Change My Password link. The password reset profile part of the Honor provides a secure means by which you can reset your Flight program. password if forgotten. Visit flightdeck. If you have questions, contact the ALPA Help Desk alpa.org to view at 888-FLY-ALPA ext. HELP (4357) or via e-mail at the video. [email protected]. l

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 13 n FrontLines (continued) n Union Members Inducted Into Hall of Fame We Can Help More than 600 union members who died on Sept. The recent wildfires 11, 2001, were inducted in Colorado and New as a group into Labor’s Mexico and flooding International Hall of Fame along the Gulf Coast could have cata- on May 17. Capt. Lee Moak, strophic effects on ALPA’s president; Capt. Sean ALPA members living in these regions. Cassidy, ALPA’s first vice Through the ALPA Emergency Relief president; and Capt. Jim Fund, help is available to ALPA pilots Anderson (United) attended and their families who fall victim to nationally recognized disasters. the induction ceremony in To apply for a grant, sign on to the Washington, D.C. members-only portion of the ALPA

Among those inducted into CHRIS WEAVER website, click on the Relief Fund link, the Hall of Fame were United Capt. Lee Moak, right, and Capt. Jim Anderson (United) look at and complete and submit an applica- pilots Capt. Jason Dahl, F/O panels listing the AFL-CIO Hall of Fame inductees. tion. To make a donation, send your check, payable to the ALPA Emergency LeRoy Homer, F/O Michael Relief Fund, to ALPA Emergency Relief Horrocks, and Capt. Vincent at the ceremony also included individuals and groups that Fund, Cashiering Department, P.O. Box Saracini. The 9/11 death toll New York firefighters, police have been enshrined for 1169, 535 Herndon Parkway, Herndon, among unionists, set then officers, and other union their contributions to the VA 20172-1169. at 636, was more than 20 workers. advancement of labor rights Please apply for help if you need it, and be sure to contribute generously to percent of the 2,800 people The Sept. 11, 2001, group since the Labor Hall of Fame this important Association resource. l killed in the attacks. Inductees joined more than 100 other opened in 1973. l

 Letters to the editor may be submitted via regular mail to Air Line Pilot, Letters to the Editor, 535 Herndon Parkway, P.O. Box 1169, Herndon, VA 20172- Mailbag 1169, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Too easy still breaks, and there is hor- during the Great Depression, airline industry? The Art of Time magazine, April 9, rendous weather on occasion, which followed the 1920s, the Airways includes a 1926 2012, says, “Almost 50,000 but we go about our business and pilot careers were ad- Lufthansa poster offering 20 flights carrying 1.9 million making the impossible hap- versely affected. As a result percent off published round- passengers take off daily in pen. I don’t believe we get the of the chaos in the airline trip fares.” the U.S.” Didn’t [cartoonist credit that we deserve, nor industry and its importance We did not say airlines Walt Kelly’s] Pogo say, “We will we ever, because we make to our nation, it was the first were regulated during have met the enemy and he it look so easy. industry to be regulated. the 1920s; they were not. is us”? Capt. Jerry Bradley (United, Ret.) While I am not sure how this Perhaps inserting the word Ladies and gentlemen, benefited ALPA, pilots’ careers “only” into the second sen- we have made the job we “On the Bookshelf” have never been as stable as tence (i.e., “…only a product do look too easy…. [In my opinion,] Jan W. they were under regulation. of deregulation…”) would If you read the quote Steenblik, the author of “On David Woods have clarified the issue. We from Time, the above the Bookshelf,” incorrectly also did not use the term statistic would appear to implies fare wars of 1926 Editor’s note: The paragraph in “fare wars,” because we don’t be somewhere between occurred during a period question reads, “Some things know if Lufthansa lowered impossible or untrue. But, when the airlines were regu- don’t change—or perhaps fares in response to competi- of course, it is true and lated. The truth could not be they move in great circles. tion or simply because the made possible by us. Our more different. The fact is Think discounted airfares are a airline decided it had to equipment is superb, but it the airline industry crumbled product of deregulation of the lower fares to fill seats. l

14 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 Support Yourself!

ATA and ALPA are evaluating new technologies to alternatively screen flight crewmembers.

This is restricted to pilots in uniform, presenting an airline and a government-issued photo ID, and employed by the following airlines:

Am. Eagle American Alaska ABX Air Horizon Delta Continental Atlas United Southwest Mesa JetBlue USAirways Thank you for participating. KNOWN CREWMEMBER

Retirement Known Crewmember Flight-Time/Duty-Time

Health-Care Benefits One Level of Safety

To learn more about ALPA-PAC is working every day to educate Members of Congress on issues that affect Scan the QR code or visit you most. www.alpapac.com

Join ALPA-PAC Today!

A member service of Air Line Pilot.

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 15 Go to schwab.com/oninvesting to read the latest On Investing maga- zine from Charles Schwab. It’s an added benefit for members through ALPA’s partnership with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. as the Association’s preferred financial services provider. l

n Engineering & Air Safety Update

n KCM Site Surveys these surveys was to review months of August Are Conducted the program’s concept with and early September. ALPA pilot representa- the airport operator, airlines, Several more site tives and staff partici- and local Transportation surveys are scheduled pated in the recent Known Security Administration (TSA) to be conducted Crewmember (KCM) site representatives at each airport enthusiasm for the program throughout the summer. surveys conducted at John and determine equipment and have given considerable Look for updates about F. Kennedy International, needs and optimal locations thought regarding how to Known Crewmember La Guardia, Newark Liberty for the placement of KCM make KCM work best at their in FastRead, at www. International, Philadelphia access points. individual properties. KCM is knowncrewmember.org, International, and Reagan Airline industry and TSA slated to go online at these and on the ALPA Washington National representatives at all five of five airports beginning in July smartphone app for iPhone Airports. The purpose of these locations expressed and sequentially through the and Android users. l

n Pilot Employment Numbers

According to the latest data released by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the number of pilots Total U.S. Airline Industry employed by U.S. airlines was steady in 2011 compared to Employment 2010. After a 2.9 percent increase in 2010, the number of pilots at reporting airlines was up just 0.4 percent in 2011. While pilot numbers were steady last year, other labor groups saw a 3.3 percent increase in the number of employ- ees. This compares to a 1.3 percent increase in 2010 for all other labor groups. The change in pilot numbers at ALPA-represented pilot groups was mixed during 2011. National airlines saw some Source: BTS, P1-(a) Employees. Figures shown are annual average of total employment. Two part-time workers are counted as one full-time equivalent employee. Pilot Employee Counts at ALPA Pilot Groups Year Over Year % Change increases, while regional and some cargo airlines recorded lower pilot numbers last year. Air Transport International showed the biggest change in pilot numbers during 2011, with a 45 percent increase. At the other end of the spectrum was ExpressJet, which had a 28 percent decline. Most major airlines showed little to no change in the number of pilots. Total U.S. airline industry employment was up 2.5 percent in 2011 compared to 2010. This was the first increase in industry employment since 2007. However, after the first quarter of 2012, the growth rate slowed to 1.1

Source: BTS, P10 Annual Employee by Labor Groups. Airlines were excluded from totals above if they did not percent. Scheduled passenger airline employment is about report in both 2010 and 2011, unless they went out of business in 2011. Note: Comair, North American, and Ryan International have not yet submitted data for 2011. CommutAir, Island Air, Piedmont, and Trans States are not two–thirds of the total industry employment in 2011. That required to report data for P10. sector’s employment figure was up 2.1 percent in 2011.l

16 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 n In Memoriam “To fly west, my friend, is a flight we all must take for a final check.”—Author unknown

2003 Capt. Jay S. Brooks Northwest April Capt. Robert C. Robbins Continental March Capt. Harold W. Burlingame United April Capt. T.E. Camp Eastern April 2011 Capt. John L. Delaney United April Capt. Richard A. Fry Delta March Capt. Ronald D. Davis DHL April Capt. E.J. Curtis Frontier September Capt. Matthew W. Devine Seaboard/Flying Tigers/FedEx April Capt. James R. Hamilton, Jr. US Airways September Capt. Delmar G. Hendrickson, Jr. Northwest April Capt. Jerry D. McNiece Continental November Capt. Charles D. Jones III Delta April Capt. V.W. Adair Frontier December Capt. R. Kissling Northwest April Capt. Ronald L. Pulliam United December Capt. Jack A. Mayberry Northwest April Capt. Milton D. Morton, Jr. Northwest April 2012 Capt. Fred W. “Bill” Obendorf Continental April Capt. Henry T. Bermingham Eastern January Capt. M.A. Prestwood Delta April Capt. Gordon C. Gimple United January Capt. R.L. Smithhart, Jr. United April F/O Gregory J. Delehanty United January F/O John I. Snede Northwest April F/O Wilbur G. Hildreth Northwest January Capt. Charles R. Souter United April Capt. Kenneth D. Hearn Pan American February Capt. Markle Hubert Sparks Delta April Capt. Clarence George Mead, Jr. Pan American February Capt. G.W. Strobel Delta April Capt. Alfred W. Stinson Northwest February Capt. L.C. Sutherland Northwest April Capt. James. B. Tripson Continental February Capt. L.F. Woodruff Delta April Capt. Gerald L. Carlson Eastern March Capt. H.C. Anaston Eastern May Capt. Louis J. Damiani Northwest March Capt. Richard A. Cox Northwest May Capt. Joseph M. Guest, Jr. Braniff March Capt. Dennis E. Fitch United May Capt. Carlton H. Hall Northwest March Capt. James L. Friday American Eagle May Capt. Milton C. Jensen United March Capt. R.W. “Rod” Gilstrap United May Capt. Kenneth L. Johnson Delta March Capt. William S. Godwin United May Capt. Lyle D. Mitchell TWA March Capt. J.R. Grafton, Sr. Eastern May Capt. William A. Perrin, Jr. Northwest March Capt. J. Scott Larsh Delta May Capt. A.J. Peterson United March Capt. David L. Mills Eastern May Capt. Raymond H. Rhode TACA March Capt. William C. Strachan Delta May Capt. W.G. “Wally” Rozanas Northwest March F/O James Wasley FedEx May Capt. E.F. Tritt United March Capt. Richard L. Blackwell United April n Compiled from information provided by ALPA’s Membership S/O Alan T. Bowers United April and Council Services Department

Capt. Fitch Passes Away Have You Read? Capt. Denny Fitch, one of the heroes of United Flight Captain 232, lost his battle with cancer on May 6. By Capt. Thomas Block (US Airways, Ret.) Fitch was a passenger on the ill-fated Denver-to- Chicago flight when the airliner lost all flight controls over It’s an ordinary day for the pilots and Iowa on July 19, 1989. Fitch, a training captain, went to the crew of Transcontinental Flight 3 depart- cockpit and assisted the crew, led by Capt. Al Haynes. Fitch ing Rome for New York. In fact, Capt. used differential throttle adjustment to steer the crippled Jack Schofield is looking forward to DC-10 to a landing at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux catching up with a passenger and City, Iowa. The actions of Fitch and the rest of the crew friend, recently retired Capt. Ray saved the lives of 185 passengers on the airplane. He was Clarke, whom he hopes will join him honored by President George H.W. Bush and by a Senate in the cockpit for takeoff. The 9-hour, resolution for his heroic actions on that day. l 50-minute westbound flight would give the two pilots plenty of time to reminisce about the thousands of of this troubled aircraft must put their trust and faith in hours they had logged together their captain, who may need to put away the procedural in the cockpit. handbook and in its place use experience, wisdom, and However, the crew and passengers on the Consolidated intuition to safely land the airplane. 768 jetliner have much more in store for them than the The author weaves a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat transatlantic flight they booked—a flight that would test account of one harrowing day on Flight 3. The plot wends the skills of even the most seasoned pilot. from the cockpit to the traveling passengers to the airport The author cites a most fitting quote from Elrey Borge to the corporate boardroom, with all the stories meshing to Jeppesen, the American aviation pioneer, who wrote, give the reader a truly captivating story—one you’d rather “There’s a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. read about than experience!—Reviewed by Kari Cantrell, One is a technician, the other is an artist.” The passengers ALPA Communications Department

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 17 The 67th Annual IFALPA Conference

based flight- and duty-time limits and minimum rest requirements to all airline pilots, regardless of whether they fly passengers or cargo. Similarly, Collaborating to we urge the European Aviation Safety Administration to recognize and adhere to ICAO’s safety recommendations and to heed European airline pilots’ Advance Global call to incorporate all stakeholders in developing new regulations that are based on science to enhance the Pilot Issues safety of air transportation for airline By John Perkinson, Staff Writer passengers, cargo, and crews.” Reducing the risk irline pilots from around the top Federation priority. However, the As part of the conference, IFALPA world, including ALPA mem- European Aviation Safety Administration delegates participated in a seminar bers, assembled in Paris on (EASA) recently issued proposals for that explored the options, implications, May 4–7 to discuss safety, Europe-wide safety standards that would and practical use of FRMS. As outlined security, and industrial mat- increase working hours for pilots and in ALPA’s July 2008 white paper, FRMS ters at the 67th International Federation potentially place the traveling public at “is a scientifically based, data-driven Aof Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) greater risk. During the conference, the process used to continuously monitor conference. This annual event provides European Cockpit Association (ECA) and manage fatigue risks” that allows for a forum to explore professional interests called on EASA to issue new science- operational efficiencies while mitigating and concerns, and the most recent con- based flight- and duty-time limits and fatigue-inducing factors. ference drew more than 600 delegates minimum rest requirements for airline Capt. Don Wykoff (Delta), IFALPA’s and other participants. pilots. president, and Capt. Richard Woodward This year’s hot topics included pilot ALPA issued a public statement fully (Qantas), IFALPA’s executive vice fatigue and Fatigue Risk Management supporting the ECA’s position. “ALPA president of technical standards, Systems (FRMS), the relocation of stands shoulder to shoulder with the moderated this segment, which included IFALPA’s headquarters, this year’s Global European pilot organization leaders Pilot Symposium, and the addition of who fly for SkyTeam, Star, and oneworld two new member associations within Alliance airlines, the International the Federation: Kazakhstan and the Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations, Professional Helicopter Pilots Association and the European Cockpit Association International. in their work to make clear the serious The Federation represents 91 member safety risk posed by pilot fatigue,” said associations worldwide, whose members Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s president, who total more than 100,000 airline pilots. represented ALPA at the conference. IFALPA’s mission is to be the “global “ALPA pilots also strongly support the voice of professional pilots by providing European pilots’ goal of new EU pilot representation, services, and support to fatigue regulations that comply with promote the highest level of aviation International Civil Aviation Organization safety worldwide.” (ICAO) standards, including those regarding Fatigue Risk Management Confronting fatigue Systems.” Fatigue is an issue that affects all airline Moak continued, “ALPA is resolute pilots—from passenger to cargo to in pursuing one level of safety across charter operations—and efforts to the U.S. airline industry by adamantly Capt. Don Wykoff (Delta), IFALPA tackle the effects of fatigue remain a urging the FAA to apply the new science- president.

18 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 Members of ALPA’s delegation to the IFALPA conference listen intently during a presentation.

and Capt. Yves Deshayes, president of the Syndicat National des Pilotes de Ligne (the French pilots’ union) and national host of the conference, to welcome this year’s attendees.

State of the Federation Wykoff discussed the financial and struc- tural stabilization of IFALPA during his annual report to the members. He talked presentations by Dr. Michelle Millar, However, the nearness that Wykoff about the Executive Board’s strategic ICAO’s technical officer, and Capt. Greg referenced was the repositioning of the planning initiatives to determine the top Fallow, a subject-matter expert on Federation’s main offices close to those technical, regional, and industrial issues human factors and fatigue management of ICAO. facing the Federation, and his engage- from the New Zealand Air Line Pilots IFALPA was originally created to ment in various IFALPA functions and Association. provide pilots with a means to interact activities since the previous conference. Millar provided an overview of ICAO’s with ICAO in influencing international “Each year is marked with differing standards and recommended practices aviation policy. The Federation is one challenges and opportunities; 2011 was (SARPs) for FRMS and the processes for of only two nongovernmental entities no different,” he said. “The one constant developing them. She defined FRMS as to maintain permanent observer status is our ability to sort through these “a data-driven means of continuously monitoring and managing fatigue- related safety risks, based upon scientific Lynch Elected IFALPA’s NAM EVP principles and knowledge as well as Capt. Chris Lynch (Continental) was elected to serve as the executive vice president operational experience.” Millar also of IFALPA’s North American region, or NAM, for the term 2012–2014. Lynch replaces talked about sleep research results that Capt. Dan Adamus (Jazz), who opted to step down from the position after two and further support the need for FRMS. half terms. Fallow examined the importance of Lynch, a B-757/767 pilot, is a member of the ALPA International Affairs Committee FRMS as it relates to IFALPA’s principles. and the Continental pilots’ Master Executive Council Alliance Committee. He addressed the causes of fatigue and He previously served as an ALPA executive vice president and was a former sleep deprivation, including working Grievance Committee chairman and Negotiating Committee member for on the “back side” of the clock and the the Continental pilot group. Prior to his time with Continental, Lynch duration of continuous work. He asserted flew for People Express and Rocky Mountain Airways. that pilots must have open and honest communications with their management and establish a level of trust in FRMS to on the Organization’s Air Navigation challenges by developing our priorities optimize its effectiveness. Commission. In addition, the relocation and allocating our resources effectively Other FRMS seminar participants will place IFALPA closer to the central and efficiently.” included Capt. Jim Mangie (Delta), offices of both the International Air Among the other officer reports, Capt. the airline’s Pilot Fatigue Program Transportation Association and Airports Rod Lypchuk (Jazz), IFALPA’s executive director, and Mitch Fox from ICAO’s Air Council International. vice president of administration and Navigation Bureau. The Federation is expanding its finance, acknowledged the Federation’s existing McGill Street facilities, and the aggressive efforts to establish new Location, location, location move is expected to be completed by budgeting policy and streamline its “Proximity makes a difference,” empha- July. “Our primary mission is based in finances. Recognizing IFALPA’s significant sized Wykoff in his statement during the Montreal, and we should be there as deficits of recent years, he announced opening plenary session. He announced well,” stressed Wykoff. that he anticipates an annual surplus for the Federation’s plans to move its During the opening session, Wykoff the coming five years. headquarters from its current location was joined on stage by Patrick Gandil, “The budget for 2011 was a bit in Chertsey (near London) to Montreal. director general of French Civil Aviation, challenging as we had worked very hard

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 19 The 67th Annual IFALPA Conference

accomplishments during the last year. He also spoke about the importance of establishing one level of safety for all airline operations. “In 2011, the global airline accident rate was the lowest since World War II, according to statistics compiled by the International Air Transport Association,” said Adamus. He added that ALPA “is dedicated to helping to maintain this high level of safety in air transportation, and supports ongoing efforts to enhance aviation safety and security around the Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s president, second from right, participates in the Global world.” Pilot Symposium. This year’s symposium featured a panel discussion titled “The Expansion of Gulf Carriers,” moderated by F/O Ron Abel (United), left, chairman of The latest GPS ALPA’s International Affairs Committee. The panel also included Capt. Paul Strachan, Pilots and industry executives from president of the Air Canada Pilots Association and a member of the Associations of around the world gathered the day Star Alliance Pilots, second from left, and SkyTeam CEO Leo van Wijk, far right. before the official start of the IFALPA conference to participate in the second to turn [it] around from what happened vice president of the North American annual Global Pilot Symposium (GPS). in 2010 to an almost break-even point,” region (NAM) and the elected Initiated before last year’s conference in said Lypchuk. “We did have some one- representative of member associations Chiang Mai, Thailand, the symposium time costs dealing with the Montreal U.S. ALPA and ALPA Canada (IFALPA is jointly conducted by the Federation office and the IT changes we require to treats ALPA’s U.S. and Canadian pilot and the three major airline alliance move into the future.” groups as two member associations), pilot groups—SkyTeam Pilots Alliance, Capt. Dan Adamus (Jazz), executive highlighted ALPA’s activities and Associations of Star Alliance Pilots, and

Assessing the International Aviation Industry Ana McAhron-Schulz, IFALPA advisor and director of ALPA’s that new passenger airplane demand should average 1,350 Economic & Financial Analysis Department, presented one per year for the next 20 years. Freighter fleets are expected of the plenary session presentations on the last day of the to double as well. She pointed out that low-cost airlines are conference. She offered a global economic perspective, taking a larger share of the market and that long-haul traffic examining current issues that influence the near-term and will grow at a faster rate than short-haul in the next 20 years. future performance of the international airline industry. She McAhron-Schulz observed that the maturity of the discussed the influence of the European Union economic industry is reflected in the airlines’ focus on consolidation, crisis, noting that although “confidence remains weak in divestitures, and alliances. She added that the EU area…fiscal consolidation is under way, which may • North America is a mature market moving to help restore confidence.” Unfortunately, credit growth in this sustainability, market is showing no immediate signs of recovery. • Asia’s developing industry/economy is producing strong McAhron-Schulz reviewed current airline industry trends profits, and performance, noting that 2011 was a year of contrasts. • Latin America airlines ended 2011 in a good position, She pointed to the optimism in China as it contrasted with • Mideast airlines are growing exponentially, and the gloom in Europe, improving economy and business • African airlines are poised for growth but hindered by confidence in the U.S., and healthy passenger market infrastructure constraints. growth offset by a declining cargo market. She added that While short-term performance is less certain, volatile fuel prices are still an industry challenge. McAhron-Schulz anticipates long-term growth for Talking about fleets and networks, McAhron-Schulz said the airline industry.

20 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 Eagle Pilot Elected ADO Chair During the 67th IFALPA conference, Capt. Bill de Groh (American Eagle), an Embraer E145 pilot, was elected chairman of the Federation’s Aircraft Design and Operations (ADO) Committee. The ADO Group chair for ALPA, de Groh has been involved in a variety of safety-related industry activities, including the ASIAS-directed study on RNAV standard instrument departures, the Flight Controls Harmonization Working Group, and the ICAO Friction Task Force. deliberated on the “Labor/Management In 2009, de Groh was part of an IFALPA team that flew the Airbus A380 to Relationship.” comment on the airplane’s new brake-to-vacate and AP/FD traffic collision avoidance systems. Rolling up their sleeves Before flying for Eagle, de Groh worked for McDonnell Douglas as a flight During the four days of the conference, test engineer, participating in the F-18 and Harrier flight test programs. delegates were each assigned to one He later worked for Boeing, when the two companies merged of five committees, two of which were chaired by ALPA members, to review the in 1996. business of the Federation. Committee C, chaired by Capt. Ray Gelinas (Jazz), oneworld Cockpit Crew Coalition—and operates 15 of these programs in Canada, IFALPA’s regional vice president, Canada/ allows participants to discuss current and Ireland, and locations in the Caribbean, Arctic, addressed the Federation’s policy future challenges and opportunities for each of these airports (unlike Abu Dhabi) and efforts regarding accident analysis airline pilots. is served by at least one U.S. airline. and prevention, aerodrome and ground This year’s GPS featured a spirited Moak, who addressed this same topic environment, aircraft design and opera- panel discussion titled “The Expansion in a recent Aviation Daily opinion piece, tion, dangerous goods, and helicopters. of Gulf Carriers,” moderated by F/O Ron made the case that the creation of a Capt. Mark Seal (United), IFALPA’s Abel (United), the chairman of ALPA’s U.S. taxpayer-sponsored preclearance regional vice president, North International Affairs Committee and program in a region in which U.S. Atlantic, chaired Committee E, former executive vice president. The airliners do not fly sets an alarming which dealt with the Federation’s panel examined the rapid growth of Persian Gulf-region airlines, the sizeable subsidies they enjoy, and the significant ALPA Attorney Honored tax advantages of flying as a pilot for Jim Johnson, a senior ALPA managing attorney, was recognized during the one of these airlines. Further upending conference’s annual Gala Dinner for his work as a member and vice chairman the competitive playing field, the home of IFALPA’s Legal Committee. Johnson has spent long hours advising airline governments of these airlines have made pilots involved in foreign criminal proceedings resulting from the performance their growth a cornerstone of foreign of their duties as flightcrew members. Most recently, he prepared affidavits for policy. members of Japan ALPA who are contesting unfair terminations. “Gulf carriers borrow money at During this year’s Federation conference, Johnson was also called on to state rates, while other legacy carriers serve as the event’s parliamentarian. must borrow at market rates, which is Johnson is ALPA’s legal expert on flight- and duty-time issues, captain’s a huge disadvantage,” noted Capt. Paul authority, and other security matters. He’s been with the Association Strachan, president of the Air Canada since 1980. Pilots Association and a member of the Associations of Star Alliance Pilots. However, SkyTeam CEO Leo van Wijk precedent, placing U.S. airlines at a administrative and financial matters. noted that “other governments support fundamental disadvantage. These included proposed changes to their airlines financially because of the Another GPS panel discussion IFALPA’s constitution and bylaws, the industry’s significant impact on the examined “Emerging Business Models.” applications of the two new member economy.” Moderated by Capt. Mike Pinho (Delta), associations (Kazakhstan and the So, how can nonsubsidized airlines his pilot group’s executive administrator, Professional Helicopter Pilots Association compete with these carriers? Strachan the panelists reviewed the hub-and- International), and discussion regarding suggested that the long-term solution spoke versus the point-to-point system, member association suspensions. lies with ICAO. the “Gulf” model, global alliances, joint In addition, the conference included Panelists also explored the potential ventures, transnational airlines, and regional meetings and the election effects of a proposed U.S. customs other practices in use today to maximize of certain officer positions (see preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi profits and, in some cases, sidestep labor accompanying sidebars). Next year’s International Airport in the United Arab contracts and other obligations. event is scheduled to be held in Emirates. Although the U.S. currently A third panel discussion group Dublin.

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 21 Closing the Gaps

ALPA brings government, industry, and pilot .COM otolia leaders together to explore ways to bring one level of safety and security to cargo airline operations

By Jan W. Steenblik, Technical Editor —F © baurka ILLUSTRATION:

LPA’s motto, since its earliest days, has always been Bishop (D-N.Y.) had introduced a bill, H.R. 4350, the Safe Skies “Schedule with Safety.” And “safety” means the highest Act of 2012, in the U.S. House of Representatives. If enacted, level of safety possible across all types of flying—i.e., H.R. 4350 would end the cargo “carveout” in the recent FAA “One Level of Safety.” But that doesn’t yet exist: FAA fatigue rule that made substantial changes to flight- and regulations for all-cargo airlines, and the practices of duty-time limits and minimum rest requirements (see “Call to manyA all-cargo operators, are not always on a par with those of Action: Overturn the Cargo Carveout!”). the passenger airline industry. Below are highlights from two of the panel discussions. Similarly, U.S. all-cargo operators are not mandated to achieve To read more about three other panels (lithium batteries, the same level of security that the Transportation Security aircraft rescue and firefighting for all-cargo operations, and Administration (TSA) requires of U.S. passenger airlines. international trade agreements that affect air cargo), go to http:// The differences between passenger and all-cargo airline cargoconference.alpa.org/ or scan the QR code on page 24. operations cover a variety of technical areas: • the FAA’s recent failure to apply the same rational, science- Government and industry perspectives based fatigue rules to pilots who fly all-cargo airplanes that will ALPA’s president, Capt. Lee Moak, reminded conference at- be required for passenger airlines in 2014, tendees, “For many years, ALPA has campaigned for one level • inadequate protections against the risks of transporting lithium metal and lithium ion batteries on all-cargo airplanes, • the lack of equal requirements for airport rescue and fire- fighting services for all-cargo airline operations, and • shortcomings in the security afforded to all-cargo airline operations and the all-cargo supply chain. That’s why ALPA hosted the “Air Cargo Safety and Security: Closing the Gaps,” conference on April 17 in Washington, D.C. The conference featured ALPA, congressional, FAA, NTSB, TSA, and aviation industry leaders who discussed and debated

numerous safety and security differences between all-cargo CHRIS WEAVER PHOTOS: and passenger airlines and explored ways to close the gaps. Left: Rep. Chip Cravaack. Above: NTSB Chairman Deborah Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.), a former Northwest Airlines Hersman, left, and FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation pilot, announced that the evening before, he and Rep. Tim Safety Peggy Gilligan.

22 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 of safety and security for all FAR Part 121 operators, regardless and that fatal accidents have increased recently. of the size of the aircraft, the type of payload, or where they fly. She stressed, “It is not the position of the FAA that We’ve made great strides in closing the gaps between large and the science of fatigue does not apply to cargo pilots.” The small passenger operations. This conference is intended to help rulemaking process, she explained, requires the Department close the gaps between passenger and all-cargo operations.” of Transportation and the White House Office of Management But, Moak added, ALPA doesn’t advocate a “one-size-fits-all” and Budget to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of all FAA solution to these problems. However, the union believes that proposed rulemaking. “greater commonality” between cargo and passenger airline Regarding the FAA’s recent fatigue rule, she said, the cost operations can and must be achieved. to the cargo industry was found to be more than the “societal NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman made clear that cargo benefit” the public is willing to pay. airline issues—especially fatigue and firefighting—are “very John Sammon, assistant administrator, the Office of Security much on the minds” of the Safety Board’s members and staff. Policy and Industry Engagement, TSA, declared, “One hundred Regarding fatigue, she stood with many other speakers of the percent cargo screening is not optimal.” He argued instead for day, saying that “no scientific evidence [exists] to support” the an “intelligence-based, risk-based approach to security.” In the cargo carveout in the FAA’s recent fatigue rule. “The payloads final analysis, he asserted, “If you can’t look the pilot in the eye may be different, but the pilots are the same,” she said. Citing and say, ‘The plane is safe,’ what you’re doing is not sufficient.” accidents that the NTSB has investigated, she added, “We’ve Steve Alterman, president of the Cargo Airline Association, got to focus on the risks posed by lithium batteries.” said, “The highest level of safety and security is imperative— FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Peggy not only for the societal benefits, but because it’s good Gilligan said, “Aviation is safe. It’s never been safer.” She business.” On the other hand, he cited a 2009 GAO study that, noted that while the U.S. cargo airline accident rate has he said, showed that the accident rates of U.S. passenger and been going down, it is still higher than the passenger rate all-cargo airlines are “comparable.” Alterman also asserted, Call to Action: .COM otolia Overturn the Cargo Carveout! Sleep science has produced its share of revelations—for example, that ers to take up the bill in both the House and Senate and to pass it as —F © baurka ILLUSTRATION: we humans are poor judges of our own degree of fatigue; that being quickly as possible. awake for 17 hours degrades performance of safety-critical tasks as much as having a blood alcohol content of .05 percent (illegal to fly); FAA to review cost-benefit analysis, seek comments and that being awake for 24 hours is like having a blood alcohol con- In related news, the FAA said on May 17 that it would revisit the deci- tent of .10 percent (legally drunk). sion to exempt cargo airlines from the new rules to prevent flight crew But certain aspects of sleep science are as straightforward and fatigue. The new fatigue-fighting rules will go into effect for pilots and self-evident as the fact that the sun rises in the morning. One such flight engineers of all-passenger and combi flights in January 2014. plain and obvious fact is that when you strap on the airplane, it doesn’t Federal government attorneys said the agency made “errors” in cost matter what’s behind the cockpit bulkhead—passengers, cargo, or calculations used to justify the cargo carveout, adding, “These errors are both—if you’re tired, you’re tired. of sufficient amount that the FAA believes that it is prudent to review As National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah the portion of its cost-benefit analysis related to all-cargo operations and Hersman has publicly declared, “A tired pilot is a tired pilot, whether allow interested parties an opportunity to comment on that analysis.” there are 10 paying customers on board or 100, whether the payload The FAA will issue a new evaluation of the costs “as expeditiously is passengers or pallets.” Cargo pilots fly the same routes, in the same as possible” that “will fully disclose the extent and nature of the errors” airspace, and into the same airports as their passenger-carrying in the agency’s initial cost-benefit analysis. An FAA statement issued counterparts. All of which makes the exemption of flight crews of on May 18 said the errors were inadvertent, and that an outside group all-cargo operations from the recent sweeping overhaul of flight-time will be asked to review the cargo analysis before it is issued for public and duty-time limits and minimum rest requirements (FAR Part 117) a comment. continuing target for ALPA’s one-level-of-safety efforts. ALPA’s Government Affairs Department, working closely with an “Call to Action” impressive number of ALPA members who have visited Capitol Hill in All of this news is encouraging. However, now uniform to explain the situation to U.S. senators and representatives, is not the time to kick back and assume that has been aggressively discussing the flawed carveout with lawmakers the battle is won—it’s the right time to put on and their staffs and has brought about legislation introduced in both a full-court press and bring this vitally impor- chambers to include cargo operations in FAR Part 117. tant effort to its rightful conclusion. ALPA is continuing to ask every U.S. ALPA Senate and House bills member to (1) contact his or her representative in the U.S. House On June 5, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Olympia Snowe (R- of Representatives to urge support for the Safe Skies Act of 2012 Me.) introduced the Safe Skies Act of 2012 (S. 3263) in the U.S. Senate, (H.R. 4350), and (2) contact his or her senators in the U.S. Senate to advancing ALPA’s efforts to ensure one level of safety for passenger support the companion bill (S. 3263). To participate in ALPA’s Call and cargo airlines and enhance air transportation safety. to Action, scan the QR code above or go to http://www.alpa.org/ The Safe Skies Act (H.R. 4350) was introduced in the U.S. House of ALPADeptInfoPages/Departments/GovernmentAffairsDepartment/ Representatives on April 16 by Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.), a former tabid/3064/Default.aspx#CTA. Northwest Airlines cargo pilot, and Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.). As of press For decades, ALPA has argued for one level of safety for all airline time, H.R. 4350 has more than 30 bipartisan cosponsors in the House, operations for the simple reason that all pilots, regardless of the nature and that number is increasing as ALPA staff and pilot volunteers of the flying they do, should be protected by the same rules. This is continue to work daily on Capitol Hill. ALPA is working with lawmak- every ALPA member’s chance to help make that happen.—JWS

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 23 “[The cargo] segment of the [airline] industry provides more opportunities for rest” than the Closing the Gaps passenger airlines do. Sharon Pinkerton, senior vice president for Legislative and Regulatory Policy, Airlines for America, said, “We consider ALPA to be our partner—not to say we agree on everything, because we don’t—but on fundamental issues of safety and security, we’re partners.” She added, “We don’t take safety for granted. We’ve tried to encourage every airline to have a safety culture. We’re committed to constant improvement.” From left: John Sammon, assistant administrator, the Office of All-cargo security Security Policy and Industry Engagement, TSA; Steve Alterman, Capt. Fred Eissler (FedEx Express), ALPA’s Aviation Security chair- president of the Cargo Airline Association; and Sharon man, led a panel on all-cargo security. Eissler said ALPA feels Pinkerton, senior vice president for Legislative and Regulatory strongly that significant improvement is needed in several areas: Policy, Airlines for America. • Reinforced cockpit doors should be mandated on freighters, and flightcrew members should be trained in appropriate door ACAS looks to identify and intercept high-risk shipments transition protocols, farther “upstream” in the supply chain rather than at the point • All-cargo airport operations should have the full benefit of of acceptance by the airline. security identification display area (SIDA) protections, Warren Miller, branch chief, Air Cargo Policy, TSA, said of • Fingerprint-based criminal history records checks should be the foiled Yemen-based 2010 terrorist plot to ship explosive mandatory for everyone who has access to cargo and all-cargo devices built into laser printers, “Yemen changed everything” aircraft, regarding cargo security. In many countries, cargo hadn’t been • Training in the All-Cargo Common Strategy should be man- seen as a threat. [The] Yemen [plot] changed the landscape dated for all-cargo pilots, and dramatically regarding our ability to talk to different • Threat-based screening of cargo should be implemented. governments around the world, [but] everybody’s at different Christopher Bidwell, vice president, Security and Facilitation, stages in accepting the need for better screening of cargo.” Out of the government-industry collaboration that thwarted the Yemen plot came greater emphasis on risk-based security screening, Miller added. He said more guidance on this initiative would be sent to airlines within a month of the conference. “By today,” Miller noted, “14 million shipments have been processed through ACAS, without a single ‘do not load.’”

From the top fed From left: Capt. Fred Eissler (FedEx Express), ALPA’s Aviation FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta offered some clos- Security chairman; Christopher Bidwell, vice president, Security ing remarks. “Combating fatigue is a shared responsibility,” he and Facilitation, Airports Council International–North America; asserted. “We strongly encourage cargo operators to opt in” to Elizabeth Shaver, director of Cargo Services, Airlines for America; FAR Part 117, the new fatigue rule that will become mandatory and Warren Miller, branch chief, Air Cargo Policy, TSA. for U.S. passenger airlines in January 2014. Having come directly to the ALPA conference from an Airports Council International–North America, said, “I think, international conference on aviation training in Florida, Huerta for the most part, we are in agreement” on major cargo security discussed his agency’s proposal for raising the minimum issues. However, ACI-NA believes an ongoing government- experience requirements for airline captains and first officers. industry review of cargo security regulations should be He also noted that scenario-based stall and upset training established, because some of the existing regulations are in flight simulators would be more realistic than the “highly “outmoded, stale, and duplicative,” Bidwell argued. “We’ve choreographed” stall/upset training given today. recommended taking a global approach to aviation security.” He added, “Technology is critically important and needs To find out more to be leveraged. It’s not there in the all-cargo world. No about ALPA’s Air Cargo technology has been approved for screening pallets or bins.” conference go to http:// Elizabeth Shaver, director of Cargo Services, Airlines for cargoconference.alpa.org/ America, talked about the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) or scan the QR code. concept, a joint effort between the TSA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that involves using data and baseline threshold targeting in the predeparture air cargo environment.

24 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 Negotiations Under the

disaster. The competitive environment The Railway Labor Act By Bruce York, Director, ALPA fostered by the Act challenged long- Over the past 25-plus years, it’s been dif- Representation Department, and established airlines like Braniff, Pan Am, ficult to draw black-and-white conclusions Michael Robbins, Director, ALPA RLAand TWA but offered new opportuni- Government Affairs Department about the effect of the RLA on employee ties for airlines like American, Delta, wages. Most important, it’s impossible to Editor’s note: The May 2012 issue of Southwest, United, and others to expand, talk about contract results between 2000 Air Line Pilot included “The Balance of hire, and become more profitable. and 2012 without analyzing how the U.S. Power,” an opinion piece by Capt. Joe ALPA has always tried to remedy lax Bankruptcy Code has influenced negotia- Doniach (United). Air Line Pilot asked government and regulatory oversight tions since most negotiations between ALPA’s director of Representation, Bruce and has recently boosted its work in this 2002 and 2006 were conducted under York, and director of Government Affairs, area even more by engaging regularly that law and not the RLA. Michael Robbins, to add their thoughts to with lawmakers and regulators who However, it’s also hard to draw the important issues raised in this article. are focused on safety and operational conclusions about the RLA itself as standards. Although the FAA historically bargaining results depend so much The opinion expressed by the author— has been responsible for safety issues, on, and can’t be divorced from, other that declining pilot (and other airline Congress has taken a more active and factors, including the way the RLA is employee) earnings are the result of an administered by the National Mediation airline regulatory framework that favors Board (NMB) and the U.S. president, management—is one that ALPA mem- It’s “hard to draw the political makeup of Capitol Hill, bers and other employees frequently conclusions about the economy, fuel prices, technological Texpress. the RLA itself as change like the development of small The author’s view is that the Airline jets, and, perhaps most important, Deregulation Act of 1978 lowered bargaining results critical external events like 9/11 that barriers to new entrants, eliminated depend so much affect airline travel and airline profits. regulation over routes and fares, and on, and can’t be In short, both employers and airline opened the airline industry to an employees might argue that the RLA unhealthy level of competition that divorced from, other favored the other depending on the forced companies to seek employee factors.…” time period examined. It may surprise concessions. It was also his opinion that some ALPA members that employers the Railway Labor Act (RLA) unfairly visible role due to increased public approached Association pilot leaders favors management by prolonging awareness in this area. As just one in the 1960s to engage in industrywide negotiations and taking away employees’ example, ALPA has argued successfully bargaining rather than continue right to strike. for increased airman qualifications and negotiations employer-by-employer. Why airline hiring standards. was that? ALPA had been so successful The Airline Deregulation ALPA agrees with the author that in “whipsawing” employers and gaining Act of 1978 it’s not likely that air travel will be improvements in one contract, then ALPA shares many of Doniach’s con- “reregulated” in the pre-1978 sense. seeking the same improvements in the cerns about the effect of the Airline That’s why working with members of next negotiation, that companies wanted Deregulation Act of 1978. Lowering Congress and government regulators to have one standard contract. ALPA, entrance barriers and permitting airline to help “level the playing field” and based on its success record, of course operations without rigorous oversight ensuring that only qualified industry declined. of financial ability, safety programs, and participants enter the market are critical Looking back at the 15-year period training was, in some cases, a recipe for to the success of the U.S. airline industry. before 9/11, that successful single-

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 25 customary experience and results. The Industry Challenges Over the Past Decade 2006 FedEx Express contract settlement set the stage for upward progress. In 2008, the Delta–Northwest merger provided an earlier-than-expected opportunity to negotiate a new contract. The joint collective bargaining agreement increased hourly pay rates nearly 17 percent for “South” pilots and an even higher percentage for “North” pilots, boosted defined-contribution plan contributions, and gained pilots a 6 percent ownership stake in the merged company, among other improvements. The Alaska 2009 contract settlement supported the Delta pattern by increasing pay between 12 and 27 percent and by refocusing attention on enhanced benefit programs. Later in employer pattern bargaining trend 2001–2005 period. 2009, Hawaiian pilots negotiated pay generally continued. At times, financial The bargaining cycle during which increases that improved E-mail magazine@ stress at individual airlines resulted in bankruptcy and restructuring agreements and buttressed the patterns alpa.org to submit selected bargaining setbacks. Overall, were negotiated—2001–2008 (plus at Delta and Alaska. Very an article for the “Opinions” however, during the period between the current American and American substantial improvements Department. 1985 and 2001, pay rates increased Eagle negotiations)—unfortunately were also obtained in substantially, retirement and insurance resulted in a reversal of fortunes of the contract settlements at Spirit and AirTran benefits were enhanced, work rules earlier period. Pay and benefit patterns in 2010, among others. were tightened, and scope/job security dropped in negotiations after the It’s not a coincidence, and the chart provisions added layers of sophistication industry’s financially weakest airlines shows that these improvements occurred to the basic clauses that were introduced filed for bankruptcy protection and largely during a period of industry profit- in ALPA contracts in 1983. This positive sought contract concessions using the ability. The post-bankruptcy era bargain­ period of pattern bargaining was provisions of Section 1113 of the U.S. ing cycle has been much more like the capped by the very successful contract Bankruptcy Code to pressure pilots and positive bargaining cycles that preceded settlements at Northwest (1998), United other employees. United followed the bankruptcy and restructuring events. (2000), and Delta (2001), same path a short time later after the So what determines whether negoti­ and even two pay parity Bush administration declined to provide ations under the RLA are successful? arbitrations at US Airways, Air Transportation Stabilization Board First, a profitable company is an essential which produced combined financing that Congress had already element in making progress under the pay raises of more than 34 allocated. RLA, the National Labor Relations Act, percent in one year. ALPA Unfortunately, ALPA negotiators or anywhere else. Second, bargaining Scan the QR to read “Opinions: The Balance negotiations were still ongoing were thrown into bargaining at the under the RLA is premised on the of Power.” to get all contracts close to weakest airlines first under the strict creation of “uncertainty”—the NMB’s those high levels. At the close of 2000, time lines and supervision of the U.S. administration of the RLA and White employers were the ones arguing that Bankruptcy Code. Bankruptcy judges, House decision-making can’t take they didn’t like the way the RLA worked. using the threat of contract rejection, options off the table. Both parties have A short time later, the country and pushed the parties to settle quickly. This to understand that they may not get the airline industry were forced to stark contrast to earlier periods—when what they want if negotiations don’t deal with the tragic events of 9/11. But the NMB governed the process, ALPA progress. White House announcements industry economics were already turning coordinated negotiations to gain results that “there won’t be any strikes” remove south when that catastrophe occurred, at stronger airlines first, and ALPA company motivation to bargain. Third, and other external events, it seems, controlled the time line—resulted in union negotiators must plan and execute continued to work against profits and settlements that were unfavorable and negotiations carefully. The NMB is left positive trends in negotiations. President unwelcome. Those outcomes really were with few options to move mediation George W. Bush, soon after assuming not a direct result of the RLA, nor was forward when too many issues are left office, announced that he would not the NMB generally involved. to resolve during the late stages of permit strikes in the airline industry. Once airlines emerged from bank­ negotiations. Master executive council The accompanying chart shows the ruptcy, ALPA negotiators got out from strategic plans that highlight key many external factors that contributed under the supervision of bankruptcy priorities and realistic time lines and to the low number of airline passengers judges. Airlines returned to profitability approaches are critical for achieving and financial uncertainty during the again, and bargaining resumed the more contract goals.

26 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 FABulous Flying The 154 pilots of First Air connect widely scattered communities in the Canadian north with each other and the outside world By Jan W. Steenblik, Technical Editor head, hugging the side of the fjord below the thin blanket of stratus, lies Pangnirtung, Nunavut, an Inuit hamlet of some 1,300 har- dy souls, give or take a few, hunkered down below the Arctic wind sweeping across Baffin AIsland. A few hundred squat, unremarkable houses huddle on a coastal plain surrounded by forbidding mountains. Splitting the village is Pangnirtung Airport—2,920 feet of gravel and hard- packed snow scoured by the icy turbulence spilling over the mountains. Runway 6 offers an NDB circle-to-land approach and GPS overlay with high minimums: 2,545 feet and 3 miles. The Jepp chart for “Pang” reads, “CAUTION: Only pilots with considerable experi- ence should plan on using this airport due to surrounding terrain and variable local conditions. Surrounding terrain may constitute a hazard to night flying. Possibility of pedestrians crossing runway when airport radio closed.” Also, “Terrain rises rapidly in all quadrants.” Capt. Trevor MacLaurin and F/O Matthew McCullagh are the flight crew on this ATR 42 combi tonight. The ceiling meets VMC minimums, which means MacLaurin may hand-fly a steep, 5.5-degree approach using an FMS-derived pseudo-glideslope displayed on the flight directors. Full flaps (30 degrees), idle power, and 110 knots put them right over the thresh- old, on speed and glideslope; flare, thump, push, brakesreversepitch and they’re at taxi speed. Welcome to Pangnirtung. The steep approach has allowed MacLaurin and McCullagh to bring somewhere between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds of payload into Pang tonight, more than 1,000 additional

ERIC DAVIS

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 27

exsmith S andon L

Mike Harling

pounds than if they flew a conventional 3-degree approach. Northwest Territories) and Iqaluit (the capital of Nunavut To this isolated community, that means more food, medicine, Territory), the airline’s varied fleet of turbofans and turboprops quads, snowmobiles, and other staples of the high Arctic—per- stitches together the sparsely populated towns and hamlets of haps parts for the generator, without which the village will have the taiga and tundra scattered across three time zones. no electricity, no lights save flashlights and oil lamps, and far Capt. Michael Strader, an ATR 42/72 pilot, likes the fact that fewer of the comforts and necessities of 21st-century life. First Air pilots get to see “incredible scenery and many return customers.” He adds, “I get to fly with people I enjoy working Taiga and tundra with, and I get to see passengers in the back of the plane who First Air, which started flying in 1946 as Bradley Air Services, I know personally, who I see on the street. And they know our is wholly owned by the Inuit people of Quebec through the reputation, and they appreciate what we do for them every day, Makivik Corporation. The airline now connects four major doing our best to get them in and out of places, with safety Canadian cities and provincial capitals—Ottawa, Montreal, uppermost in our minds.” Edmonton, and Winnipeg—with an expansive network of Capt. David Wade, another ATR pilot based in Iqaluit, agrees: routes that span the Canadian north from Inuvik in the “The airline is the lifeline of these communities. Other than Northwest Territories to Qikiqtarjuaq on the rugged shore sealift [the brief period in the Arctic summer when ships can of Baffin Island. With hubs in Yellowknife (the capital of the move bulk food and other cargoes to high Arctic communities],

Resolute Bay

Pond Inlet Arctic Bay Ulukhaktok Taloyoak Cambridge Bay Igloolik Clyde River Kugaaruk Inuvik Hall Beach Kugluktuk Gjoa Haven Qikiqtarjuaq Repulse Bay ARCTIC CIRCLE Pangnirtung Baker Lake Chesterfield Inlet Norman Wells Iqaluit YELLOWKNIFE Coral Harbour Fort Simpson Kimmirut Rankin Inlet Cape Dorset Hay River Whale Cove Arviat Kuujjuaq

Edmonton

Winnipeg

Route Map Ottawa Montreal

28 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 From left: An ATR 42 takes off from a snow-covered runway in Pangnirtung. Ice, snow, and dramatic changes in weather are not the only obstacles that might be encountered flying in the Arctic. A ground crew loads an ATR 42 combi in Iqaluit. One of First Air’s B-737s in Iqaluit. B-737 Capt. Frank Dufour and F/O Michael Edwards.

PHOTOS: LEFT, ABOVE, RIGHT, BY ERIC DAVIS

it’s the only way in and out.” trips to just one mining camp, which used an ice strip—with Wade came to First Air from Bearskin in 1988. “I like that 42,000 pounds of payload each trip. type of work, dirt strip work,” he explains, “and I had family “Right now we’re supporting three diamond mines that are members on Baffin Island. 130–200 miles from Yellowknife. All three have gravel strips— “It’s not the type of work that everybody’s cut out for. Some one is 6,200 feet long, and the other two are 5,000 feet. We people are more into the white-shirt-and-tie thing. You can get also land on ice strips; the ice must be at least 48 inches thick.” that at First Air, but I like not having to wear a uniform.” The First Air Hercs have flown cargoes to Africa, Europe, MacLaurin notes, “What makes pilots at this company Japan, and South America. After the catastrophic earthquakes unique is that the people who stay really like the environment in Haiti in January 2010, First Air pilots flew Herc relief mis- we operate in and the variety of flying that we do. It’s not just sions to that devastated country from Washington, D.C., and one ILS after another on 10,000-foot runways. Miami, Fla. “We’re not talking to ATC all the time. Much of what we do up here at First Air goes under the radar, literally. You’ve really Diamonds and sea ice got to be aware of the big picture; you may not have a lot of Capt. Peter Black, the pilots’ MEC vice chairman, remembers options.” an unusual operation during the 1990s, when the airline’s He adds, “We carry some cargoes that are common to us but fleet included a couple of venerable Boeing 727s. Platinova, might seem strange to people down south—quads, snowmo- an international mining company, hired First Air to support biles, boxes of walrus meat.” exploratory mining for zinc—and the possibility of associated diamonds—on Greenland’s forbidding north coast. Hercs at work Black and his crew flew a B-727-100 carrying a Hughes First Air has provided lift for a wide range of unique ventures NOTAR helicopter and a bulldozer from Ottawa to Thule, on over the years—Twin Otter flights to the North and South Greenland’s west coast, and then to Station Nord, a military Poles, various mining, mapping, and aerial survey projects, and scientific base on Greenland’s northeast coast. A very and passenger charters and cargo contracts throughout North tough roughneck from the Alberta oil patch drove the bulldozer America and other continents. about 300 miles across the sea ice to a fjord on the north coast, F/O Devin Lyall, the pilot group’s Master Executive Council where he bulldozed a 7,000-foot runway on the sea ice in the (MEC) chairman, has lived in Yellowknife for 10 years and flown fjord. for First Air for the last four—not counting the two years he “Two weeks later, we rolled onto final, inbound to the fjord, was a Beaver pilot on contract to First Air in Quebec more than and there was the runway,” Black recalls. The next year, he a decade ago. landed a B-727-200 on the sea ice—this time, on 11,000 feet These days, Lyall flies right seat in First Air’s Lockheed of ice runway. L-382s, the civilian version of the venerable C-130 Hercules Landing on the ice was not difficult, but the dozer opera- military transport. First Air operates the only two working Hercs tor had done his job almost too well: Because the ice was so in Canada. smooth, Black spent a nerve-wracking half hour getting the Flying the Hercs is “lots of fun and offers a lot of variety” in Boeing turned around for takeoff, gingerly using brakes and types of flying and cargoes flown, says Lyall. reverse thrust. Afterwards, he had the bulldozer operator rough The Hercs can haul a maximum payload of 47,000 pounds, up the ice with the bulldozer blade to improve traction. relatively economically, and offer the ease of loading and During his time on the sea ice runway, Black kicked the unloading afforded by the airplane’s wide aft ramp. First Air snow bank at runway’s edge with his boot, assuming the snow prefers that runways built for the Hercs be at least 5,000 feet was soft. To his dismay, he discovered that it was frozen hard, long and 150 feet wide, but the big turboprops can operate compressed by the bulldozer. from runways 4,200 feet by 100 feet at maximum landing “If we’d had any kind of runway excursion, we probably weight and from 3,800 feet with reduced landing weight. would have damaged the landing gear, at least,” he notes, “and “We serve a number of mining operations from Yellowknife,” the airplane would be at the bottom of the fjord now!” Lyall notes. “Mining is big in the Northwest Territory and Nunavut—uranium, gold, diamonds, and other minerals—and Versatile Boeings most of the mines are far from a road. They need to move a lot The Seven Twos have left First Air, but not by turning into of equipment and supplies. This winter we flew more than 200 Arctic Ocean fish reefs. Today, the airline’s Boeing fleet consists

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 29 Moak Creates ALPA Presidential Committee for Remote Operations Capt. Peter Black (First Air) will chair a new ALPA Presidential Committee for Remote Operations created to address the challenges that ALPA members confront daily in the high Arctic and other remote locations in the U.S. and Canada. Pilot reps andon S exsmith L from Alaska, Calm Air, Canadian An ATR 42 lands at Pangnirtung Airport.

North, and First Air will serve on ERIC DAVIS ERIC the Committee, which will seek Marie Chassie, and Flight Attendant Ute Merritt, the wife of First Air Capt. James Merritt. additional help as the need arises. Since the Flight 6560 accident, says MacLaurin, “I think many of us at First Air have become more reflective on how of seven B-737-200s (four featuring a flexible combi configura- we live our lives. We cherish things more. For me, it was very tion for carrying passengers and main-deck cargo at the same personal—I was based in Yellowknife for seven years, right time), plus a B-767F widebody freighter that can lift almost before coming here [to Iqaluit]. I knew all of the crewmembers 100,000 pounds of payload. The Seven Six is available for char- who were on that airplane.” ters all over the world, but most of First Air’s bread-and-butter Lyall cherishes a fishing photo, and the memories it evokes: use of the airplane—literally—is in flying for Food Mail, a In the image, he holds a 24-pound lake trout from Great Slave Canadian government program that helps to distribute food to Lake, which he and his family and friends fish frequently, year- isolated communities by air. round. Standing beside Lyall on the small boat is one of his The B-737-200 combis sport gravel kits—nosegear plates best friends, F/O David Hare, who perished on the hillside in like skis to keep the nosewheels from spraying gravel into the Resolute. airplanes’ low-slung engines, plus vortex dissipaters, booms MacLaurin observes, “From an operational standpoint, I that extend forward from the bottoms of the engine nacelles think First Air has always maintained a high level of safety. and use bleed air to blow gravel and other debris away from But as a pilot group, we’re now more aware. [We think,] ‘What the engine intakes. Special underwing linings on the flaps and loophole can I find today and make sure it’s plugged?’” around the gear wells complete the gravel kits. So equipped, the B-737s fly into runways as short as 5,000 feet. Capt. Stephan Ekiert, a 27-year veteran of First Air and now Legacy of the Bush Pilots a B-737 instructor pilot, points out that “all of our 737s are round-dial airplanes. We have NDB approaches at almost all of On a low, rocky hill in Yellow­ by bringing this unique region our airports, and we can fly Cat I ILS approaches. All of the 737s knife, Northwest Territories, into the Canadian mainstream.” have been upgraded with a Universal FMS, so we can fly RNAV/ stands a monument bearing Though First Air’s turbine- GNSS approaches to almost all of our destinations.” a plaque celebrating the bush powered workhorses perform pilots of Canada. scheduled airline flying, and On the one hand, says Ekiert, the milk runs to the north in The plaque reads, “In the not bush flying, many of the the combis, ranging from all-cargo to all-passenger configura- 1920s and 1930s a small First Air pilots logged time tion, can be relatively easy flying: “We can launch out of here number of daring aviators in Beavers, Otters, Noorduyn [Ottawa] at 9 a.m. and be home in time for dinner.” On the broke the silence of the North. Norsemans, Super Cubs, and other hand, he explains, “About half a dozen times a month, Often flying in extreme cold other fabled piston-powered and facing dangerous takeoff bush craft—on tundra tires, the weather dictates that we file for Goose Bay as a landing and landing conditions, these skis, and floats—on their way alternate. With the -200s, we’ll have just enough fuel to fly to bush pilots ferried passengers, to their current seats. And our destination, miss, and land at Goose Bay with min fuel.” mail, and freight in and out of many of First Air’s passengers Ekiert’s wish? “A -700 combi would be a great airplane for remote frontier regions and still rely on one or more us—with a gravel kit, of course.” played a crucial role in the of these venerable bush development of the Northern planes for part of their jour- economy and the delivery of ney from the place they call Family ties public services. Blazing air home to “outside” and back In any family, closeness brings the risk of loss; the more close- trails over immense areas, again. The First Air pilots knit the family, the greater the pain of loss. Thus the crash these intrepid pioneers are closely linked—through of First Air Flight 6560 on Aug. 20, 2011, was a particularly helped map the Canadian history, experience, and a Shield and the Arctic proud legacy—to the first painful blow to the First Air family of employees and the small barren lands, and pilots airmen to spread wings over communities they serve. The B-737-200 combi struck a low transformed Northern life the Canadian Arctic. hill in bad weather while on approach to the gravel strip at Resolute, Nunavut Territory, 600 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Twelve of the 15 people aboard were killed, including the entire crew—Capt. Blair Rutherford, F/O David Hare, Purser Ann WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

30 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 FromtheHill Cassidy Denounces EU ETS as ‘Job Killer’ During Senate Hearings

apt. Sean Cassidy, not required to be used for officials, “Being greener leads Cassidy said, “According ALPA’s first vice presi- environmental purposes. to a better bottom line, so to the Environmental Cdent, characterized the “The EU ETS is legally [U.S. airlines] do not need Protection Agency, U.S. European Union’s emissions questionable on many any artificial incentives to commercial aviation trading scheme (ETS) as a grounds,” said Cassidy. “It urge them to make the best contributes just 2 percent “job killer” during his June 6 is at odds with customary possible use of every gallon of of domestic greenhouse testimony before a hearing of international law, provisions jet fuel.” gas emissions, which is a the U.S. Senate’s Committee of the Chicago Convention, Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s very small fraction of the on Commerce, Science, and and the Air Transport president, has also been 25 percent produced by the Transportation. He added, Agreement between the active on this front. He balance of the transportation “Because the EU’s unilater- European Union and the presented testimony during industry.” ally implemented tax scheme United States.” a U.S. House Aviation Pointing out that airline could cost U.S. airlines billions Subcommittee hearing last pilots play a key role in of dollars in just the next few “Say again?” July. “A $300 domestic airline reducing fuel burn, noise, and years, it could seriously com- Cassidy’s participation in the ticket currently includes $63 emissions, Cassidy provided promise the economic viability June 6 hearing was not his in taxes or 20 percent of the examples, including the of a very tenuous U.S. airline first face-to-face encounter total ticket price. By piling on use of single-engine taxiing industry and threaten the jobs with lawmakers on this a foreign tax that will drive and technology-enhanced of thousands of workers.” subject. He participated in a up ticket prices to the benefit departure and arrival Appearing before the congressional roundtable dis- of other countries, the EU procedures. Committee in the Russell cussion on March 28, asking emissions trading scheme He told lawmakers that Senate Office Building, the Obama administration threatens the economic the appropriate forum for Cassidy urged lawmakers and Congress to block U.S. health of the U.S. airlines, establishing international to “explore every available participation in the ETS. risking U.S. jobs at a time emissions guidelines is option to support the Cassidy told representa­ when every job counts.” through ICAO, adding that administration’s action to tives from Congress, the More recently, Moak met the Kyoto Protocol, the G8, exclude U.S. airlines from Departments of Transpor- with White House officials, and the United Nations this harmful and misguided tation and State, the FAA, urging them to consider an Framework Convention on scheme.” and other airline industry Article 84 complaint against Climate Change all support the EU, which could compel this position. Legal tender? the International Civil Others testifying at the The ETS is a system, imple- Aviation Organization (ICAO) Senate Committee hearing mented by the 27-nation EU to intercede. included U.S. Department of at the beginning of this year, Transportation Secretary Ray to limit the annual carbon Proactive partner LaHood; Jos Delbeke, director emissions of airlines flying During the June hearing, general of the European into and out of Europe. The Cassidy stated, “Aviation has Commission and directorate- program allows the EU to col- the most successful record general for Climate Change lect fees for an entire flight, of any industry sector in of the European Commission; regardless of the percentage terms of limiting its impact Edward Bolen, president and actually flown over Europe. If on the environment while CEO of the National Business an airline exceeds its yearly increasing its productivity.” Aviation Association; Annie carbon credit allowance, He noted, “The Bureau of Petsonk, international the carrier must purchase Transportation Statistics counsel, Climate & Air, for

additional allowances or pay CHRIS WEAVER confirms that U.S. airlines the Environmental Defense monetary penalties to the EU. Capt. Cassidy during his burned almost 14 percent less Fund; and Nancy Young, vice The EU maintains that testimony before a hearing of fuel in 2009 than they did president of Environmental the ETS was created to the U.S. Senate’s Committee in 2000,” thanks to advance- Affairs for Airlines for curb climate change, but on Commerce, Science, and ments in airplane design and America.—John Perkinson, the collected revenue is Transportation. efficiency. Staff Writer

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 31 FromtheHill ALPA Praises Export-Import Bank Reforms

n May 30, the U.S. the overseas carriers with this move would further level increase from the $100 billion Export-Import Bank a distinct operational cost the competitive playing field ceiling outlined in previous OReauthorization Act advantage. U.S. airlines for U.S. airlines and their legislation. of 2012 became law, ushering have found that they have employees. in important reforms that will needed to withdraw from or In a rare example of Taking care of business help level the playing field for not enter routes that might bipartisan cooperation, “The bipartisan reforms to U.S. airlines in the interna- otherwise be economically Congress deliberated on the aircraft financing by the tional airline market. viable. The effect on U.S. pilot operation and effect of this Export-Import Bank are a first “It is important to ensure and airline worker jobs has financial institution in late step toward ending worldwide that U.S. taxpayer dollars been significant. In response spring, forwarding the bill to subsidies of widebody aircraft are not used in a manner to the increase in seat the White House for approval. and will help to protect U.S. that places U.S. companies capacity directly attributable The Senate passed the Bank airline workers from unmer- and their employees at a to airplane financing from reauthorization on May 15 ited, subsidized foreign com- competitive disadvantage,” the Bank to foreign airlines, by a vote of 78 to 20, and petition,” commented Moak. said Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s domestic airlines have been the House approved it the “The reforms will also shine president, who commended forced to reduce capacity by previous week, 333 to 93. some desperately needed the Bank’s reauthorization nearly 2 percent, resulting “I hope this ends up being light on the Bank’s financing announcement. “The new in the loss of approximately a model for the kind of processes.” law rectifies some of the 7,500 U.S. airline jobs. progress that we can make Much of the success Bank’s former unsound in the months to come and of ALPA’s efforts can policies and practices, adding Do no harm the years to come,” President be attributed to pilot safeguards and making it ALPA and other aviation Obama commented at the participation in ALPA-PAC more accountable.” groups led an extensive lob- legislation’s signing ceremony. and to the many ALPA pilot The Ex-Im Bank, the U.S. bying and news media cam- The new law extends the volunteers who walked the government’s official export paign to correct this flawed Ex-Im Bank’s charter through corridors of the Capitol, credit agency, offers financing financing practice, which Sept. 30, 2014, incrementally educating members of assistance to foreign buyers used U.S. taxpayer dollars growing its lending cap. By Congress about the need to of U.S.-produced goods, against U.S. employees. ALPA fiscal year 2014, the Bank revise the Bank’s financing often at better terms than called on the government to will be authorized to lend practices.—John Perkinson, those commercially available. make bank transactions more as much as $140 billion, an Staff Writer The intent is to help U.S. transparent and to ensure companies better compete in that financing does not harm global markets, but previous American workers. With the legislation to fund the Bank enactment of the new law, Banking Abroad has failed to address the the Bank must adhere to new The Export-Import Bank of the United States, the govern- potentially adverse effects of auditing and reporting re- ment’s official export credit agency, was established in such an arrangement. quirements. It is now required 1934 to finance the sale of U.S. products to the Soviet Boeing is one of the to make public and accept Union, where banks refused to extend credit for the pur- Bank’s principal customers, comment on any transactions chase of U.S. goods. The Ex-Im Bank provides financing and during the past five of more than $100 million support for about 2 percent of all U.S. exports, underwrit- years, the Bank has provided through Federal Register ing sales when commercial loans to overseas customers below-market financing for notification. cannot be secured. In 2011, dozens of Boeing widebody Importantly, the renewed about 40 percent of all Bank aircraft to foreign airlines reauthorization calls on the financing was used to finance at rates unavailable to U.S. United States to engage with Boeing airplane sales overseas. airlines. These foreign airlines European countries that An independent agency of the then operate the U.S.-built finance Airbus to negotiate executive branch, the Bank airplanes on the same routes an end to worldwide subsidies offers direct loans, loan guaran- flown (or potentially flown) of widebody aircraft—a top tees, and credit insurance.—JP by U.S. airlines, providing ALPA priority. If successful,

32 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 ALPA Calls on Congress to Raise Airline Industry to One Level of Safety

n April 25 testimony before the U.S. House Aviation ISubcommittee, Capt. Sean Cassidy, ALPA’s first vice presi- dent and national safety coor- dinator, called on Congress to swiftly act on legislation that would apply new FAA science- based flight- and duty-time regulations to both passenger and cargo airline pilots. “All pilots are human, and we experience fatigue in the same way, regardless

of whether we are flying CHRIS WEAVER passengers or cargo in our Capt. Cassidy, second from right, testifies before the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee. Cassidy aircraft,” Cassidy told the called on Congress to swiftly act on legislation that would apply new FAA science-based flight- Subcommittee. “Despite this, and duty-time regulations to both passenger and cargo airline pilots. the new science-based fatigue regulations apply only to • making certain that new pilots who fly passengers and captains receive command not to those who fly cargo. “The new science-based fatigue training to reinforce effective Leaving all-cargo pilots out regulations apply only to pilots who communication, leadership, of the regulations is a serious fly passengers and not to those who and conflict resolution skills. safety concern.” • formalizing mentoring as In his testimony, Cassidy fly cargo. Leaving all-cargo pilots a standard part of a pilot’s recognized Rep. Chip out of the regulations is a serious professional development. Cravaack (R-Minn.) and safety concern.” • advancing Safety Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) for Management Systems and introducing the Safe Skies Act commitment to ensuring recommendations regarding encouraging the FAA to re- of 2012, which would apply the highest safety standards this important rule with the main on schedule to publish the fatigue rules to all airline throughout the airline determined goal of advancing a final Safety Management operations. “We urge all industry, and the union safety,” ALPA said in its Systems rule in summer members of this Committee commended the FAA for written testimony. 2012. to cosponsor H.R. 4350 and enacting the final rule. In addition to advocating in • protecting aviation safety to swiftly report out the Safe For decades, ALPA the strongest possible terms data to ensure that the data Skies Act of 2012 to help has fought for fatigue for bringing all-cargo pilots are used only as intended— achieve one level of safety regulations that are based under the new science-based to advance safety—and not across the industry,” he said. on modern science; apply pilot fatigue regulations, misused for other purposes. ALPA also submitted equally to all types of Cassidy highlighted ALPA’s At the conclusion of the written testimony to the airline operations, including perspective in other areas of written testimony, ALPA Subcommittee that further domestic, international, and aviation safety, including the stated, “ALPA is proud to detailed the union’s call supplemental; and enable importance of be part of the successful for action on a range of airlines to establish Fatigue • ensuring that new regula- government-industry aviation safety issues. Risk Management Systems. tions on pilot certification collaboration that has led In the submission, ALPA “ALPA is proud to have include a clear path to follow us to the safest period in underscored that, in spite of contributed to the effort so currently employed airline aviation, but we reiterate that the shortcoming of cutting to move forward on these pilots can continue to fly and much remains to be done.” out cargo operations, the critical safety provisions in are able to fully comply with —Linda Shotwell, ALPA Senior new pilot fatigue rule marks our role as co-chair of the requirements that were cre- Strategic Communications historic progress in what FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking ated after their employment Specialist and Contributing must be an unrelenting Committee, which made began. Writer

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 33 OurStories Slipping the Surly Bonds: Sun Country Pilot Recalls Space Shuttle Days Curt Brown, By John Perkinson, Staff Writer left, mission LPA members fly to the far reach- commander of es, but few have traveled to where space shuttle AF/O Curt Brown (Sun Country) has Flight STS-95, gone. From 1992 to 1999, the retired Air with childhood Force colonel manned six space shuttle idol John H. missions, flying as either pilot or space- Glenn, Jr. craft commander and logging more than 1,300 hours in space. Growing up in Elizabethtown, N.C., Brown dreamed of flying and began taking lessons by the time he was 16 at NASA nearby Fisher Field, a facility that would later bear his name. “I’m not dead yet, “If it wasn’t for John [Glenn], I wouldn’t have but I have an airport named after me,” been doing what I was doing.” he joked. Brown attended the U.S. Air Force technological tests for the then-future to continue flying, so he left NASA and Academy and completed undergraduate International Space Station, and upgrad- went to work as a pilot for American pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base ing the Hubble telescope. Airlines, where he flew for nearly six in Del Rio, Tex., in 1979. He served as an Asked about his most memorable years. Commuting to stand reserve in A-10 instructor at Davis-Monthan AFB experience, Brown commented, “On my New York and watching the furlough list near Tucson, Ariz. He attended both the fifth mission, I took [former Ohio] Sen. continue to grow, he talked to his wife, Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB John Glenn back up in space after his Mary, and decided to call it quits. But af- in Nevada as well as the prestigious Test 36-year hiatus. He flew in ’62 and was ter several years, Brown missed being in Pilot School at Edwards AFB in California the first American to orbit Earth, and in the cockpit. Living near the Minneapolis/ before serving as a test pilot for A-10 and the fall of 1998, we took him up for his St. Paul area, he decided to submit an F-16 aircraft at Eglin AFB in Florida. second mission in space.” Brown ac- application with Sun Country Airlines knowledged the gratification and honor and has been flying for the airline for Career takes off of being able to work with his childhood nearly two years. Never one to be satisfied with his hero, who in May was awarded the When off duty, Brown speaks at public accomplishments, Brown decided to Presidential Medal of Freedom. “If it engagements and supports a college apply to become an astronaut in 1987. wasn’t for John, I wouldn’t have been scholarship he created at his high school “NASA invited about 130 of us to the doing what I was doing,” he said. in North Carolina. He also has been a Johnson Space Center in Houston for a In April of this year, both Brown and regular at the Reno Air Races since the week-long interview,” said Brown, adding Glenn were on hand at the ceremony 1990s, teaching classes on how to race that he was offered the job after his first to induct the shuttle Discovery into the and setting a record in 2009 for the attempt. Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center at fastest-ever qualifying time at 543.5 Brown completed a year-long train- Washington Dulles International Airport. mph. (And keep in mind that at the time ing and evaluation program and then For Brown, it was a bittersweet moment, Brown’s black-and-gold L-29 Viper was participated in a variety of technical given that the spacecraft was being flying around those pylons a mere 50 assignments, including the upgrade of retired from service. Commenting on feet off the ground.) the shuttle mission simulator. But his real the shuttle operation’s termination last “When you’re flying—whether it’s a claim to fame would be his space shuttle summer, Brown noted, “Unfortunately, Cub, the space shuttle, or a 737—there missions. Brown flew in the right seat our space program is looking backward are certain skills that are required to of the space shuttle Atlantis once and instead of forward these days.” operate that machine precisely,” said the Endeavor twice, and commanded Brown. He admits that accomplishing the Discovery a remarkable three times. A new beginning perfection may be an impossibility, but Missions included rendezvous sequences In his early 40s, with his space shuttle he continues to strive for it every day, with satellites, atmospheric studies, years clearly behind him, Brown wanted doing what he loves most.

34 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 HealthWatch Retinal blood vessels How to Shop for Sunglasses Retina

exposure, and reduced eye By Dr. Quay Snyder fatigue. Safety-conscious ALPA Aeromedical Advisor pilots should focus on Editor’s note: The following selecting proper lenses rather information is adapted from than frame styles with cheap Cornea an article available at www. lenses. Iris AviationMedicine.com. Visual acuity varies with Lens the light available and a

unglasses are as much person’s sensitivity to various Macula com FOTOLIA. M itiuc , © A lexandr a part of your uniform degrees of brightness. The Sas shoulder boards and pupil controls the amount by indirect blue light and UV will block out blue and UV cuff stripes. And they can of light reaching the retina. light. The intensity of UV light light and are said to improve be both functional and styl- Older eyes do not transmit as increases by 4 percent for vision on hazy days, though ish. But with all the options much light as younger eyes, every 1,000 feet of altitude no scientific proof exists for to choose from, how do you so many older people need and contributes to the this claim. However, they may know which ones to buy? more light for optimum acuity blue color of the sky. Some distort colors and decrease No single type is ideal for and may need sunglasses that researchers feel that UV a pilot’s ability to view some every pilot. Needs change transmit more light. light can cause haziness on cockpit displays. based on age, light sensitivity, the retina, decreasing visual ambient lighting conditions, Glare acuity even when viewed Sunglasses options and type of flying. Some On high-glare days, such as indirectly. Fortunately, most Tinted lenses distort colors. sunglasses are not right for over snow or sand, the pupils aircraft windscreens eliminate Yellow-shaded “blue blockers” any pilot at any time. contract to protect the eyes much of these wavelengths. will alter color perception if Reasons for wearing from the glare. Sunglasses will Near sunrise and sunset, they block out 30 percent sunglasses­ while flying reduce glare and allow the the atmosphere filters out of the light. Green and grey include improved night pupil to let more light reach blue and UV light, giving the vision adaptation, enhanced the retina, thus enhancing sky its characteristic red- Sunglasses reduce contrast in the visual field, vision. orange color. Yellow lenses, glare and allow the reduced glare, decreased UV Glare can also be caused often called “blue blockers,” pupil to let more light reach the retina, thus enhancing vision.

lenses create the least distor- tion of color vision. Brown distorts colors slightly more but can block some of the blue-light blurring in haze. Lenses’ darkness or degree of light reduction is indicated by numbers. A No. 1 lens blocks only 20 percent of incoming light and has little value for aviators. The exception may be the No. 1 yellow lenses for hazy or smoggy days. A No. 2 lens blocks 70 percent of light and is useful for most aviation situations. WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 35 HealthWatch

What We Recommend

On bright days, consider the light, but avoid wearing money on reduce some glare and using neutral tint (green or them if color perception (IMC soft plastic reflection, particularly grey) glass, CR-39 plastic flight), as opposed to visual lenses or when on the water or or polycarbonate lenses acquisition (VMC flight), is mirrored snow on a sunny day. that block 70–85 percent important. lenses. The FAA has published of the incoming light, At dusk or in lighting Scratch-resistant coating a pilot safety brochure possibly with a gradient that is comfortable without may increase the life of titled “Sunglasses for that lightens on the lower sunglasses, remove them polycarbonate lenses. When Pilots: Beyond the portion of the lenses. On a to increase visual acuity. driving or engaging in Image,” available at www. hazy or smoggy day, con- Don’t use polarized or outdoor activities, you may faa.gov/pilots/safety/ sider wearing brown lenses photochromatic lenses in use the same sunglasses, pilotsafetybrochures/ that block 20 percent of the cockpit. Don’t waste your although a polarized lens will media/sunglasses.pdf.

It provides a balance of glare spots. While popular with because the windscreen than glass lenses. protection, luminescence Hollywood movie pilots, blocks UV light. Glass and Pilots should not wear reduction, and UV protection professional pilots should polycarbonate block nearly all polarized lenses in the without significantly reducing leave them to actors and UV-B light. Soft plastic lenses cockpit. Fine parallel lines visual acuity. other imitators. may block visible light but not resembling closely spaced The light reduction of a Photochromatic lenses block any UV wavelengths. prison bars on polarized No. 3 lens (85 percent) may darken when exposed to The probability of developing lenses block glare from flat be useful for pilots who are UV light. Because aircraft surfaces such as snow and ALPA members in good particularly sensitive to bright windscreens block most standing can get free, con- water. Light parallel to the light, while others may find UV light, the lenses will not fidential consultations and lines is transmitted, while the No. 3 lens reduces visual darken substantially inside an assistance with aeromedical nonparallel light (glare) is acuity. airplane or car. Military pilots certification by calling blocked. Unfortunately, if the The No. 4 lens blocks out are prohibited from using ALPA’s Aeromedical Office windscreen is polarized and 95 percent of incoming light these sunglasses for good at 303-341-4435, Monday- the lenses are not precisely and significantly reduces visual reason. Pilots flying open- Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. oriented the same as the acuity because the macula, cockpit airplanes are the only Mountain Time. Information windscreen, all light may where sharpest vision is found ones who may benefit from regarding FAA policies, medi- be blocked. Changing bank cal conditions, and medica- this feature. These lenses angle and head position can tions is available at www. may take several minutes to create blind spots. Cockpit AviationMedicine.com. lighten when moving from a instruments with glare- bright to dark environment. cataracts increases when reducing coatings may not be Gradient lenses usually using soft plastic lenses visible when using polarized have a darker tint on the because the pupil dilates in sunglasses. upper portion of the lens response to decreased visible For boaters who need and a gradually lightening light. The dilated pupil allows glare protection from light color near the bottom. This more UV light to enter the reflected off the water, may be useful when viewing eye and penetrate the lens, however, polarized lenses are For more information on instruments on a very bright thus increasing the risk of an excellent choice. aeromedical issues, scan day. The lighter tinting below cataracts. the QR code. allows more light from the A scratch-resistant coating Solution to this month’s ALPA sudoku on page 38. on the retina, requires light relatively dark instrument may increase the life of to activate the cones of the panel to reach the retina and polycarbonate lenses and 2 7 8 6 4 1 9 3 5 retina. Aviators wearing these improve visual acuity while plastic lenses. Ironically, 3 1 6 5 8 9 7 2 4 5 9 4 2 7 3 6 8 1 lenses in flight may not meet the darker upper portion polycarbonate will withstand 1 8 7 3 5 6 4 9 2 FAA minimum distant visual blocks out the glare from the direct hammer strikes without 6 3 5 9 2 4 1 7 8 acuity standards. outside view. breaking but scratches 4 2 9 7 1 8 5 6 3 Mirrored glasses use metal UV protection is desirable relatively easily. Glass will 9 6 2 1 3 5 8 4 7 in lenses worn outdoors but shatter but is more resistant particles to reflect images. 7 4 1 8 9 2 3 5 6 is not as important for glasses to scratching. Polycarbonate They scratch easily and can 8 5 3 4 6 7 2 1 9 cause distortion or blind worn inside the aircraft lenses are thinner and lighter

36 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 B oeing photo Pilot-PREFERRED Apps Smartphone apps are all about convenience, and who needs easily accessible data more than airline pilots? When weighing the usefulness of an app, quick access to real-time data is an obvious priority, but member preferences vary after that. We asked ALPA pilots, “What’s your favorite app?” to find out why we see so many pilots staring into their palms. Here’s what they told us:

F/O Adam Kolb (United) likes FlightTrack, a paid app that “lets me F/O Greg Saylor (Delta) says his know my departure gates at the start of a “favorite flying-related app is trip and also allows me to know what gate Rainy Days, a quick and easy we will be going to at our destination.” He way to get wx radar information.” adds that FlightTrack also provides a useful The Rainy Days app is specific to way “to check the company for out and in the Android platform. times to make sure [they’re] the same as [the times that appear in] ACARS.”

Capt. Jeff Breland (FedEx Express) says, “As a commuter, I have F/O Matthew Halstead (United) says, found FlightBoard invaluable. “Google and Google Maps are It will show the actual flight board changing the world, are available on from any airport so you can get every platform, and are hands down current, actual information rather the reference for information, be it than [printed] schedules.” data or location.”

Some pilots like to address personal F/O Roger Keith (United) says, “I fly financial matters with apps. Capt. David many international trips, and I like Watson (ExpressJet) likes the USAA how the Sleep Cycle app picks the app for his banking, insurance, invest- best time in my sleep cycle to wake ment, and mortgage needs. “USAA is a me, when I nap after arriving at a secure website with a simple design and foreign destination.” is smart enough to remember me and my password.”

Among the many apps F/O Jolanda And, of course, there’s the ALPA Witvliet (United) accesses, she app with news feeds, an interactive prefers Urbanspoon. The app jumpseat guide, detailed informa- helps her “find restaurants [and has] tion about the Known Crewmember a cool slot machine feature.” program, and more.

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 37 ALPA Resources and Contact Numbers National Officers These photos were taken at the April 2012 ALPA Executive Board For complete biographical Capt. Lee Moak President meeting. Governing Bodies Coordinator Maggie Erzen, in yellow, information on ALPA’s national served as meeting secretary. Photos by Chris Weaver. officers, visit www.alpa.org or scan the QR code. Capt. Randy Helling Capt. William Couette Capt. Sean Cassidy Vice President–Finance/ Vice President– First Vice President Treasurer Administration/Secretary

Executive Vice Presidents F/O Michael Hamilton Capt. Bill Patterson For more information on which pilot groups executive Capt. Mark Nagel United Air Wisconsin, Evergreen, Air Transport Int’l, vice presidents represent, visit www.alpa.org/evp. Capt. Dan Adamus ExpressJet, Hawaiian, Atlantic Southeast, Capt. Thomas Maxwell Air Transat, Bearskin, Island Air, Sun Country Calm Air, Canadian CommutAir, Pinnacle, Alaska, American Eagle, Capt. Larry Beck F/O Todd Ortscheid Capt. Joe Fagone North, CanJet, First PSA ASTAR, Mesa Air Group, Continental AirTran, Capital Cargo, FedEx Express Air, Jazz Air, Kelowna Piedmont, Ryan, Capt. Tim Canoll Comair, Compass, North Flightcraft, Wasaya Capt. Bill Bartels Trans States Executive Administrator American, Spirit Delta

Want to know more about ALPA’s EVPs? Scan the QR code.

ALPA Sudoku (© paulspages.co.uk) 2 7 8 6 4 1 9 3 5 Complete the sudoku puzzle so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3 1 6 5 8 9 7 2 4 3×3 sub-grids that compose the grid contains all the digits from 1 to 9. The solution to this month’s ALPA 5 9 4 2 7 3 6 8 1 sudoku can be found on page 36. Too easy, too difficult? Tell us what you 1 8 7 3 5 6 4 9 2 think. E-mail [email protected].

6 3 5 9 2 4 1 7 8 Have You Moved? Please call Membership Services at 1-888-359-2572, e-mail your new address to [email protected], or clip out this form—along with the mailing label 4 2 9 7 1 8 5 6 3 on the back cover—and send it to ALPA Membership Services PO Box 1169, Herndon, VA 20172-1169 Name______9 6 2 1 3 5 8 4 7 Member #______

Airline______

New address______7 4 1 8 9 2 3 5 6

Apt.______City______State______Zip______8 5 3 4 6 7 2 1 9

38 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 ALPA Information Numbers

The following ALPA resources may be Computer Help Line ([email protected]) Membership Services ([email protected]) reached by e-mail or by dialing, toll-free, 703-689-4357 1-888-359-2572 (1-888-FLY-ALPA), 1-888-359-2572 (1-888-FLY-ALPA). Once Council Services ([email protected]) option 3 connected, dial the last four digits of the 703-689-4311 IT Operations and Services ([email protected]) number listed below. Discipline and Discharge ([email protected]) 703-689-4245 Accident Investigation ([email protected]) 703-689-4226 Organizing ([email protected]) 703-689-4312 Economic and Financial Analysis 703-689-4179 Accounting and Finance ([email protected]) ([email protected]) 703-689-4289 Publishing Services ([email protected]) 703-689-4144 Election dates LEC/MEC 703-689-4212 703-689-4185 Air Line Pilot ([email protected]) Engineering and Air Safety ([email protected]) Purchasing ([email protected]) 703-481-4460 703-689-4200 703-689-4319 ALPA Main Number 703-689-2270 FAA Enforcement or Medical Certificate Representation ([email protected]) ALPA‑PAC 202-797-4033 Action ([email protected]) 703-689-4226 703-689-4375 ASPEN 703-689-4220 Government Affairs Real Estate ([email protected]) 703-689-4105 Balloting ([email protected]) 703-689-4173 ([email protected]) 202-797-4033 Human Resources Retirement and Insurance ([email protected]) Cashiering ([email protected]) 703-689-4115 703-689-4385 ([email protected]) 703-689-4262 Information Technology and Services System Board of Adjustment Communications (Communications@alpa. ([email protected]) 703-689-4226 org) 703-481-4440 ([email protected]) 703-689-4223 Legal ([email protected]) 202-797-4096 Capt. Tim Canoll 703-689-4326 Executive Administrator

Membership Services

To obtain membership account information Jazz–JAZ MEC 1-800-561-9576 Ryan–RYN MEC 1-800-292-ALPA or to update your records or your postal or Kelowna Flightcraft–KFC MEC Spirit–SPA MEC 765-481-9033 e-mail address via the Internet, go to the My 250-878-7950 –SCA MEC 952-853-2393 ALPA area of Crewroom.alpa.org; or dial the Sun Country toll-free number 1-888-359-2572 (1-888-FLY- Mesa–MAG MEC 602-306-1116 Trans States–TSA MEC 610-805-5387 ALPA) and choose menu option 3. North American–NAA MEC 732-778-6969 United–UAL MEC 847-292-1700 Listed below are the telephone numbers Piedmont–PDT MEC 339-987-1277 Wasaya–WSG MEC 807-624-7270 of MEC offices. Pinnacle–PCL MEC 901-527-0355 *Pilot group in custodianship AirTran–ATN MEC 404-763-5165 PSA–PSA MEC 616-405-3962 Air Transat–TSC MEC 1-888-337-2033 Air Transport International–ATI MEC 505-263-8838 ALPA Headquarters: 1625 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036 Air Wisconsin–ARW MEC 317-697-5113 Postmaster: Send address changes to Air Line Pilot, PO Alaska–ALA MEC 206-241-3138 Director of Communications Box 1169, Herndon, VA 20172-1169. American Eagle–EGL MEC 817-685-7474 Marie Schwartz Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40620579: Editor Sharon B. Vereb Return undeliverable magazines sent to Canadian ad- ASTAR Air Cargo–DHL MEC dresses to 2835 Kew Drive, Windsor, ON, Canada N8T 3B7. 859-282-1475 Technical Editor Jan W. Steenblik *ATA–ATA MEC 773-284-4910 Associate Managing Editor Susan Fager Design and Production Editor William A. Ford Other Organizations Atlantic Southeast–ASA MEC Staff Writer John Perkinson ALPA Aeromedical Office 303-341-4435 404-209-8566 ALPA Federal Credit Union 1-800-747-2349 Special Projects Molly Martin Bearskin–BRS MEC 807-628-5683 Motion Graphics Specialist Eric Davis ALPA Accident/Incident Hotline Calm Air–CMA MEC 204-471-1000 ePublishing Editor Jesica Ferry Canadian North–CNP MEC 780-718-6012 If you are involved in an accident, incident, or alleged Web Coordinators Cicely Jenkins, violation of a federal aviation regulation, contact your Chris Weaver CanJet–CJA MEC 1-800-959-1751 local or central air safety chairman, regional safety chairman, or the worldwide ALPA accident/incident Air Line Pilot is not responsible for un­solicited manu­ Capital Cargo–CCI MEC 256-289-0428 hotline at 202-797-4180 (collect calls are accepted) for scripts, photographs, or other ma­te­r­ials. Unsolicited an immediate response 24 hours per day. As a backup Comair–CMR MEC 859-282-9016 materials will be re­turned only if submitted with a self- number, call 703-892-4180. addressed, stamped envelope. Opinions expressed by To report a safety problem or airspace system defi­ CommutAir–CMT MEC 440-985-8579 authors do not necessarily represent official ALPA ciency, call 1-800-424-2470 or e-mail [email protected]. Compass–CPZ MEC 952-853-2373 position or policy. Continental–CAL MEC 281-987-3636 Subscriptions: Subscription rate for pilot members,­ $25, included in ALPA member­ship dues; for students, 2012 EBCB Schedule Delta–DAL MEC 404-763-4925 $37; for U.S. nonmembers, $50; for foreign, $65. Resi- The Association’s Election and Ballot Cer­ti­­f­ication Evergreen–EIA MEC 503-474-3880 dents of the state of Washington must add 8.8 percent Board’s schedule for counting ballots is July 10, August sales tax. To subscribe online go to www.alpa.org/ 10, September 10, October 10, November 12, and ExpressJet–XJT MEC 281-987-3636 subscriptions or call 703-481-4460. To request address December 10. changes, call 703-689-4311. Any ALPA member in good standing may be present FedEx Express–FDX MEC 901-752-8749 as an observer during any meeting. Contact the Associa- Address Changes for Members tion’s Membership and Council Services Department First Air–FAB MEC 1-877-459-3272 Only: E-mail to [email protected]. for scheduling. Freedom–MAG MEC 602-306-1116 Air Line Pilot is printed in the United States and pub- lished for professional airline pilots in the United States Hawaiian–HAL MEC 808-836-2572 and Canada who are members of the Air Line Pilots Island Air–AIS MEC 808-838-0188 Association, International.

June/July 2012 Air Line Pilot 39 ALPA’s Loss of LicenSe Insurance

You plan for contingencies in the air; it’s time to plan for them in life.

Make sure ALPA’s Loss of License Insurance is part of your flight plan. Call 1-800-746 ALPA (2572), visit www.alpa.org/mbin or scan the QR code.

40 Air Line Pilot June/July 2012 A member service of Air Line Pilot.