Originally Posted by
Mesabah
Actually, if pilots had a professional society that wasn't associated with the union, more would get done in the area of safety than is done now. You can see this in the fact that the AOPA has done more for general aviation safety than has ALPA for 121 safety.
ALPA has been lobbying for years to get the fatigue rules changed. Now they are being considered, not because of ALPA, but because of the BUF crash. Sad but true; if you want to do your part for air safety, find out what is wrong and crash your plane because of it. If we had an independent professional society that sets standards, much like other professionals have(engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc), we could do way more in the area of safety.
Sounds like another good reason for a national list.... seniority as an airline pilot.... not as an AA pilot, Delta Pilot, NW Pilot... in other words seniority portability based on date of hire as an airline pilot.... much like other unionized professions, not trades. Could be worked much like the screen actors guild... each airline paying to the union, and the union providing health insurance, benefits, retirement.... all portable in case you leave through BK, sale, merger... whatever.