ALPA has worked for years with the FAA to resolve our safety concerns about LAHSO. And
in February, this work culminated in the landmark agreement among ALPA, ATA, and the FAA,
which defined the critical safety aspects of LAHSO. However, in April of this year, the
FAA issued its “final” order on LAHSO, with an effective date of May 27. After
careful review, ALPA has found the final order to be deficient in several key areas, in
addition to the fact that the FAA’s modeling of rejected landing procedures has not
been completed to ALPA’s satisfaction. Therefore, ALPA is recommending that more
testing be done before Rejected Landing Procedures can be validated.
ALPA members refuse to compromise their personal safety — or the safety of their
passengers — by participating in procedures that the FAA acknowledges to have inadequate
safety margins.
You will soon receive more detailed information about this vital safety recommendation
through another issue of “Critical Juncture.” Also check the ALPA web site at
www.alpa.org for LAHSO news and developments.
Executive Board Meeting
One piece of ALPA business that was addressed this week by the Executive Board directly
relates to the America West property. Captain Mike Calabrese, yours truly, was appointed
by the Executive Board as the new ALPA National Professional Standards Committee chairman.
I am very honored to be chosen for this position, and will do my very best to represent
America West’s membership in a manner that will uphold and continue the standards
that have been set by the gentlemen who have preceded me. Rest assured that this new
position will not, in any way, detract from my responsibilities and duties as your MEC/LEC
Secretary-Treasurer.
Retirement Dinner
Local Council Meeting
Flight Pay Loss Donations
Memorial Day Office Hours
That’s it for this week. Show your support of the Negotiating Committee and your union
by wearing your ALPA pin, and green badge. The next hotline update will be on Thursday,
June 1. Thanks for listening and have a safe and happy holiday.
Pilot Records Request
LAHSO
Executive Board Meeting
Retirement Dinner
Local Council Meeting
Flight Pay Loss Donations
Memorial Day Office Hours
MEC Hotline
Good evening, this is MEC
Secretary-Treasurer Mike Calabrese with tonight’s hotline message for Thursday, May 25th.
Tonight’s topics are:
As we reported last week, the Company improperly sent out Pilot Records Improvement Act
notices to more than 300 pilots hired after 1996. This notice instructed pilots to fill
out the enclosed forms, which would allow America West to obtain employment records from
each pilot’s prior aviation employers. After brining this matter to management’s
attention, we advised pilots not to fill out the forms until further notice from the
Company. That further notice began on Monday when the Chief Pilot’s office called
pilots advising them of the information needed. At this point we recommend that those
pilots specifically contacted, provide the Company with the information requested.
Additionally, those pilots who have not received a second letter or telephone call, but
who did receive the first letter, should continue to disregard that letter.
Last week, we told you that LAHSO was once again rearing its ugly head. Well, on
Wednesday, May 24, ALPA recommended that its members no longer participate in
land-and-hold-short operations at all U.S. airports. This recommendation applies
not only to pilots who might receive a LAHSO clearance request from an air traffic
controller, but also to pilots operating “full length” on a runway that
intersects with a hold-short runway.
MEC Chairman Roger Cox and Vice Chairman Bill Archer have been in Washington, D.C. this
week attending ALPA’s Executive Board Meeting. The meeting is held semi-annually for
all MEC chairmen. This is the second Executive Board meeting to be held since Captain Cox
and Captain Archer were elected as MEC officers. Although the Executive Board consists of
only the MEC chairmen, the MEC felt it would be beneficial for Captain Archer to attend in
order to witness and experience the ALPA governing process.
As a reminder, all active and retired pilots and their spouses are invited to attend the
second MEC Pilot Retirement Dinner, June 6 at 7pm, at the DoubleTree Hotel. The hotel is
located at the corner of 44th and Van Buren streets in Phoenix. If you plan to
attend, you MUST RSVP to Ms. Sandi Siniaho at the MEC office by June 1st. The
dinner is free for our retired members, but there will be a $25 charge per person for all
other attendees. Come and share some memories with those who paved the America West story.
The next local council meeting will be held Tuesday, June 13th, also at the DoubleTree
Hotel, 44th and Van Buren. Our special guest for this meeting will be America
West Chief Pilot, Captain J. R. Baker. Captain Baker will share with us, his view from the
middle. All pilots in good standing are encouraged to attend.
As of today, May 25th, the MEC has received donations from 1022 pilots,
representing 60% of our total membership, and approximately $107,552 dollars. First
officers far outpace our captains by the margin of 542 to 480 donations. Even though 60%
is an excellent number for being 5 months into year 2000, we need to keep in mind that AWA
management is looking at these numbers as well. What kind of message are we sending to
senior management with only 60% support?
The MEC office will close at 3:30 on Friday, May 26th and remain closed until Tuesday, May
30th in observance of Memorial Day. As always, you can contact your representatives via
their cell phone numbers posted on the ALPA bulletin board in Terminal 4.