US: ALPA sets out policy priorities in white paper

US pilot union Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) is calling on the industry to revisit numerous labour, safety, subsidy and collective bargaining issues that for the past year have taken a back seat to the coronavirus pandemic. In a white paper called “Battling the Pandemic, Rebuilding our Economy and Connecting the World”, published on 24 March, the organization sets forth a series of policy priorities which it says will be integral to rebuilding the air transport industry following the global health crisis. “The aviation sector has been essential in battling the pandemic and will be critical in restoring our economy,” says ALPA president Joe DePete. “As we build back, we must work toward a stronger and more sustainable airline industry.” The white paper includes recommendations on protecting cockpit crew from coronavirus risks, violent passengers and terrorists, as well as hazardous materials which they may be transporting. It also outlines calls for specific rules on integrating remote piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into the national airspace system safely, as the small craft rapidly rise in popularity among hobbyists and professionals in real estate and surveying work.<br/>