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Rez O. Lewshun

Save the Profession
Joined
Jan 19, 2004
Posts
13,422
Release #05.042
September 23, 2005


JetBlue Flt. 292 Landing Incident Illustrates Need to Maintain Highest Standards of the Piloting Profession

WASHINGTON, D.C.---The following statement was issued by Capt. Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l. after the safe landing of JetBlue Flt. 292 on Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport:

“The millions of Americans who watched the suspenseful landing of JetBlue Flt. 292 in Los Angeles saw, in living color, a real-life example of what it means to be an airline pilot. The flawless landing and safe outcome that had viewers on the edge of their seats did not happen by chance. It was the result of thousands of hours of training, experience, and preparation by the crew.​
“ALPA congratulates the JetBlue pilots and flight attendants for their outstanding performance. However, I’m sure that they would be the first to tell you that they are hardly unique in that respect. Every day, thousands of airline pilots transport millions of passengers safely despite the hazards of equipment failures, weather, and random encounters with unexpected events or conditions.* This commitment to the highest standards is exactly what we, and our customers, expect from those who choose our profession.

“Unfortunately, the high standards of our profession are under attack. Fiscal pressures from our industry’s economic crisis have resulted in enormous losses in pilot compensation and jobs. Every year, thousands of pilots leave our field either voluntarily, or by pursuing other occupations after being furloughed.

“The exemplary safety record of U.S. airlines was built on the practice of allowing only the most competent and accomplished professionals in the cockpit. By mindlessly pursuing a ‘race to the bottom’ to slash labor costs, airlines are driving away the best and the brightest of our profession. For now, the levee is holding, but we cannot forever withstand these assaults on our proud and dedicated pilot workforce.

“Airline management must learn the meaning of the adages ‘penny wise and pound foolish’ and ‘be careful what you wish for’. Government must recognize that it has a role and an obligation to assist, rather than exploit, this vital cornerstone of our economic infrastructure. We can fix a flawed aircraft part or procedure after an accident; but we cannot afford this traditional ‘tombstone’ approach to safety when it comes to the quality of our cockpit crews. Fixing a broken pilot profession will not be easy, quick, or cheap. We must act now to reverse the talent drain before it becomes an irreversible flood.”

ALPA is the union that represents 64,000 airline pilots at 41 airlines in the U.S. and Canada

Release #05.043
September 27, 2005

ALPA President: Senate Must Pass Pension Reform Legislation Now

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Capt. Duane E. Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), issued the following statement today after addressing the audience of a National Journal Policy Council forum on the airline pension crisis. Woerth states that the U.S. Senate must act immediately to reform pension funding rules to protect airline employees who have earned their pensions, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), which insures their pensions, and ultimately, taxpayers, who could be forced to assume the PBGC debt if airline pension plans are terminated.

“The U.S. Senate must bring pension reform legislation similar to the legislation proposed by Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WVA) to the floor for a vote before its October recess.​
“Two years ago, the Air Line Pilots Association predicted, and began working to prevent, the dire circumstances that face the airline industry today and that have contributed to the recent bankruptcy protection filings by Delta and Northwest. For two years, ALPA has worked tirelessly to move legislation through Congress that would have helped prevent this crisis and protect employees’ pensions, the PBGC and ultimately, American taxpayers.

“Congress must act now to find a permanent solution to the problems facing the airline industry. The fact that at least 60 percent of the airline seats purchased today are flown by bankrupt carriers demonstrates that the need to reform pension funding rules could not be more urgent.

“The Isakson/Rockefeller legislation contains the two-part solution that the people of this nation need. First, it would allow airlines to affordably fund their defined-benefit pension plan liabilities using a longer amortization period. Second, it would permit airlines to use a more realistic interest rate to calculate the amount of money that they must contribute to their plans. Both reform elements are essential.

“Enacting these reforms would be a win for airline workers, who would have a greater likelihood of receiving the benefits they already have earned under their defined benefit pension plans.

“These reforms would be a win for the PBGC, which would have to cover unfunded liabilities if a plan is terminated. Everyone loses if the PBGC acts to take over these pension plans. Without the proposed legislation, the federal agency could take on as much as $10 billion in additional debt that it doesn’t need to incur.

“Airlines would be clear winners, too, because the legislation would allow them to better manage their cash flow and prepare feasible business plans without being sabotaged by unpredictable deficit reduction contributions. A feasible business plan will, in turn, unlock the door to long-term capital financing of the airlines’ business needs.

“The U.S. Senate must bring pension reform legislation that would permanently address the problems of the airline industry to the floor now. We’re hopeful that Senate action will also spur movement on legislation in the House, so that airline employees, the PBGC, and the airlines will all benefit from this urgently needed reform.”

Woerth also called for enactment of S.685, the “PBGC Pilots Equitable Treatment Act,” which would apply the PBGC’s normal retirement age guarantee limit to pilots at their mandatory retirement age of 60.

ALPA represents 64,000 airline pilots at 41 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.
 
Maybe i'm denser than normal tonight, too much T-28 flying, you know. But if I recall correctly, ALPA does not represent Jetblue pilots.

So are they more skilled because of it? And all my kudo's to that crew, cardholders or not.
 

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