International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations

ALPA Protests FAA Cut to Weapons Training Funds
April 15, 2013 - 12:55pm

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) is fighting back against U.S. government cuts slated to slash funding for the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, which trains pilots how to safely carry weapons aboard Part 121 aircraft.

“It is beyond belief that, at the same time the administration’s budget proposal [presented on April 10] recognizes the value of risk-based aviation security, it proposes to eliminate funding for this well established and extremely effective program,” said ALPA president Lee Moak in a statement last week.

Avantair Pilots Vote for Union Representation
February 19, 2013 - 2:50pm

Pilots at Clearwater, Fla.-based fractional provider Avantair voted for organization under the United Transportation Union (UTU) on Thursday. Among the pilots who participated in the election, 80 percent voted in favor of the union. The pilots are now represented under UTU’s transportation division, which represents only one other pilot group–at regional airline Great Lakes Aviation. “We have assured our pilots that negotiations will be made in good faith,” Avantair said.
European Pilots Protest Flight and Duty Time Changes
January 28, 2013 - 3:00pm

The Walk Out for Safety protest organized by the European Cockpit Association (ECA) was supported by 2,500 to 3,000 pilots and cabin crew across 26 different countries on January 22. The event was intended to express opposition to changes to commercial flight- and duty-time rules proposed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Eurocontrol Issues Runway Excursion 'Action Plan'
January 23, 2013 - 11:19am

Eurocontrol has issued its European Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Excursions, the Brussels-based air traffic management organization announced Wednesday.
Man vs. Machine: Who’s Boss?
January 1, 2013 - 2:20am

Many pilots had their first–but thankfully second-hand–exposure to the pitfalls of flight systems automation when they watched a remarkable video of an Airbus A320 performing a gear-down, nose-high flypast demonstration at the small French airport at Habsheim in 1988.
ECA Welcomes European Occurrence Reporting
December 24, 2012 - 3:25pm

According to the European Cockpit Association (ECA), pilots in the region are pleased about the European Commission’s December 19 announcement of a new accident/incident occurrence reporting system.

Walkout for Safety Planned in Europe
December 10, 2012 - 2:16pm

The European Cockpit Association (ECA), the representative body of 37 European state pilot associations, plans a Jan. 22, 2013, Walkout for Safety day to “send a signal to [European Union] politicians, passengers and airline operators that the proposed new EU rules on Flight Time Limitations (FTL) will adversely affect flight and passenger safety.” The walkout is expected to affect airline flights all over Europe.

American Eagle Pilots On Board with AA Bankruptcy Plan
October 15, 2012 - 12:45pm

Bankrupt AMR moved a step closer to its goal of saving $1.25 billion a year in employee-related costs as the pilots of American Eagle voted last Monday to ratify a tentative agreement reached between their Air Line Pilots Association bargaining committee and airline management. Of the regional airline’s some 3,000 pilots, 85 percent cast ballots. Seventy percent of participating pilots voted in favor of the agreement.
Bill Filed to Include Cargo Operations in FAA’s Duty Rule
April 23, 2012 - 10:00am
U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack

The campaign to include cargo airline pilots in the U.S. under the FAA’s new flight crew member duty and rest rule gained support in Congress with the introduction of legislation on April 16 that would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to apply the rule “in t
AIN Blog: Cargo Pilots Have Been Down This Road Before
February 5, 2012 - 5:58pm
US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with leaders of the Independent Pilots Association (IPA) over coffee at the Mayflower hotel in downtown Washington. Based in Louisville, Ky., site of the UPS Worldport international air hub, the IPA represents 2,650 pilots who fly freight for Big Brown.

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