Congress Ends Shutdown, Passes Landmark Aviation Safety Bill with Key Pilot Provisions

WASHINGTON – Today, Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement after Congress passed a critical spending package that included funding for the Department of Transportation and our nation’s aviation system:

“We thank Congress for ending the recent government shutdown and passing this vital appropriations package that strengthens aviation safety and supports the piloting profession while providing significant resources for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to upgrade aging technology and increase air traffic controller hiring.

“We are grateful that Congress recognized the urgency of this situation and acted swiftly to pass this important bill. This legislation represents a significant step forward for our industry and the flying public and includes essential provisions that ALPA has long championed:

• Directing the FAA to ensure a minimum of two qualified, fully rested pilots on commercial airline flight decks at all times.
• Providing additional resources to improve the FAA's aeromedical process, reduce the backlog of pilot and controller medical certificates, and offer new flexibility to hire and retain skilled medical professionals for these purposes.
• Urging the Department of Transportation to review its outdated Statement of International Air Transportation Policy, internal guidance that in the past has been used to justify detrimental labor policy for international aviation, including air service agreements, joint ventures, and licensing cases.

In addition, the appropriations package delivers critical funding for the National Mediation Board, including for mediators, which promotes collective bargaining in the airline and rail industries.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots, at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.

CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org