Release #13.53
October 17, 2013

ALPA Welcomes Back Key Airline Personnel as Federal Government Re-Opens

WASHINGTON – The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), today re-affirmed its support for thousands of Federal Government employees as they return to the workplace. The government funding bill that passed late Wednesday night has allowed key airline personnel at ALPA’s partner organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transport (DOT) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to return to work after the 16-day furlough.

Last week, ALPA went on record during a press conference on Capitol Hill supporting the end of the government shutdown calling for the signing of a bill that would ensure FAA operations to be up and running through the end of FY2014. This legislation effectively guarantees that there will no air traffic controller or safety inspector furloughs during this time.

The recent disruption in government funding has caused the cancellation of several major aviation industry events, as well as impeding the development of vital technologies such as the NextGen air traffic control system.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing nearly 50,000 pilots at 32 airlines in the United States and Canada.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703/481-4440 or media@alpa.org