Mesaba Labor Groups React to 1113(c) Filing to Reject Contracts
Management Term Sheet Demands Unrealistic and Unwarranted Cuts
February 3 - Mesaba Airlines filed a motion in bankruptcy court today that requests authority to reject the collective bargaining agreements with ALPA, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA). The unions have made every effort possible to respond to management’s request for cost savings, but are at odds over the depth of management’s proposed cuts, especially in light of the enormous sums of money that Mesaba has transferred to its parent, MAIR Holdings.

Northwest Pilots Union Leadership Authorizes Strike Ballot
February 3 - The elected representatives of the Northwest pilots union voted unanimously last night to ballot the pilot group to authorize a strike. The exact timing of the ballot was left to the discretion of Master Executive Council (MEC) Chairman Capt. Mark McClain.

Video News: United Pilots' role in UAL's exit from bankruptcy.
February 3 - UAL pilots and other employees were critical to their company’s successful exit from bankruptcy.
Dial-Up | DSL/Cable.

Air Transat Pilots Ratify New Labor Agreement
February 3 - The Air Transat pilot group has voted to accept a new collective bargaining agreement that will improve working conditions and give the pilots a more competitive salary. With 93 percent of the pilot group voting, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of the pilots voted in favor of the new contract.

ALPA Pledges $10 Million to Help Fund NWA Pilots’ Contingency Preparations
January 26 - Acting on a resolution by the Northwest Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association Int’l (ALPA) requesting financial assistance, ALPA’s Executive Council yesterday granted the Northwest pilot group up to $10 million from the union’s Major Contingency Fund.

Mesaba Employees Oppose Management Incentive Plans
Airline management seeks to retain bonuses amid employee concessions
January 24 - Mechanics, flight attendants, and pilots at Mesaba Airlines are speaking out against the inequity of rewarding Mesaba’s management team with $2.2 million in bonus money at the very same time as the carrier tries to impose 20% cuts on its rank and file employees.

Delta Connection ALPA Pilots Approve Concessions to Help Save Airline
January 20 - The pilots of Comair ratified a concessionary labor agreement, by a narrow 50.57 percent in favor, which will provide an annual savings of $17.3 million to bankrupt Comair Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines.

Additional News ...

Alaska Pilots Union Responds to Emergency Landing of Flight 536
December 28 - Alaska Airlines Capt. Paul Emmert, vice chairman of the Alaska pilots union, issued a statement regarding the incident resulting in the emergency landing of Alaska Airlines Flight 536 on Monday.

Piloting Profession Proves Its Worth Again in Boston
December 21 - Capt. Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l., issued a statement following the safe landing of Midwest Airlines Flight 210 at Boston’s Logan Airport on Tuesday evening.

U.S. House of Representatives Salutes FFDOs
December 9 - On the same day that a federal air marshal used deadly force to protect a commercial airliner, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution praising those pilots serving as armed law enforcement officers.


ALPA’s new Online Runway Safety Education Course, a joint initiative sponsored by ALPA, the FAA, and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation is now live. This interactive program is designed to increase your situational awareness in the airport environment and help reduce your chances of a Runway Incursion. Satisfactory completion of this program fulfills the seminar attendance requirement for the FAA's RIIEP Program. To take the course, click on the ALPA Runway Safety logo above or www.alpa.org/runwaysafety.
- View a preview of the FAA's Runway Safety Training DVD coming this fall.
DSL/Cable | Dial Up

ALPA has developed a new website devoted to information about the Safety Management System (SMS) concept. SMS grew out of an aerospace industry philosophy called System Safety, which came about in the 1960s after a string of unfortunate accidents made obvious that an organized approach to safety was needed. That idea resulted in a cohesive and integrated view of safety that has been responsible for the subsequent successes of many modern aerospace programs. Click here to visit the SMS website.

Additional News ...

Bush Appointees Failed Congress, Airlines, and Workers
ATSB "profit" is an insult to pilots and others who gave billions
January 31 - "Tonight, President Bush will report on the State of the Union. One thing he will not mention, however, is how his administration has failed to support the airline industry and its workers."

Pension Reform Legislation
UPDATE - February 2 - Final congressional action on pension reform legislation on hold until House-Senate conferees are appointed. ALPA members: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to learn more about this important matter.

Capt. Woerth Forms "Fee-For-Departure Task Force"
January 24 - ALPA has unveiled a new initiative in its long fight to protect the wages and work rules of express pilots--a Fee-For-Departure Task Force.

Foreign Control of U.S. Airlines
UPDATE - January 17 - House of Representatives schedules hearing on Administration’s foreign control proposal. ALPA members: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to learn more about this important issue and how you can help.

ALPA Emergency Relief Fund
In response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, ALPA has established the ALPA Emergency Relief Fund to help members who are in need of financial assistance as a result of this and other disasters.

Additional News ...

2006 Leadership Conference
February 13-15, 2006
ALPA Conference Facility
ALPA Building, Herndon, VA

Attendees must be eligible to attend (click here for eligibility information). For more information, please contact the ALPA Communications Department at 703-481-4440.

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Basic Safety School
February 21 - 22, 2006
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
El Tropicano Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX

The Basic Safety School (BSS) provides a formal introduction for pilot volunteers who have limited knowledge of the ALPA air safety structure. ALPA MEMBERS: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to register.

Safety Two School
February 21 - 24, 2006
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
El Tropicano Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX

The Safety Two School (STS) is intended to continue the safety education of your CASC members that began with the Basic Safety School (BSS). (Pre-requisite BSS). ALPA MEMBERS: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to register.

Security Training Course
February 21 - 22, 2006
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
El Tropicano Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX

The Security Training Course (STC) provides an introduction to ALPA policies and protocols and to give guidance on how to serve as an MEC security representative. ALPA MEMBERS: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to register.

Airport Liaison Representative Training
February 21 - 23, 2006
10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
El Tropicano Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX

The Airport Liaison Representative Training (ALR) provides a formal introduction for pilot volunteers who have limited knowledge of the various aspects involved with being an Airport Liaison Representative. (Pre-requisite BSS). ALPA MEMBERS: Log onto Crewroom.alpa.org to register.

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CIRP Training
March 13 - 16, 2006
Radisson - Hotel Denver Stapleton Plaza, Denver, Colorado

The Air Line Pilots Association, International is conducting CIRP training the week of March 13 to 16, 2006 at the Hotel Denver Stapleton Plaza in Denver, Colorado. The following training will be held:

• CIRP Chairpersons meeting - March 13
• CIRP Recurrent training - March 14
• Grief training - March 15 & 16

There will be a charge of $100 per person for non-ALPA attendees for each of the two training sessions. An invoice for this registration fee will be emailed to non-ALPA attendees on or before February 27, 2006. The non-ALPA registration fee may be paid either by check or credit card.
Click here to register.

Aeromedical Conference
March 14 - 15, 2006
Radisson - Hotel Denver Stapleton Plaza, Denver, Colorado
Click here to register.

Professional Standards Conference
May 16 - 18, 2006
The St. Paul Hotel, St. Paul, Minnesota

The conference is designed for both new and experience Professional Standards volunteers. We will have a variety of speakers, presentations and workshops dealing with human performance and specifically, Professional Standards issues.
Click here to register.

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Archived Events:

ALPA Honors Award Recipients at Air Safety Forum
Weeklong series of presentations and panels concludes
August 19, 2005 - ALPA wrapped up its annual Air Safety Forum on Thursday in Washington, D.C., by honoring several airline pilots who have made outstanding contributions to air safety or have exhibited superior airmanship during potentially disastrous in-flight situations.