Nevets

ALPA president Capt. John Prater and National Security Committee chairman Capt. Robb Powers (Alaska) this week met with Transportation Security Administration Acting Administrator Gale Rossides to discuss CrewPASS and other security issues.


Rossides reported that TSA has approved the next phase of the CrewPASS project. The pre-operational phase of this demonstration is to begin by May 1, and the CrewPASS contractor, ARINC, will replace the ALPA-loaned laptops with new Internet-capable devices that will provide both employment status confirmation and identity verification via fingerprint biometrics. TSA has approved the deployment of this equipment at all three current CrewPASS locations (BWI, PIT, and CAE) and will add one additional terminal at BWI for a total of four lanes.


ARINC will begin enrolling pilots in the CrewPASS system in the near future, and ALPA will help the company advertise the biometric enrollment venue and date information. Flight crews will still be able to use all four lanes without biometrics for an extended period of time.


Next steps for CrewPASS include the publication of program standards by TSA, which would include nationwide implementation, inclusion of flight attendants, and other measures.


Prater and Powers also spoke to Rossides about ALPA’s views regarding needed improvements to the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, all-cargo operations security, the development of standards for secondary barriers, and the need for approving international jumpseating via the Cockpit Access Security System (CASS).

250 or point 65

Am I the only one who is incredibly frustrated with the fact that there are so many pilot groups fending for themselves in negotiations, but ALPA's main concern is getting me through security 5 minutes quicker?

I think my airline's MEC is doing a great job, but sometimes I wonder what ALPA national's priorities are.

bryris

Just because you might have a few battles pending doesn't mean you've got to tie your wrists and do nothing else. If ALPA was continuously dropping the ball, then I'd get it.

250 or point 65

I don't know, if I were making 95% of my salary while on furlough like the UAW, I may be a little more interested the Capt Prater commercial.

flyerfly

I would have rather you said thanks to all the ALPA companies' pilots who pay dues for the organization to drive programs like this.

Don't worry I'm sure non ALPA carriers will hate hate not having to go through security anymore when CREWPASS goes nation wide.

Your welcome!

250 or point 65

You can thank me as well, I paid those dues too.

John Pennekamp

As someone else said, I'd rather ALPA at least captures the small stuff than does nothing at all.

And YES, going through security while working a flight is an asinine dog and pony show that needs to be stopped. I'm glad ALPA is doing something about it.

johnso29

I don't think that is going to last. If they want more govt help it will have to go, and if they don't then they will have to file BK and then it will most certainly be gone.

bryris

Yep. GM, especially, is basically a health care insurer that happens to make vehicles on the side. I haven't reviewed their financials myself, but I've heard from reliable sources that for every vehicle they make, they lose money. IOW, at this point, its not a matter of producing more vehicles to reduce the fixed cost per unit to eventually create a profit - the numbers just don't work. Every single vehicle that gets emitted at the end of the production line represents a loss to the company.

These costs will have to be shed for there to be a future for the company.

Honestly, the airlines are in a similar boat. The trend (see WN) is to not provide a pension anymore. Some legacies might potentially force themselves into bankruptcy to then be granted some relief from the existing (already cut down) pensions.

The new guys getting on board - fuggetaboutit. Better be conservative with your money going forth.