Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition Recommends Single Standard for Drug Testing Programs for Foreign and Domestic Repair Stations
The Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition (TAMC) called for the implementation of a single standard of drug testing for airline mechanics in its comments submitted Wednesday to the FAA on its proposed rulemaking, (Docket No. FAA-2012-1058), for required drug testing at foreign repair stations.
In its comments, TAMC recommended that all authorized individuals that perform safety-sensitive maintenance on commercial carriers at both foreign and domestic repair stations be subject to a single standard of drug and alcohol testing.
“The TAMC has taken the position that in order to maintain consistent safety standards in a global economy and regardless of where safety-sensitive maintenance functions are performed, a single standard of aviation maintenance safety must be achieved,” said Chris Moore, chairman of TAMC, in the comments. “If we in the United States believe that certain drugs and the use of alcohol are a threat to aviation safety, we must ensure that anyone performing safety-sensitive maintenance is held to the same standards.”
“When it comes to aviation safety we cannot afford to leave anything to chance,” said Teamsters Airline Division Director Capt. David Bourne. “Standardizing drug and alcohol testing across the industry both at domestic and foreign repair stations just makes sense. The flying public and every man and woman that works in the airline industry deserves nothing less to ensure every aircraft is safe – on the ground and in the air.”
SWA Material Specialist Update
SWA Material Specialist Contract Negotiations continued in Dallas this past week. The Negotiating Committee, Local Union Business Agents and Airline Division Representatives met outside of negotiations on July 14th and 15th to work on Article 5 (Hours of Service) and Article 8 (Field Service).
Direct negotiations with the Company continued on July 16th. The company made a counter proposal on Article 4. The company and the union also made multiple passes on Articles 5 and 8 with no TAs being reached.
Dates are under discussion for the next round of talks.
Airline Industry News
Governmental and Regulatory
In the wake of the apparent downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 over Ukraine, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a Notice to Airmen prohibiting U.S. carriers from flying over the eastern part of that country. The new direction expands the area prohibited to U.S. airlines in April, when the FAA ordered them to avoid the Crimean region of Ukraine and adjacent areas of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
The Federal Aviation Administration last week proposed new standards for flight simulators used to train pilots. Those standards will include replicating the kind of stall that occurred in February 2009 as air speed slowed dangerously and Capt. Marvin D. Renslow took the exact opposite action the situation required. As a consequence, Flight 3407 plummeted to the ground, crashing into a house and killing all 49 people on board, including Renslow, and one person in the house.
Airlines, Industry and Labor
Southwest Airlines reported 28.8% more passenger activity at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., in May on a year-over-year basis. The carrier recently picked up slots at DCA, and plans to eventually expand to 44 daily flights from the airport.
American Airlines has eliminated its fuel hedges, adopting a policy from US Airways. "Just like any insurance, you figure out what the cost of that insurance is," said CFO Derek Kerr. "And our belief has been that because of the volatility of fuel, the cost of the insurance far outweighs the benefit of that insurance."
Alaska Air Group put out a brief 8-K filing Monday saying that Glenn S. Johnson, president of its regional unit, Horizon Air Industries, plans to retire Sept. 1. That includes his job as executive vice president of Alaska Air Group.
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