Originally Posted by nakazawa

OK FOLKS -
I'm DS, and I'll figure out how to get a letter posted on the ALPA website! For what it's worth - the MEC and LEC Reps have received my letter of intent, my resume, and a supplemental letter with some amplifying information. Here is a short list until more can be posted.
I started my ALPA work when LA opened as the only line builder and pairing reviewer for the domicile in 2001. I bid to LA - stayed there about 6 months because the flying was SO bad - and bid back to ANC. I've essentially been in ANC since 1999. I two-leg commute to ANC, so I can address any jump seat or deadhead issue you'd like.
I've requested and received two FAA interpretations on FAR issues, including our multi-leg RFO flying, and domestic to international with an RFO that the FAA addressed in their interpretation 1979-40. In both cases responses were delayed, but in the first I received a definition - not an interpretation. In the second, the sequence type in question never re-occurred. ANC is our most efficient domicile, based on credit hour value per day. A significant number of our trips are hard time - or near hard time flying. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a sick rate of approximately 25% - where the crew force average is about 4%. Management's system is broken!
I was foreign deployed and embarked in USS Midway - lived in Japan on the economy with my wife. I can bore you with issues foreigners face when living abroad, from car insurance availability to infrastructure support for crew members. I presented many concerns to my LEC, but as you know, what the MEC thought at the time was a good plan has turned out to be woefully inadequate.
I have addressed issues regarding the transition from Supplemental Ops to FLAG Ops, researched ETOPS, and the impact of operating the B-777 domestically, then internationally - with the crew being limited to 30 in 7, rather than 32 in 7.
I've scoured the RLA and, with reference to 4.A.2.b, looked at RLA Para 156 and how that impacts our reserves. I'm not a lawyer, but I don't think the reserves are being paid scale wages with the enactment of 4.A.2.b.
My undergraduate degree is in Accounting, and I earned a graduate degree in Management and Personnel Administration. I'm retired from the US Armed Forces, a Viet Nam Veteran with over 300 combat helicopter missions, and I've looked down the barrel of adversity worse than what's going on here. Right now we have people making three dimensional decisions from a one dimensional screen. It's time for a change. I expect to be in MEM three weeks a month - you can expect to see me in the AOC at least once a week. I think AFB flying is a great way to get out to the other domiciles. I plan to be visible, responsive, and receptive to YOUR inputs.

The delay. I'm a line pilot. I've got about 6,000 hours in the MD-11. Deciding to step away from the comfort zone is a HUGE decision - a life decision - a family decision. Figuring out crash-pads, getting another car, are all part of the equation. We've decided that taking two years to make the FedEx Express crew force lives better is an honorable endeavor.

I am,
Nakazawa
David M. Shinn
ANC MD-11 Captain