Urges Members To Contact Sponsor Of An Amendment That Would Remove The Language From The Bill

ALPA is ramping up its opposition to language included in the most recent FAA reauthorization bill that would change the requirements for pilots aboard cargo aircraft.

Last week the House of Representatives released a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill (H.R. 4). The legislation is pilot-partisan, except for one section. The language in Section 744 was added by the Science Committee and directs a research and development program by NASA and FAA on single-piloted commercial cargo aircraft. ALPA says this provision poses significant aviation risks and undermines the safety of U.S. airspace.

According to the union, air carriers are designed for more than one pilot in the flight deck because safety and operations dictate it. A two-person flight crew is necessary for the flight deck workload and also protects against the potential incapacitation of one pilot. Replacing the second on-board crewmember with one in a remote location would also jeopardize the quality of crew resource management and crew coordination.

Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-17) has offered an amendment to remove Section 744 and retain the safety of our aircraft. ALPA urges its members to help to let Congress know that that a single pilot is not safe in commercial airline operations.

(Source: ALPA news release)

FMI: www.alpa.org/advocacy/cta/faa-744