Atlas Pilots to Operate “Dreamlifter”
Crewmembers of Atlas Air will soon be flying four specially configured Boeing 747-400 series aircraft to transport oversized sections of the Boeing 787 “Dreamliner” from around the world to their final assembly point in
“We’re honored by this opportunity to be part of the team that is responsible for the Dreamliner,” said Captain Steve Richards, co-chairman of the Transition Executive Council (TEC) for Atlas. “The addition of this contract by Atlas speaks well of our company and of our pilots reputation to provide consistent high quality service to our customers.”
“While this contract will result in further recalls and potential hiring here at Atlas, we are also mindful of the potential for furloughs and possible pilot job losses that may occur at Evergreen as a result of the loss of the contract,” Richards noted. “It is my intention to speak with Atlas management and request that they consider preferential interviewing and hiring of any Evergreen pilots affected by the loss of the Dreamlifter contract. These pilots are already current and qualified on the Dreamlifter and we would welcome them. Additionally, with their experience on the aircraft, they would require minimal cross training, which would represent a tremendous cost savings to Atlas,” he said.
Senator Seeks to Use Important Safety Device for Punitive Discipline, Threaten Pilots
The introduction of legislation by Senator James DeMint, (R-SC) that would allow airlines to use Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) tapes as disciplinary tools against pilots has been met with strong opposition from airline union and safety representatives. The legislation, known as S 3048, the “Pilot Professionalism Assurance Act,” if enacted, would allow airlines unfettered use of CVR tapes for any reason, including punitive discipline and job termination, while leaving the crewmember no right of legal recourse.
“Senator DeMint’s legislation is a direct attack on professional pilots and organized labor,” said Captain David Bourne, Director of the Airline Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. “This legislation is a thinly veiled excuse to further erode the First Amendment of the Constitution by someone openly opposed to labor and would allow management the ability to use normal conversations between pilots as evidence to pressure, threaten, harass or terminate them. For pilots at non union carriers, it gives management the ability to screen conversations to determine who is supporting union organizing and terminate them,” Bourne went on to say.
Captain Russ Leighton, Airline Safety Coordinator for the Airline Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters stated, “CVR’s were first placed in the cockpits of large commercial airplanes decades ago for one very specific purpose; to provide the NTSB with information that may be valuable in determining the probable cause of an accident. To use this technology for any other purpose would be counter-productive to aviation safety.”
“Pilots are trained decision makers, who during the worst case scenarios must use all their education and experience to make a choice where people’s lives depend on the outcome. The chilling effect of having to make these decisions while the world is looking over one’s shoulder is immeasurable,” Leighton said, noting that, “Every decision made by pilots, who operate in one of the most demanding job environments in the world, must act based solely upon education and experience, not based upon a concern over what his employer, the government, or anyone else will think days later. There are plenty of viable options in use today to address cockpit safety issues. Voluntary programs such as ASAP (Aviation Safety Action Program), FOQA (Flight Operations Quality Assurance), and LOSA (Line Operational Safety Audit) have been very effective. They allow for the same data that monitoring a CVR would provide, but without the chilling effect on a pilot’s decision making process. Widespread use of these well established programs is the best solution for safer skies,” he commented.
Particularly disturbing, according to Bourne would be the effect on crewmembers, which are subject to reporting under PRIA, the Pilot Records Improvement Act. “What is particularly insidious about this poorly researched and proposed legislation are the additional checkrides and job terminations that would result from unscrupulous actions by managements who will enjoy total immunity under this legislation. Those checkrides and terminations will end up as part of a pilot’s permanent record with the FAA under PRIA,” said Bourne. “With the proposed enhancements to the existing PRIA law, such actions would destroy a pilot’s ability to ever find work again as a pilot, Bourne noted. “In addition to being fired with no recourse over supporting a union, the real possibility exists that a pilot could be fired for saying their company was operating unsafely and it should be reported to the FAA. The company would be free to fire the employee for threatening to disclose a safety matter and be free from legal recourse by the pilot. And the pilot, with the termination or failed checkride on his PRIA, would never find a flying job again,” said Bourne. “We are unalterably opposed to Senator DeMint’s attack on the First Amendment and on pilot’s right to free speech and will oppose this legislation.”
Airline Division Director Comments on the Retirement of “Sully” Sullenberger
In noting the announcement this week of the retirement of Captain Chesley Sullenberger, Airline Division Director David Bourne praised the Captain for his years of service. “While many choose to focus on the emergency landing that brought him public acclaim, we would be remiss to overlook the many years of service and millions of passengers that he safely transported throughout his career,” said Bourne. “His work as a union volunteer and service as an Air Force pilot also stand as a testament to his lifetime of service for others.” “I have had the distinct honor of accompanying him as he testified so eloquently on Capitol Hill on aviation issues and now that he has retired from the cockpit and announced his intention to continue to work on behalf of pilot issues and safety, I look forward to a continued working relationship with him,” Bourne continued.
Commenting on the retirement of Flight Attendant Doreen Welsh, who was a crewmember on the ill fated flight with Sullenberger, Bourne said, “Too often, flight attendants are overlooked as critical members of an airline crew. Flight Attendant Doreen Welsh and her fellow crewmembers were critical to the successful outcome that day, just as they are every day on every flight. Too often they are forgotten for the professionals they are. Doreen’s 39 years of providing service to passengers and seeing to their safety is a tribute to her dedication and I also join in wishing her well in her retirement,” he concluded.
United Talks Continue in
IBT Airline Division Director David Bourne and other IBT representatives, including IBT Representative Clacy Griswold met with UAL senior management on March 3, 2010 in
Representatives from the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust participated by teleconference with respect to the pension-related matters. Discussions concerning scope were deferred to a follow-up meeting which is tentatively scheduled for later this month. The parties anticipate returning to the bargaining table after the follow-up meeting, and after they have had an opportunity to fully evaluate each others’ bargaining positions.
Mediation in
Representatives from Local 2727, representing UPS Mechanics will meet in
Week in Review News Items
Labor Developments
Air travelers in the U.S. could face the same types of labor relations-driven flight disruptions that crippled air travel in parts of Europe last week…American, Continental, United, US Airways and Southwest are in prolonged contract talks with various unions…contract talks between American and its flight attendants broke off Wednesday night with the union declaring that negotiations were hopelessly stalemated while the company said it is looking forward to more bargaining.
Regulatory
For the third time in seven months the judgment of those who operate the nation's air traffic control system has been called into question and raised concerns that the system may not be as safe as officials claim…investigators of a French airline accident and aviation agencies from 44 other European countries plan to ask ICAO to change the way planes transmit information while flying over oceans.
Aviation System Security
Eleven major airports will begin using body scanners to screen passengers as TSA launches a plan to buy 1,000 of the machines over the next two years…however, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and consumer advocate Ralph Nader are urging President Obama to review the administration's multibillion dollar plans to install whole body scanners at U.S. airports…and in a lawsuit filed in Cook County Court, former chief of security at O'Hare James Maurer said Chicago City Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino and her staff "continually ignored, dismissed and shunned Maurer in his efforts to make O'Hare Airport a safer facility."
Airline Industry Finances & Structure
Jesup & Lamont estimates that the lost revenue from February snowstorms will total between $80 million and $100 million for the whole industry…budget airlines in Europe gained 13 million more passengers last year, with cheaper prices pulling in customers amid an overall drop in air travel…Air France-KLM said it would raise capacity on its long-haul flights by 0.8 percent this summer as it sees tentative signs of recovery…Asia powered improved demand for international air traffic in January as both passenger and freight figures jumped by more than the sharp falls triggered by the financial crisis a year ago.…the “M” word – merger – has been trumpeted in U.S. airline circles since December, particularly once the analyst community began to see there might be a light at the end of the recessionary tunnel…and more travelers are loyal to alliances, not airlines; the alliances that seem to work the best for passengers and carriers have two critical elements: antitrust immunity and a joint-venture operating structure.
Miscellaneous
Airlines and hotels are refining their mobile websites and creating applications, or "apps," for downloading to popular phone models…Continental Airlines will begin charging coach customers extra if they want a seat with more legroom. Prices will vary depending on the length of a flight and popularity of the route…with higher load factors and fuller planes, airlines are focusing more attention on the number, size and shape of passengers’ carry-on bags, forcing more flyers to check their oversized or extra bags at the gates, and to pay checked-bag fees for the inconvenience…Amtrak has launched Internet service aboard 20 high-speed Acela Express trains…and fliers who feel they have been mistreated by airlines may soon be in for a bit of relief. New government rules go into effect next month that will give travelers more rights—and maybe even more recourse—when travel goes awry.