ALPA Stands with Government Workers as Operations Return to Normal

A Message from ALPA President Capt. Jason Ambrosi

As the federal government begins the process of reopening, I would like to commend the professionalism you all demonstrated during this widespread operational disruption. This shutdown exposed the fragility of the aviation system, and you were caught in the middle with canceled flights, long waits, and unpredictable operations. Flight disruptions are hard on everyone, but you rose to the occasion to mitigate safety risks and support the flying and shipping public.

For 43 days, our partners in air traffic control, transportation security, accident investigations, mediation, and system maintenance, along with workers across the federal government, were either told to stay home or worked without pay to keep our country moving. This created personal challenges for those responsible for keeping our skies safe and secure, yet they continued to show up and do their duty. You proudly supported federal workers throughout this shutdown, and we are grateful for their sacrifice.

Even on a normal day, air traffic control facilities are understaffed and under-resourced. Earlier this year, Congress approved partial funding for a plan to update the system, and this shutdown proved that a lot more work must be done to protect our safe and timely operations. With the disruptions caused by this shutdown, we will continue to press decision makers to prioritize updating and funding the systems and staffing necessary to keep the national airspace system safe and secure.

Now that the government has reopened, we look forward to working with Congress and industry stakeholders to advance priorities such as appropriations bills that properly fund the National Mediation Board and protect the public from reducing the number of pilots operating commercial airliners, the Aviation Funding Stability Act, the ROTOR Act, air traffic control modernization, the Mental Health in Aviation Act, and maintaining the highest standards that keep 2.9 million passengers and 59,000 tons of cargo moving safely every day.

Forty-three days of instability can’t be undone in an instant, and we expect disruptions to continue as the system resets following the shutdown. Thank you for your continued professionalism as operations return to normal.

Pilots are in command of the aircraft, and every time one of you stepped up to support operations, provided additional clarity and information in an announcement, or safely handled the dynamic environment, you reminded management of the importance of having two highly trained, fully qualified, well-rested, and professional pilots on the flight deck at all times. In normal operations and irregular operations, ALPA pilots are the glue that holds the airline industry together.