hate to say it, but we lost this in the OMB, which is controlled by the White House. The lobbyists ware able to get the change during the budgeting process. The OMB's purview is to cost out rules/laws, not change them. This whole thing is totally corrupt, regardless of party. Follow the money....

What he said!!!!! Hate to tell ya, UPS has spent the past few months lobbying the WH and the OMB, not congress. The IPA has also been very active in visits to the WH. The WH had FINAL say in what and who was included in the new rest rules. While I think they are all scumbags, the final say came from 1600 Pennsyvania Ave. Nothing else to really "explain"!

Also here is clip from our Union Leader!!!

The FAA yielded to "unprecedented industry pressure" in exempting cargo airlines from the rules, Robert Travis, president of the Independent Pilots Association, said in a statement. The union represents pilots at United Parcel Service Inc.

"Today, the executive branch has decided that the price of aviation safety, in the form of new pilot rest rules, is too high," Travis said.

Why would anyone contribute a single penny to ALPA and the PAC. With all their influence getting the current occupant into the White House, he repays them this way. What a bunch of fools contribute to this.

One party tells everyone they are for the working class, while destroying jobs and stabbing them in the gut like this. The other is pro business, which is generally not good for the working man, but at least they are honest about it. On the plus side, pro business creates jobs.

The solution, of course, is perfect hindsight.

Being a proud 32%er, I wonder now how the numb n*ts that voted FOR the FDX FDA package feel? Now the company will slow roll us until the end of time, for they got their desires for a measily 6% raise. Now, nothing left for them to gain, so "negotiations" will be limited to peanut butter & jelly sandwiches or chicken chef salad at lunch.

A basic rule of negotiations is never, never, never give up the power card unless the other side has guaranteed measurable, definite and large benefits in other areas.

The 6% raise will be overcome by inflation in a few more years. Then, it'll be up to us (after proceeding down the proper and legal paths...) to go into self-help. Ha ha ha. Our pilot group at FDX has the backbone of an amoeba and the company knows it.

We gave them our power card for a measily 6%. Any QOL dreams are just that... dreams. Any improvements in the other contract issues (real time anything; deviation bank issues; our crazy disputed pairing process where the company has the final say on grading themselves....) are similarly pipe dreams.

Agreed...................

I guess you are saying the PAC shouldn't have fought against Baseball Style Arbitration either.

Cause we know how bad that has worked for all the baseball players.

We settled for 3% last contract, you dont think an arbitrator would have given us that?

I feel fine. I did not vote on that based on the NPRM. I voted based on the virtual certainty that there would be no movement until the economy made significant improvement. The NPRM issue was just icing to cement my decision. My decision was valid, and it still is valid. No issue with "20/20 hindsight" here. I would do it again.

MD pilot,
Perhaps your venting over the outrage of the FAA's decision, but your statements regarding ALPA PAC are uninformed. ALPA (and PAC laws) have been very clear regarding what can be done with PAC funds. If you read the documents that ALPA sends regarding the PAC, and what they have done (in the past several issues of the ALPA magazine) you would have a more informed and factual understanding of what ALPA PAC does and does not do. (hint they are not an election Super-PAC).

ALPA PAC has not been 100% successful in all its endeavors on our behalf (especially in the narcissitic culture of what have "You" done for "Me" lately attitide), but in the aformentioned publications, ALPA detailed endeavors that they have had successful influence.

I'm just as disappointed as the next guy about the rationale & decision of the cargo cut-out, but in aggregate it is positive for the pax carriers.

You may (or not) want to become more informed on the factual matters that affect our industry & livelihood. The actual final rule & explanation can be read here: http://www.faa.gov/regulations_polic...-FinalRule.pdf.

Around the pg 240- 260, and in the preambles you will see tha jaggernaut of the corporate industry lobby (to include the Chamber of Commerce- you do know who they politically aligned with right? hint ...the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses)

If ALPA had no representation in the process, things would be much much worse. You can read the final rule.pdf and you will see the mulit-axis attacks by the industry lobby in their attempt to defeat this NPRM.

The point is that we (pilots) need represenation, and the forces that are against us are 1) organized 2) financed 3)relentless to achieve their objectives (which are not aligned to ours). ALPA PAC is our best and currently only way to have a voice in these forums.

We need all the crew force to understand this. Uninformed opinions, misperceptions, about exactly what the PAC does & doesnt do leads to a lack of support, which in the end, limits the resources they can bring to bear. (if you read the pdf you'll see the myriad of legal challenges the corp lobby thru against the FAA to challenge- this cost $$)

Curious as to how the "WH" had the final say in this Rule. Did you read the final ruling, it is very enlightening. http://www.faa.gov/regulations_polic...-FinalRule.pdf

It is spelled out (in 300 some pages) The WH OMB has the responsibility for cost analysis, but the FAA under the DOT has the final decision making authority (what to decide based on the cost analysis..(and industry "comments" i.e. lobbying) of the rulemaking. The report delineates the actions that the opposing lobby presented for the cut-out.

I'm disappointed with the rule, and disagree, but would like to know how the WH "made" the cut out, when the FAA makes the ruling? Read the report.

--maybe we can have a alchohol cut out for cargo pilots, so we can legally drink more & sooner befor we fly?!?

The FAA’s authority to issue rules on aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the
United States Code. This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 49
U.S.C. § 44701(a)(5), which requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations and
minimum safety standards for other practices, methods, and procedures necessary for
safety in air commerce and national security. This rulemaking is also promulgated under
the authority described in 49 U.S.C. § 44701(a)(4), which requires the Administrator to
promulgate regulations in the interest of safety for the maximum hours or periods of
service of airmen and other employees of air carriers.