Union, Air Canada Meet to Discuss Path Forward
The parties met in Toronto on October 6th and 7th to discuss the reasons the previous T/A was rejected. After listening to the union committee; on the 7th the company presented what they believed to be one possible path forward. After that meeting the parties agreed to reconvene the week of October 27th. During the week of the 27th there were several comprehensive proposals passed between the parties and while there was a great deal of progress towards reaching a new agreement, the week ended without a new T/A.
The company and the union are working on future dates to attempt to finalize an agreement.
In Memoriam
Retired Atlas Air Captain Laura Sue Haines passed away following illness on October 28th. Born in Las Cruces, NM, Captain Haines attended New Mexico State University. Prior to her career with Atlas, she flew as a Captain at Mesa Airlines.
Laura was a highly respected crewmember on the 747-200 where she achieved the rank of Captain, and was held in very high regard for her skills and her concern for her fellow crewmembers. During her career, she amassed over 11,000 hours of flying time, and considered some of her most important flying her flights carrying supplies to U.S. troops in the Middle East after the attack on the Twin Towers in 2001. A very valued and key member of the first Atlas pilots negotiating Committee, Laura brought her years of experience and knowledge to the process, always keeping the needs of the pilots uppermost in her mind.
After retiring ten years ago, Laura focused her energy, talents and passion for life to the community of Socorro, NM where her knowledge in aviation, extensive contacts and skills in administration and leadership helped to play a key role in the growth of the Socorro Municipal Airport. She founded the M Mountain Fly-In Event in 2008, attracting aviators and enthusiasts from around the country to Socorro. Her tireless efforts helped win it the 2012 "Airshow of the Year" by the New Mexico Airport Managers Association. In recognition of her efforts, just before her death Socorro Mayor Rav Bhasker issued a proclamation renaming the fly in the "Captain Laura S. Haines M Mountain Fly-In."
Laura’s other love was horses; especially her Barrel Racing horse, Twister. She most recently channeled her energy and love of horses and rodeo in helping with the city's new arena, helping to make it a one of a kind venue in this part of central New Mexico. Laura was a member of the South West Barrel Racing Association; the National Barrel Horse Association; and a Board of Director on the Socorro County Fair and Rodeo. She was also a long time Barrel Racing Director for the New Mexico Rodeo Association, organizing the Wild Bunch Reunion Rodeo Association which raised money for scholarships for local youth. Laura organized many Socorro County NMRA Rodeos and also competed throughout New Mexico, winning many awards in Barrel Racing.
Left to cherish her memory along with Twister are her mother, Sue Haines of Metuchen, NJ; her father Ben H. Haines and wife Sandra Herkenhoff of Las Cruces, NM; her sister Cynthia Reynolds and husband Al of Metuchen, NJ; brother Josh Kauffman of Las Cruces; Uncles Edward Haines (Nyeta), Brian Haines, Brandon Haines; Aunts Bobbie Newhart (Ed), Elizabeth Stromberg (Thor); Cousin Emily Montoya (Kenneth) and those that she knew through her work and schooling in Las Cruces, her career in aviation, her rodeo participation and her work in the Socorro community.
Services for Laura were held on Friday, October 31st. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Socorro General Hospital Hospice, PO Box 1009, Hwy 60 West, Socorro, NM 87801 or your own local hospice chapter.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
After receiving widespread criticism from Congress and the aviation industry for the slow rollout of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) collaborated with the aviation community to devise a plan to pick up momentum.
Airlines, Industry and Labor
JP Morgan analysts are predicting an upward trend for the U.S. airline industry. "We remain as confident as ever in the industry's ability to broach new margin territory in 2015 and beyond, with the recent earnings season bolstering said conviction despite growing concerns over capacity," analysts at JP Morgan said.
Southwest Airlines has recycled its old leather seats by donating the materials to a nonprofit in Kenya which reuses the leather for shoes and soccer balls.
Republic Airways Holdings, based in Indianapolis, posted an $18.5 million profit for the third quarter.
United Airlines is in the market for used aircraft to replace its regional jets. John Rainey, chief financial officer for the carrier, said buying aircraft in a "financially disciplined way" helps the carrier succeed. Experts predict United will either purchase Airbus A320s or Embraer 190s.
Airbus plans to build its A321 jet at its first U.S. factory in Mobile, Ala. Barry Eccleston, the president of Airbus Americas, said the manufacturer had originally planned to build the A320 at the facility, but changed to the A321 due to increasing demand.
Delta Air Lines, local property owners, environmental groups and labor unions are all objecting to development of a second Atlanta airport.
American Airlines is honoring its storied past by painting aircraft with the liveries of heritage airlines. The carrier painted an A319 with the colors of Allegheny, a local service airline started in 1957 that served Pennsylvania and seven other states. Allegheny eventually changed its name to US Air, the precursor of US Airways.