Not looking Good..oppose S. 3048
 

I JUST GOT THIS FROM ALPA!!!

Dear ALPA Member,
I have some alarming news from Capitol Hill that I want to share with you immediately. I know you'll be as outraged as I am!
Legislation was just introduced in the United States Senate that will put our managements right in the cockpit with us on every flight we make. That's right.

The bill will allow airlines free access to the information on CVRs and FDRs
and to use that information ". . .to improve pilot performance. . ." and make
sure we, as pilots, are "performing at the highest levels. . . ."

In other words, the legislation will provide legal cover to management to review CVRs and FDRs for the purpose of prosecuting pilots.

Congress has put forth some pretty despicable proposals in the past, but this one may well take the cake! Here are the shocking details:

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), the Ranking Member of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, is the ring leader. His bill, S. 3048, the Pilot Professionalism Assurance Act, wouldpermit airlines to freely audit CVRs and FDRs to:


discipline or discharge pilots or flight engineers,

evaluate and monitor the judgment and performance of pilots, and


justify or require pilots to submit to proficiency checks.

He’s already sent out a request, asking other Senators to sponsor his bill. . .and there may well be other anti-union sympathizers in Congress who will support this vindictive proposition!

His message stated,

"Unfortunately, all information from Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorders is specifically blocked from airlines by provisions within the pilot union contracts with the airlines. This must change. The stakes are just too high.”

If that wasn't bad enough, it continued,

"We must give airlines every tool available so they can ensure that their pilots are performing at the highest levels. . . ."

To make matters worse, DeMint’s staff is boasting that the NTSB endorses this approach to improve cockpit safety. In fact, that’s a bit of a stretch. The NTSB is calling for airlines to review and analyze all recorded information to identify safety trends as a way to watchdog the workplace, but notes that the reviews should be done anonymously and could not be used to punish individual pilots.

Despite the NTSB’s reassurances, this is a slippery slope that none of us wants to get near!

Please tell me you at least wrote your representatives and did not post on here in place of...

My personal politics don't need to be broadcast here...

I think we're missing the point of your post then. Are you for or against this bill, and are you advocating that others should get involved in the democratic process?

...possible issue for an industry wide pilot strike ?!

I like how Sen De mint is quoted as saying "the stakes are just too high". If thats the case, pass something that will pay me better. What a toad bag.

I sure hope SAPA and the other non-alpa carriers send some reps there to help get this thing destroyed. I doubt they will since they have no political power or money to do so. And since "alpo" isn't good enough for them locally they will just have to sit back and hope alpa can stop this. They want the big brother protection without paying for it. Once again alpa is trying to save the industry for ALL pilots. Even those who think they are too good to need them.

I sent my pac donation. If this bill gets passed we as an industry are in big trouble. The damage it would do to safety would cause more accidents. Pilots will now sit quietly and try and fix an issue that comes up without saying a word for fear of losong their jobs if management "thought" they didn't handle it the best way.

If ANYTHING should unite every airline pilot group...TSA and GoJet, Republic and Expressjet, Comair and Delta, whatever....this proposal should be it.

THIS is the issue that should create a very public, very legitimate Suspension of Service threat.

With a credible threat of pilots from every airline walking off the job en masse over this issue, this thing would get resolved A-S-A-P.

Would the public or the media understand? Of course not...but they're not on the side of the professional pilot anyway...

Sent my own personal comment to both of my senators.

Asked all my family to do the same.

Just sent in my letter, and I hope everyone on here has, or is doing the same.

Can anyone post what they wrote to their senator? I am looking for a good template and want what I say to be correct and effective.

We did bring this on ourselves. We have to be careful not to say professionalism and pay are related.

If you follow the link in the email from ALPA it takes you directly to a site where you can view the template ALPA has. If you click Take Action, it will take you directly to a page with everything filled out, and will automatically send it to your senators. Here's the link if you didn't get the email.

Legislative Action Center

Done,
I also threw in the comment of "If you wish to lead by example and allow us to listen to every word during your work day and punish you for what you say"...

Not like McCain will actually care about an Airline Pilot, after all

"McCain also contrasted pilots' salaries with those of other Americans,
comparing the 1998 per capita income of $20,120 with the $342,000 per year that top pilots at United would make by 2004 under the tentative contract."

He is a little out of touch

Aren't they all? (congress)...

Sigh, Yes...

Can someone put the boiler plate letter ALPA has on the board. I am not exactly sure how to tackle this issue in a letter and would imagine there's would be worded better. But I am a dirty teamster so don't have access to it. I would be happy to send it to my senators (who actually responded last time) and my representative.

You can also read into this that my plate is extremely full right now and I legitimately don't have the time to write an appropriate letter for addressing this issue :)

Template
 

As a professional air line pilot, your constituent, and a member of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), I urge you to oppose S. 3048, a bill by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) to mandate the use of cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) information for discipline, rather than its intended use for safety investigation.
This bill seeks to use CVR and FDR information to punish individual pilots, rather than to promote and support the proactive safety culture that our industry needs to protect passengers, crews, and cargo. This bill will threaten aviation safety, compromise the accident investigation process, and squander financial resources that could make established and proven aviation safety programs even more effective.
Every airline flight is unique due to weather, equipment, distance and other operational factors. Pilots are expected to work as a team, communicate effectively, and supplement one another’s skills and experience to continuously evaluate and adapt to the changing operational environment of each individual flight. The chilling effect of having conversations and flight data monitored and evaluated out of context for possible disciplinary action by corporate managers who may have motivations other than safety would be substantial.
Pilot performance is currently monitored randomly through the Line Oriented Safety Audit (LOSA) program which uses trained observers in the cockpit. As a commercial pilot, I must also pass at least two annual check rides. Existing safety programs such as LOSA, Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) and Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP) are voluntary, nonpunitive initiatives that use data and pilot reports to detect safety issues. These programs are critical to aviation safety and misusing recorder data will jeopardize these proven programs.
I urge you to oppose S. 3048 and any legislative attempts to use CVRs and FDRs for anything other than their intended safety investigative purposes.

I think we need recorders in the Representatives' and Senators' offices to make sure they are doing their job right.

Message is sent to both Senators and my Representative.

I sent my letters off.

You all might wight to double check on who they have as your U.S. Representative is. Mine was wrong so I had to find the correct one. Sending a letter to the wrong US Rep is like sending the letter to my Grandma, it would be received but not taken seriously.

Are any of the other airline unions doing anything about this?

If they are not doing anything now is the time to write your union and tell them do actually earn their dues.

This is a very weak response at best to this major issue. The only thing that appears to adequately address the point is:

"The chilling effect of having conversations and flight data monitored and evaluated out of context for possible disciplinary action by corporate managers who may have motivations other than safety would be substantial."

Other statements are ill-contrived and whiney. If I was a know-nothing senator who thinks the media covers aviation well - HA. I would be saying to myself - "well the current system doesn't work, so let's try this!"

We need a better template! Let's spend some time developing something worth-while and better thought out.

Remember who we are dealing with. These Senators and Congressmen have huge Ego's. Bigger than most Airline CEO's. I think the tone is humble enough that when it is read, the reader doesn't feel intimidated by the content and put up guards. Instead there is enough there that they may use in a committie debate and make it sound like their own original thought.

Find Your Senator
 

The full text of the bill is here:

S. 3048: A bill to improve air safety by authorizing the limited use by air carriers of information... (GovTrack.us) (Limited use my ***. Limited to using it against pilots.)

You can find your Senator here:

U.S. Senate: Senators Home

Many have web forms where you can express your opposition to S.3048, instead of using regular e-mail.

Might also be a good idea to also contact the Committee Chair John Rockefeller Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and ranking Republican Kay Baily Hutchison United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

It will also be important to remind Harry Reid & Nancy Pelosi that labor helped the Democrats get elected in 2008....and remind Mitch McConnell that the 2010 election ain't too far off...

They're only about 98. They only care about now.

elcid, you stirring the pot?? ;)

It is not important what is in the body of the letter.

Just make sure the subject window says against senate Bill S.3048

add demint to the scab / nofly list

and as said before record all poiticians doings verbally and visually

Do you think that Congressmen actually reads the letters? Their staff just compiles opinions and gives a summary to the Senators and Representatives.

Vote against here:

WashingtonWatch.com - S. 3048, The Pilot Professionalism Assurance Act

with the link it took exactly 42 seconds to send letters to my two reps. Its easy folks and it can help us, do it!!!!!

March 3, 2010
Dear ALPA-PAC Member,
I have some alarming news from Capitol Hill that I want to share with you immediately. I know you'll be as outraged as I am!
Legislation was just introduced in the United States Senate that will put our managements right in the cockpit with us on every flight we make. That's right.

The bill will allow airlines free access to the information on CVRs and FDRs
and to use that information ". . .to improve pilot performance. . ." and make
sure we, as pilots, are "performing at the highest levels. . . ."

In other words, the legislation will provide legal cover to management to review CVRs and FDRs for the purpose of prosecuting pilots.

Congress has put forth some pretty despicable proposals in the past, but this one may well take the cake! Here are the shocking details:

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), the Ranking Member of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, is the ring leader. His bill, S. 3048, the Pilot Professionalism Assurance Act, wouldpermit airlines to freely audit CVRs and FDRs to:




• discipline or discharge pilots or flight engineers,

• evaluate and monitor the judgment and performance of pilots, and
• justify or require pilots to submit to proficiency checks.

He’s already sent out a request, asking other Senators to sponsor his bill. . .and there may well be other anti-union sympathizers in Congress who will support this vindictive proposition!

His message stated,

"Unfortunately, all information from Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorders is specifically blocked from airlines by provisions within the pilot union contracts with the airlines. This must change. The stakes are just too high.”

If that wasn't bad enough, it continued,

"We must give airlines every tool available so they can ensure that their pilots are performing at the highest levels. . . ."

To make matters worse, DeMint’s staff is boasting that the NTSB endorses this approach to improve cockpit safety. In fact, that’s a bit of a stretch. The NTSB is calling for airlines to review and analyze all recorded information to identify safety trends as a way to watchdog the workplace, but notes that the reviews should be done anonymously and could not be used to punish individual pilots.

Despite the NTSB’s reassurances, this is a slippery slope that none of us wants to get near!

Is your blood boiling yet? Mine sure is. Can you imagine the problems and harassment S. 3048 could lead to? To say nothing of the impact it will have on our voluntary safety data reporting programs, like ASAP and FOQA. They’ll be destroyed and the accident investigation process will be seriously compromised!

But I agree with DeMint on one thing: the stakes are definitely too high – too high to allow this mockery of professional airline pilots to proceed.

I remember when a similar idea was proposed back in the late 1970’s. Langhorne Bond, President Jimmy Carter’s Transportation Secretary, called for random reviews of CVRs and FDRs by the FAA.

ALPA fought that deplorable plan with all its political might. Our lobbyists worked to convince members of Congress that the proposal was ill-conceived, unnecessary, and would seriously threaten the rights of pilots. In the end, because of ALPA’s efforts, Congress prevailed and the FAA scrapped the plan.

That’s exactly what we’re going to do this time, too. We will not be bullied and we will not back down. ALPA intends to use every weapon in our arsenal to oppose Senator DeMint’s disgraceful bill. . .and with your help, we will soundly defeat it!

We’ve already begun our work. Our Government Affairs team is educating Senators about the serious problems and potential persecution inherent in the intrusive and unfettered access provided in S. 3048. We’re urging our congressional allies not to co-sponsor S. 3048 but instead to help us quash this contemptible legislation before it gains any traction. We’re working with the congressional committee staffs to urge them to stay away from this impending landmine.

Now we must broaden our battle plan to involve all ALPA members, including you. Your active participation and that of every ALPA pilot is essential to defeat Senator DeMint’s plan to undercut our hard-won professional standards.

As an ALPA-PAC supporter, you understand the importance of a strong, fully-supported PAC. You know our PAC has helped stop extreme proposals – like DeMint's – in the past. Because this bill is so offensive and misguided, I hope you'll consider making a one-time special PAC donation today to help fight S. 3048. If we don't have the resources, we risk losing this fight – a fight literally for our careers.

You can make a secure online ALPA-PAC donation now by clicking here. Your contribution of $25, $50, $100, $200 or whatever you can afford will be used immediately to help halt Senator DeMint’s plan for pilots dead in its tracks.

We’ve also launched a nationwide grassroots Call to Action on S. 3048 to get every ALPA member to contact your U.S. Senators and tell them that you strongly oppose this misguided legislation. By using our Call to Action site, your Senators will be identified automatically. A prepared message is waiting for you to send. Just a few keystrokes will have your messages on the way to Capitol Hill to bolster our collective efforts to defeat DeMint’s bill. Click here to send your messages now.

But please remember your ALPA-PAC contribution. I know there are many demands on your paycheck. Our nation’s fragile economy makes us all cautious spenders. That’s exactly why we need to build the strongest, most powerful PAC program possible to help protect and secure your career as a professional airline pilot.

Click here to make your special contribution to ALPA-PAC and make sure the voice of ALPA’s over 50,000 pilots is heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill on this latest assault on our profession.

We can’t do it alone here in Washington. We need your support and that of your fellow ALPA pilots. Like Senator DeMint said, “The stakes are just too high.” We cannot allow the Pilot Professionalism Assurance Act to become law and make a sham of our great profession. I’m counting on your help. Don’t let me – or yourself – down.

In Solidarity,

Doesn't he always, IMa? :)

Sent mine...very easy.

Sent one today..

To several Senators..

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/...d=376210357505


Here is a facebook group...

Wow a facebook group.I swear you guys are the weakest....writing letters and believing that they will be taken seriously. Some fat cat senator is gonna be sitting in his $1500 dollar leather office chair, slicing open letters with a gold mail opener, and is going to toss that paper in the can.

We need to unite people!

Haha. Are you so inept that you are unable to realize that the best method currently available to unify and coordinate action is through the utilization of preexisting infrastructure. In this case social networking sites. Stop trolling and do something productive.