Just three more of the many "little" things that ALPA does on behalf of our Profession, transparently to most pilots........
Open Skies
The first stage of Open Skies goes into effect March 30, 2008. We continue to support our alliances in Congress, in opposition of this agreement, as the DOT and White House wish. Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN) has made it clear to the EU aviation community that there will be no modifications to foreign ownership restrictions. Negotiations on eliminating Cabotage and Foreign Ownership restrictions are scheduled for this spring. This issue remains the single greatest threat to our careers. I will update you as this develops.
Lost Retirement Savings Act
Two key ALPA-supported bills were introduced late last year that would allow pilots to recover some of their lost retirement benefits by offering a retirement savings option to those whose defined benefit plans were terminated or frozen in bankruptcy proceedings after September 11, 2001 and before January 1, 2007. ALPA members are urged to participate in a new grassroots Action Alert to enlist congressional support for these two bills, and prompt speedy action on them. Sign on to www.alpa.org ,members only section, to send your message of support to your congressional leaders.
The Pilots Equitable Treatment Act
Although the pilot retirement age changed on December 13, 2007, when President Bush signed into law H.R. 4343, (P.L. 110-135), there remains a critical need for Congress to pass H.R. 2103 and S. 1270 The Pilots Equitable Treatment Act (aka Akaka/Miller). Although the pilot retirement age has been raised to 65, there are still pilots who will be penalized on the guaranteed level of benefits they receive from the PBGC because age 60 was the mandatory retirement age at the time their defined benefit plans were terminated. We have updated the suggested message for ALPA members to send to your federal legislators to reflect this situation, and continue to urge your participation in this important grassroots effort. Go to our website, www.alpa.org , for more information, and the tools to write to your congressional leaders.
CrewPASS (airport access)
The TSA is required, by law, to provide flight crewmembers access through airport security checkpoints, within eighteen months from the bill signing date of August 3, 2007. We should expect to have this procedure implemented no later than February 3, 2009. For more information visit the ALPA website www.alpa.org in the member’s only section.
Open Skies
The first stage of Open Skies goes into effect March 30, 2008. We continue to support our alliances in Congress, in opposition of this agreement, as the DOT and White House wish. Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN) has made it clear to the EU aviation community that there will be no modifications to foreign ownership restrictions. Negotiations on eliminating Cabotage and Foreign Ownership restrictions are scheduled for this spring. This issue remains the single greatest threat to our careers. I will update you as this develops.
Lost Retirement Savings Act
Two key ALPA-supported bills were introduced late last year that would allow pilots to recover some of their lost retirement benefits by offering a retirement savings option to those whose defined benefit plans were terminated or frozen in bankruptcy proceedings after September 11, 2001 and before January 1, 2007. ALPA members are urged to participate in a new grassroots Action Alert to enlist congressional support for these two bills, and prompt speedy action on them. Sign on to www.alpa.org ,members only section, to send your message of support to your congressional leaders.
The Pilots Equitable Treatment Act
Although the pilot retirement age changed on December 13, 2007, when President Bush signed into law H.R. 4343, (P.L. 110-135), there remains a critical need for Congress to pass H.R. 2103 and S. 1270 The Pilots Equitable Treatment Act (aka Akaka/Miller). Although the pilot retirement age has been raised to 65, there are still pilots who will be penalized on the guaranteed level of benefits they receive from the PBGC because age 60 was the mandatory retirement age at the time their defined benefit plans were terminated. We have updated the suggested message for ALPA members to send to your federal legislators to reflect this situation, and continue to urge your participation in this important grassroots effort. Go to our website, www.alpa.org , for more information, and the tools to write to your congressional leaders.
CrewPASS (airport access)
The TSA is required, by law, to provide flight crewmembers access through airport security checkpoints, within eighteen months from the bill signing date of August 3, 2007. We should expect to have this procedure implemented no later than February 3, 2009. For more information visit the ALPA website www.alpa.org in the member’s only section.
