AN #ALPAtross AROUND A FULL RECOVERY

NOTE: The words that will follow are mine and do not reflect the thinking of any entity where I have a professional relationship.

Yesterday, #ALPA wrote to the 3 CEOs at A4A, RAA, and NACA. President DePete is at it again warning the trade associations to cease the spread of misinformation about the availability of qualified airline pilots. DePete and his misinformation machine show only concern for safety and the well-being of the US taxpayer. Come on man.

He likes to remind those who listen about how the industry misused the $63B in relief the US airlines received during the Pandemic. Remember, that $63B represented 75% of the payroll cost - it did not cover every payroll dollar. And it was AFA-CWAs #SaraNelson who led the charge - not ALPA.

Is ALPA the only advocacy group in Washington that does not believe a shortage of qualified pilots is present? They sure as hell are not bashful about using a demand exceeding supply argument that they dispute in public to further their parochial interest. It is akin to taking credit for an infrastructure project when you voted against the bill that made the funds available.

My history with ALPA is long. I know two past Presidents well and have the honor of sitting on a board with one today. My issues with ALPA first began when the small regional jet was being placed into the market and scope clauses limited their deployment.

The limitations continue today. Artificial limits negotiated with ALPA definitely stunted the growth of many small communities early in that plane's lifecycle. Now the airframe is just too damn expensive to fly in commercial service.

In DePete's letter to the 3 CEOs he talks about how ALPA worked together during the worst of the pandemic to ensure the aviation industry would survive and meet the critical air transportation needs of our nation. If maximizing economic generation is important to the country, then maximizing scheduled service is part of that.

DePete's letter is replete with numbers with curious baselines. The story does not begin and end with ALPA. If ALPA cared about safety in a holistic sense, then they might sit down and ensure that commute time is accounted for when it comes to rest; that high quality training in a simulator be counted against the 1500 hours versus banner-tugging; and stop tying the pilot supply situation to the recovery monies. WOW!

Ah -- that's right, commute time might lead to a shortage.

ALPA talks about its willingness to come to the table to negotiate with any stakeholder in good faith to help the industry navigate its current travails. The ALPA conundrum is that it would have to come out from behind the safety curtain that limits their vision to zero-zero.

Now #spiritairlines CEO agrees with ALPA. Why are they cutting service? More to come on this one. Labor peace has a shelf life of 6 months after the last increase. Spirit has a parochial interest too.

May 15, 2022