Here's an interesting letter from a retired East air safety chairmen. We've received similar letters from the Aeromedical folks...in fact, I believe aeromedical stated they WILL NOT contract with USAPA as they do with SWAPA and UPS.
Things that make you go 'hmmm'.....
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Feb. 15, 2008
Fellow US Airways pilots:
For those of you who don’t remember me, let me introduce myself. My name is John Cox, and I spent over 20 years of my airline pilot career as an ALPA safety representative. Starting at the original Piedmont Airlines, then at US Airways, I held a number of leadership positions, including accident investigator, Local Safety Committee member, MEC Chief Accident Investigator, MEC Safety Chairman, and ALPA Int’l Accident Investigation Board member. Finally, I rounded up my ALPA work by serving as the ALPA Int’l Executive Air Safety Chairman from 1999 until I retired from US Airways at the end of 2004.
During all those years I spent doing safety work, I saw firsthand the resources available to assist ALPA members during difficult times. And I’ll be the first to tell you that an independent union will never have the resources and the expertise available that you may need to protect yourself and your career if you find yourself involved in an aircraft accident or serious incident.
Over the years as an ALPA representative, I’ve helped plenty of pilots out of difficult situations. I know firsthand what calling that number on the orange card means to a pilot. It means that ALPA resources are available to protect you, no matter where you are or what happened. Countless pilot representatives like myself, backed up by professional, full-time staff, spend their careers guarding the reputations and careers of ALPA members by bringing about safety improvements to our profession.
Take the accident involving US Airways Flight 5050, for example.
In September 1989, ALPA pilots were involved in a high-speed rejected takeoff at LaGuardia airport. Unfortunately, the aircraft overran the end of the runway and ended up in the East River. The aircraft broke into three pieces upon impact and was destroyed. I remember it well because I was a member of the ALPA accident investigation team that came when those pilots called the number on their orange card.
The accident scene quickly turned ugly for the flight crew. In addition to the technical, operational, and training issues involved in the accident sequence, our pilots faced the threat of criminal charges being filed against them by the local New York District Attorney.
That’s when ALPA’s Legal Department stepped in. In addition to the ALPA lawyers who were on the case, ALPA hired criminal attorneys to represent our pilots in criminal court. After the conclusion of the accident investigation, ALPA Legal and Engineering and Air Safety Department resources also helped them keep their jobs when faced with disciplinary action by the airline.
ALPA’s expertise and access also helped them keep their airman’s certificates when facing certificate action by the FAA, saving the pilots’ flying careers. Simply put, ALPA—with the help of safety representatives like myself—saved their jobs, their reputations, and their livelihoods.
This help is not cheap, by the way. A typical accident investigation will cost ALPA about $200,000. Add any sort of complication, however, and those costs can skyrocket. The threat of criminal prosecution and/or a disciplinary attack, for example, drives the costs up exponentially. The criminal attorney costs in this case alone ran about $500,000, and that was almost 20 years ago.
This story is just one of many I can tell. During the 20 years I spent as an ALPA safety representative, I participated in the investigation of dozens of accidents and serious incidents. I testified on behalf of countless pilots involved in FAA certificate action cases, and I represented dozens of ALPA members involved in disciplinary hearings before their airlines.
There is now a question about an independent union for US Airways pilots. I can tell you that if you choose to go it alone with an independent union, then you will indeed be alone. I know that an independent union can never replace the ALPA resources needed to protect a pilot in case of an aircraft accident or serious incident.
As a safety representative, I know that safety and politics have to remain separate. However, when it comes to a representational decision, it must be an informed decision. Leaving the ALPA fold means leaving behind your orange card—along with all the resources and expertise that come with it. Do not forget just how many resources a single accident can exhaust, because USAPA cannot go it alone. Before you cast your vote, ask yourself if you can afford to lose your orange card—the one ALPA resource you pray you never have to use.
Fraternally,
Capt. John Cox (US Airways, retired)
Former ALPA Int’l Executive Air Safety Chairman (1999–2004)
uke: 
