06-14-2019ALPA REP SELECTED TO SERVE ON IN-FLIGHT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT TASK FORCE
Late last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the creation of the National In-flight Sexual Misconduct Task Force on which ALPA will be represented by F/O Kaori Paris (UAL) with support from the Engineering & Air Safety (E&AS) Department. The 14-member task force also includes representatives from airlines, airports, flight attendants, law enforcement, the FBI, and relevant interest groups.
According to a press release from the DOT, "The Task Force will review and evaluate current practices, protocols, and requirements of U.S. airlines in responding to and reporting allegations by passengers of sexual misconduct on board commercial aircraft. It will also provide recommendations on best practices relating to training, reporting, and data collection regarding incidents of sexual misconduct by passengers onboard commercial aircraft."
The task force was mandated by Congress according to a provision in the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act, the inclusion of which ALPA supported.
PREPARING FOR LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT ON PILOT PRIORITIES
While Republicans and Democrats in Congress unveiled spending legislation that would avoid a government shutdown through September, ALPA hosted a conference for Government Affairs chairs from across the Association in our Washington, D.C. office. As the 116th Congress officially kicked off, these ALPA representatives got up to speed on the union's current legislative agenda. A major component of the one-day event was learning proper techniques for engagement with Members of Congress on ALPA's top issues: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization implementation and enforcing international air transport agreements.
As one of the Association's top legislative priorities this year, ALPA supports Congressional oversight to ensure that all provisions of the FAA reauthorization are implemented as Congress intended in a timely manner. Learn more.
ALPA also supports legislation to formally define flags-of-convenience as counter to the public interest of the U.S. and to require DOT to consider the public interest factor in all foreign air carrier permit applications. Learn more.
Attendees of this week's conference also learned valuable skills for building their Government Affairs committees within their own pilot groups, running a successful ALPA-PAC drive, productive social media engagement, and developing ALPA government affairs advocates across the country.
ALPA looks forward to engaging with Congress and the Administration to ensure the safety and security of our profession. The Government Affairs Chairs and their volunteers will be frontline for this advocacy.
AIRLINEPILOT CENTRAL
