31 January 2012 Legislative Affairs Update
 
We are now entering into our third week of educating legislators on the Hill regarding the new FTDT rule and the exclusion of cargo operations from the new rule. To say that we are disappointed about the ruling is the understatement of the year. ALPA had over 100 meetings with staff and members thus far with many more scheduled this week.
 
Mostly every Legislative Office that has been met with understands the concept that excluding cargo from the rules has a major consequence to the overall flying public safety. They all get the idea that “one level of safety” is safety for all. Partial safety will eventually produce negative consequences. It is sort of like having watertight integrity for only half of a boat. Eventually the boat will sink.
 
We are working towards the introduction of a bill that would fix this egregious error in the new FAR 117 and include cargo operations in the new rule.
 
As the National Transportation Safety Chairman Deborah Hersman said after the final rule was released, expressing her disappointment on the cargo cut out, “A tired pilot is a tired pilot, whether there are 10 paying customers on board or 100, whether the payload is passengers or pallets.”
 
In addition to the FTDT we are also pushing hard on a final FAA reauthorization bill that is on its 23rd extension. The conferees are meeting today as they go into formal conference. We are still fully engaged in discussing the final language on lithium battery regulation. ALPA anticipates a final, fully funded, multi-year FAA bill soon. We have been lobbying on the Hill for the past 4 years on this Bill.
 
Thank you for your continued support and interest in Legislative Affairs. Our sole focus is the betterment of our dues paying members and the protection and enhancement of our profession.