Delta/Northwest Merger and Pilot Agreement Sets Historic Precedent
Successful transactions must include pilots
October 30 - Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, issued the attached statement following the closing of the Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines merger and on the first day of a single collective bargaining agreement between the pilots of both carriers and senior executives.

Evergreen Crewmembers Informational Picket at JFK
Pilots and flight engineers march to express dissatisfaction with limited advancement in contract negotiations
October 27 - Evergreen International Airlines (EIA) crewmembers, represented by ALPA, conducted informational picketing on Monday at JFK International Airport.

ALPA Calls Upon Congress to Hold New Hearings on DHL-UPS Deal
UPS website to lure DHL customers contradicts UPS testimony at congressional hearings
October 23 - ASTAR pilots, represented by ALPA, today called on Congress to further investigate the DHL-UPS merger in light of the latest attempt by UPS to openly raid DHL’s customer base through its corporate website: http://switchnow.ups.com. The site explains how DHL customers can ensure that their packages will get to their destinations by switching now to UPS, a pitch that is especially effective in light of the fact that DHL will now depend on UPS for transportation and processing of all of its products.

Perseverance Pays Off for American Eagle Pilots in Newly Ratified Agreement with Management
October 22 - American Eagle pilots, represented by ALPA, today achieved a ratified collective bargaining agreement with management after an arduous negotiations process surrounding an unprecedented 16-year contract with AMR Corporation.

United Pilots: Fuel Hedge Losses Further Proof of Misdirection of Airline
October 21 - United Airlines’ announced $779 million loss for the third quarter, $519 million attributable to poor fuel hedges, is yet another example of incompetence and lack of fiscal responsibility by its CEO and his executives, according to the pilots of United Airlines.

Spirit Pilots Protest Contract Violations, Furloughs
October 10 - Spirit pilots walked the picket line yesterday at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), demanding that Spirit Airlines management honor its commitments. Joined by fellow union members from Mesaba, Midwest, Comair, and Delta, the Spirit pilots conducted their second informational picket in as many months. The two-hour event garnered plenty of media attention, including coverage from the Detroit Free Press, NPR, and a local network affiliate.

Sun Country Pilots React to Company Bankruptcy Filing
October 6 - Capt. Buddy Scroggins, chairman of the Sun Country Airlines group of ALPA, issued the attached statement in response to the airline’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, October 6.

Continental, United Pilots Sign Protocol Agreement
October 7 - Pilots from Continental and United Airlines, both represented by ALPA, today announced additional measures to protect pilot careers and reap gains from their airlines’ alliance. Continental announced this summer that it plans to join United in the Star Alliance, the world’s largest group of airline partners. Continental currently is a member of the SkyTeam alliance.

Pilots Participate in New Runway Safety Council
FAA Names Capt. Rory Kay Industry Co-Chair
October 31 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently named Capt. Rory Kay, executive air safety chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), the new Runway Safety Council’s industry co-chair. Capt. Kay will serve a one-year term in that position; Wes Timmons, FAA’s director of runway safety, is the other co-chair.

Pilots’ Safety Concerns Top NTSB List (Again)
FAA Must Be Fully Funded for More Progress
October 28 - Capt. Rory Kay, Executive Air Safety Chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the attached statement after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements.

Pilots Raise the Bar on Runway Safety
ALPA challenges airline industry, government to eliminate serious runway incursions altogether
September 25 - Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, set the bar high for runway safety today, challenging both government and industry to establish a goal of zero serious runway incursions involving commercial airliners in his testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation.
• Read Capt. Prater’s testimony
• View the “Hold Short for Runway Safety” website



ALPA Safety and Security Forum Opens
The 54th annual ALPA Air Safety and Security Forum opened with a bang, as attendees watched a video highlighting this year’s theme, “Leadership at Work.”

Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president, welcomed ALPA members and guests to this year’s event, which was held Wednesday, August 13 and Thursday, August 14 in Washington, D.C.


Key Member of Congress Asks for ALPA Input on Cargo Security
August 1 - Congressman John L. Mica (R-Fla.), the ranking Republican on the House Subcommittee on Aviation, recently wrote to ALPA president, Capt. John Prater asking for recommendations from ALPA on improving cargo security. Prater testified July 24 before the Subcommittee during the “Aviation Security: An Update” hearing.


Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety
ALPA Safety, through its Volcanic Ash project under the Air Traffic Services Group, has devoted years to expanding its database of operationally relevant information on this potential hazard and improving the warning system necessary to reduce unplanned encounters of hazardous ash clouds. This new website provides information for greater awareness, recommended practices for avoidance, and what to do in the event of an unexpected encounter. Pertinent videos, maps, and briefings about this dangerous yet fascinating natural phenomenon are included. Click here to launch the website.

The International Directory
ALPA's Air Safety Department has issued an International Directory for international pilots. The Directory includes known expectations of authorities, a listing of major IFALPA associations’ contact information, and U.S. and Canadian government contact information for every country of the world. An ALPA member login is required.

Walking the Line
A library of video and photo footage documenting the solidarity of ALPA's pilot family.

Archived Events:

ALPA BOD Proudly Avow “We are ALPA!”
October 22, 2008 - ALPA’s highest governing body, the Board of Directors, resolved on Wednesday to navigate the Association forcefully into the future with its just completed strategic plan for the years to come.

ALPA Members: Click here to view the BOD website.

Highlights from ALPA's 103rd Executive Board
September 10, 2008 - The second day of ALPA’s 103rd Executive Board meeting featured ASTAR Air Cargo MEC Chairman, Capt. Pat Walsh, who reported on the status of his pilot group’s fight to save their jobs. As previously reported, ASTAR pilots were negotiating their latest contract at the same time that Deutsche Post, which owns DHL, was in talks to transfer all of ASTAR’s flying to competitor UPS. For highlights from Day 1, please click here.

ALPA Names Capt. Rory Kay to Lead its Aviation Safety Work
June 4, 2008 - ALPA has named Capt. Rory Kay (United) its Executive Air Safety Chairman. Capt. Kay is charged with continuing to advance the Association’s long history of enhancing aviation safety and to lead the hundreds of pilot representatives who take part in the union’s safety work.

Capt. Randy Helling Elected ALPA Vice-President–Finance
May 28, 2008 - “I am proud to announce the election and ratification of Capt. W. Randolph Helling (Northwest) as vice-president–finance/treasurer by the Association’s Executive Board and Board of Directors. Capt. Helling will oversee the general financial and fiscal administration of the union.” - Capt. John Prater