Sat, Aug 16, 2003
Cover Before And After Flights
The Air Line Pilots
Association, the union that represents most of the nation's airline
pilots, has petitioned the FAA for a rule change that would extend
the authority of a pilot in command ("captain's authority") to
cover the period immediately before and after the actual duration
of a flight.
The union says its request was prompted by safety concerns, by
security issues that have arisen since 9/11, plus the need to bring
US rules in line with changes recently made by the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It was filed Tuesday by Capt.
Dan Ashby, chairman of ALPA's Captain's Authority Committee.
The current FAA definitions limit captain's authority from the
time the aircraft doors are closed, to when they are opened at the
end of a flight. The proposed rule change would extend that to
cover the period of time that the captain is "on duty," essentially
from the time he reports early to prepare the aircraft, until he is
released from duty at the end of the flight.
The union says pilots
need the expanded period of authority to deal with security
matters. For example, if a passenger is behaving suspiciously or
disruptively, the regulations do not give the captain legal
authority to overrule a gate agent's decision to board the
passenger. It can be done after the fact, but it would be far safer
not to permit the passenger to board. Another example is the case
where cutting tools were found on an airliner before takeoff. The
captain's request for a bomb-sniffer dog was overruled by company
officials, although the aircraft was manually searched.
More News
Known Traffic With respect to ATC clearances, means aircraft whose altitude, position, and intentions are known to ATC.>[...]
Aero Linx: Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA) Established February 25, 1993, the Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA), based in Washington, D.C., is a not-for-profit association,>[...]
Abeam An aircraft is “abeam” a fix, point, or object when that fix, point, or object is approximately 90 degrees to the right or left of the aircraft track. Abeam indic>[...]
Aero Linx: The Air Charter Safety Alliance The group, called the Air Charter Safety Alliance, will raise awareness of illegal charter flights among potential customers, charter bro>[...]
“For months, ALPA has been sounding the alarm on the ongoing efforts by some aircraft manufacturers to remove pilots from the flight deck and replace them with automation. To>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (06.10.24): Known Traffic
See All