ALPAAD UPDATE
Jun 22, 2003
Author: Gary L. Cottingham

ALPAAD UPADATE

Saturday, June 21, 2003


We are having discussions with Senator Inhofe and Representative Jim Gibbons to map out our future strategy. In the meantime I hope that you have had a chance to phone, fax or email words of thanks to the 44 Senators who voted for us. At the same time, I hope that you have had a chance to let the 52 Senators who voted against us know that we are aware of their vote and not happy with it. If you live in a state where one or both Senators voted against us, it would be helpful to find out from them why. In the past we have worked primarily with the aviation and transportation staffers, but because of the influence of the AFL-CIO on the vote Thursday you may want to include the labor staffer as well. In addition to intense lobbying from the AFL-CIO, key Senators were lobbied by the managements of AA, DAL, NWA, and UAL.

By now most of you have seen the list of voting from the Senate website so I will not include that again. If you missed it let me know or it can be found at the Senate website. Roll call vote 223, S.Amdt.896 to S.824.
www.senate.gov.

The following link may work as well.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00223

There were ten Republicans who voted against us. I had expected only five defections. The most notable were Trent Lott (R-MS) and Elizabeth Dole (R-NC).
Trent Lott actually rose and spoke against Senator Inhofe’s Amendment. Trent Lott is also Chairman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee.
Other Republican defections were
Alexander (R-TN)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Talent (R-MO)


The following link to the Capwiz website will provide a pictorial of the vote. Clicking on the state will provide you with contact information for the Senators.

http://www.capwiz.com/alpa/issues/votes/?votenum=223&chamber=S&congress=1081

Many of us associated with ALPAAD are also associated the Professional Pilots Federation. If you have not been to their website, I urge you to visit and join this group. Bert Yetman and others have a great wealth of institutional knowledge on this subject. Their petition for exemption is full of information on this issue and well worth the read.

www.ppf.org

Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations allows for exemptions to its regulations. The FAA has never granted an exemption to FAR 121.383(c). If you apply as an individual you should tell them why your exemption will be in the public interest and why it will enhance safety.
Typically your denial will be received back within thirty days. Interestingly, it has been over a year since the filing of the latest PPF petition with no response from the FAA. Perhaps we need to have Congress put some pressure on the FAA to respond. If you would like to petition for exemption, you may do so online. The following link should take you to the website.

http://www2.faa.gov/avr/arm/petitions.cfm?nav=part

In the coming weeks we need to keep the heat on Congress. If you are an ALPA member, let them know you do not condone ALPA’s policy of supporting age discrimination. If you have any contacts with the media, we need to exploit those contacts and get as much media coverage as we can on this issue to offset the money and influence that ALPA and the AFL-CIO have.

A quick way to reach Congress with one phone number is the Capital Switch Board -- 202.224.3121 – I have it in my speed dial.

That’s it for now. We appreciate all feedback from your Congressional contacts and your ideas.

I will apologize in advance if you receive this update more than once. We are still combining and editing our email lists. We don’t want to overlook anyone.

Gary L. Cottingham
Indianapolis, Indiana
317.513.0099
cottinghams@compuserve.com
www.alpaad.org

unu (R-NH)