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News from ALPA International |
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May 3, 2012 |
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ALPA Comments on Proposed Pilot Qual Reqs |
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 Late last week, ALPA submitted comments to the FAA outlining its views on the agency’s
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on pilot certification and qualification requirements for air carrier operations. This NPRM was developed in response to new laws regarding airline pilot training and qualification contained in the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-216).
ALPA’s comments support the NPRM, but they also call on the agency to prescribe a regulatory path that will permit non-ATP certificated pilots who presently fly for a Part 121 carrier to obtain the ATP certificate, and type rating for the aircraft that they operate, without creating a break in employment or an undue burden for them or their employers.
If enacted as proposed, the NPRM will create new certification rules for pilots in air carrier operations which will require that:
- a second in command in Part 121 operations hold an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate and a type rating for the aircraft to be flown;
- pilots with an aviation degree and flight training obtained through an accredited college/university or military pilot experience be allowed to obtain an ATP certificate with restricted privileges with 1,000 or 750 hours total time, respectively;
- a PIC have at least 1,000 flight hours in air carrier operations in order to serve as a pilot in command in Part 121 air carrier operations;
- pilot applicants for an ATP have at least 50 hours of multiengine flight experience; and
- pilot applicants for an ATP complete a new, FAA-approved ATP certification training program that includes academic training and flight simulation device training, all tailored toward Part 121 airline operations.
ALPA actively participated on the aviation rulemaking committee that developed many of the recommendations contained in the NPRM.
Read ALPA’s comments in full.
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 The Transportation Security Administration notified ALPA this week that the U.S. government has confirmed that terrorists continue to show an interest in targeting aviation-sector facilities and conveyances. In light of the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death earlier this week, pilots should remain alert for any indication that terrorists may use new methods in their attempts to thwart security measures.
As encouraged by the Department of Homeland Security, “If you see something, say something.” Please report any suspicious activity to local and federal law enforcement authorities and to your MEC Security Committees and/or coordinators.
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What’s In Store for NextGen? |
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 The FAA’s Authorization Act, passed earlier this year, included updated plans for NextGen implementation, but what is the agency specifically doing to improve the NAS, you ask?
The FAA, in March, issued a publication outlining its plans for this year’s many operational improvements and the progress made to date. Find out how NextGen will integrate new and existing technologies, policies, and procedures to reduce delays, save fuel, and lower aircraft exhaust emissions.
Go to
www.faa.gov/nextgen/implementation/plan/.
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Pilots Needed for Study at FAA Technical Center |
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The
FAA’s William J. Hughes
Technical Center near
Atlantic City, N.J., is
conducting a study
called Aircraft Access
to System Wide
Information Management
(SWIM), which would give
aircraft access to the
same information the FAA
uses to make its air
traffic management
decisions. SWIM access
is intended to increase
common situational
awareness among National
Airspace System (NAS)
users. The SWIM
information would be
provided to the aircraft
via an electronic flight
bag.
The study will be
conducted in the FAA’s
Airbus 320 simulator.
The FAA needs airline
pilots—Airbus experience
is preferred but not
required—for one day
between May 15 and May
31. Participation will
take approximately 8
hours.
There is no
compensation or expense
reimbursement for
participating, but
participation will aid
in providing this
information to pilots in
the cockpit. If
interested, please
contact Hal Olson at
609-204-7044 or Albert
Rehmann at
albert.rehmann@faa.gov.
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We Want Photos from the Line |
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We want to see what you
see, so share your
pictures from the line.
Air Line Pilot
encourages you to submit
your high-quality prints
from a developer or
high-resolution digital
images. Your photo could
be featured on the cover
of a future magazine!
Send your photos for
the magazine to
publishing@alpa.org.
In addition, more and
more pilot-submitted
photos are gracing
ALPA’s Facebook page
these days. Submit your
best pictures of flying
the line to
photos@alpa.org, and
see them posted at
www.Facebook.com/wearealpa.
Whether snapping
shots for Air Line
Pilot or Facebook,
please adhere to the
appropriate FARs, CARs,
and company policy.
Thanks!
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• In the Calgary Herald, Canada will not bend to Europe’s aviation emissions trading system, Transport Minister Denis Lebel said Wednesday.
Read more.
• According to the Chicago Tribune, Boeing has designed a new winglet for its upcoming 737 MAX, a step the plane maker says will result in additional fuel savings of up to 1.5 percent beyond the 10–12 percent improvement it has said the airplane will deliver.
Read more.
• The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Boeing on Tuesday celebrated delivery of the first airline 747-8 Intercontinental—the latest in a series of new airplanes.
Read more.
• The Associated Press reports that the Emirates CEO sees room
for more U.S. destinations.
Read more.
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On May 10, 1934, the U.S. National Labor Board issued Decision 83, setting a maximum flying time for airline pilots at 85 hours per month, and setting base pay for airline pilots at $1,600 per year. Hourly and mileage pay increments were also provided. Return to top
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Feedback & E-mail Address Changes |
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| Questions or comments on this FastRead? Give us your feedback at
communications@alpa.org. If you have moved or changed your ISP or e-mail
address, please update your ALPA records. If you don’t, you
will no longer receive the ALPA FastRead and other e-mail bulletins and notices,
and once your postal forwarding order expires, you’ll no longer receive the
magazine and other ALPA mail. You can do it yourself by going to
www.alpa.org and logging
in. Go to “My ALPA” in the menu at the top of the page, and from there, you’ll be
instructed how to make the necessary changes. If you don’t have access to the
members-only section of
www.alpa.org, you can
e-mail your requests by sending them to
membership@alpa.org. Be sure to include your member number or enough other
information so that we can identify you in the membership database, and tell us
what information needs to be updated.Can’t remember your member number
or how to log in? Need information about your ALPA insurance programs? These and
other questions about ALPA services can be answered by contacting
membership@alpa.org.Return to top
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Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l
1625 Massachusetts Avenue NW
| Washington, DC 20036 | 703-689-2270 |
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