Jumpseat Council Focuses on Protecting, Promoting, and Advancing Access

Thousands of pilots rely on the jumpseat every day to commute to and from work, making access an instrumental part of their lives. ALPA’s Jumpseat Council, which consists of the chairs of each of the Association’s master executive council (MEC) Jumpseat Committees, strives to protect access to the jumpseat and promote the proper protocols for its use.

“We want to keep improving access to our jumpseats, keep protecting pilot-in-command authority, and keep this program by pilots and for pilots,” said Capt. Rob Ventura (United), Jumpseat Council vice chair.

With those goals in mind, the spring 2026 Jumpseat Council meeting convened February 25–26 at ALPA’s McLean, Va., offices. Nearly 50 pilot volunteers from 27 pilot groups across the United States and Canada attended, with the MEC committee chairs joined by additional MEC volunteers as well as leaders from the union’s Air Safety Organization (ASO) Aviation Jumpseat Group.

Capt. Scott Bienz (JetBlue), council chair, recognized the importance of networking within the group, telling attendees, “Thank you for not only serving your pilot group, but also serving each other with fellowship, guidance, and collaboration.”

While the jumpseat supports commuting pilots, Bienz also stressed the important safety and security benefits of having an extra set of eyes and ears on the flight deck or in the back of the airplane. That, he said, is why maintaining pilot-in-command authority—where the captain approves of and is aware of any jumpseaters—is vital.

Council Business

Roundtable discussions provided each MEC representative the opportunity to share topical issues affecting their pilot group, with discussion among their colleagues on potential solutions. Attendees highlighted ongoing concerns with the Cockpit Access Security System, particular difficulties at specific locations or on specific carriers, and any progress made in contract language regarding the jumpseat.

The pilot volunteers also heard from council leaders and experts on current jumpseat priorities and activities, including

• The upcoming transition from Known Crewmember to Crewmember Access Point in the United States.
• Jumpseat issues specific to Canada.
• The success of Flight Finder on the ALPA app.
• A review of jumpseat training available as part of the ASO’s Foundational ALPA Service Training.
• A briefing on current security issues and priorities in the aviation industry by Capt. Darrin Dorn (Alaska), ASO Aviation Security Group vice chair.
• An overview of the union’s governance and structure, with a particular focus on the council’s place and role, from Capt. Sean Creed, the Association’s vice president–administration/secretary.
• Planning for the 2026 Air Safety Forum and the next Jumpseat Council meeting.

Capt. A.J. Berlotti (Alaska), Aviation Jumpseat Group chair, provided an update on one of the council’s top priorities—international jumpseating. He reported that the process has gone through all the necessary approvals, but implementation has been delayed by the U.S. government shutdowns over the past six months. Regardless, Berlotti expects an announcement soon regarding passenger airlines in the United States. The process is still ongoing for cargo carriers and Canadian airlines.

“This is us pursuing restorations following restrictions after 9/11,” Berlotti said. While he anticipates there will be an adjustment period and a learning curve, “Once it’s up and running, it’ll look a lot like domestic jumpseating.”

Honoring a Volunteer

The Jumpseat Council took a moment to honor a longtime volunteer, Capt. Amir Manouchehrian (Frontier) for his decades of contributions to the jumpseat and the Jumpseat Council. Manouchehrian, his pilot group’s Jumpseat Committee chair, was attending his final council meeting ahead of his upcoming retirement in June.