PASS, Coalition Urge Senators to Oppose Increase in Pilot Retirement Age

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20 Jul

This week PASS joined a coalition of aviation industry unions to call on the Senate to reject any legislation that would increase the retirement age for pilots. The current mandatory retirement age for pilots is 65 and is aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),

Noting the continuing stress on air travel this summer, the unions state that “changing the retirement age for pilots in the United States will not increase the supply of pilots but instead have many unintended consequences for passengers and junior pilots.” Such a change would require retraining, increased costs for airline as well as the pilots.

“The discussions related to increasing the pilot retirement age are intended to be a quick fix to the false narrative of inadequate pilot supply and another excuse for some airlines to water down pilot training requirements and flight experience time. However, the real problem is airline management’s poor planning for a pandemic recovery,” the coalition wrote.

“Our unions represent employees in a wide variety of aviation-related professions,” said PASS National President Dave Spero. “But central to all of their work is the safety of the National Airspace System and ultimately, the American flying public. PASS is proud to lend its support to this important issue.”

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Nomination of Phillip Washington as Next FAA Administrator

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07 Jul

PASS's statement on the nomination of Phillip A. Washington to be the next FAA administrator:

PASS welcomes the news that the Biden Administration has put forth a nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the next administrator. Acting Administrator Billy Nolen has been serving admirably in that role since the retirement of Steve Dickson at the end of March.

PASS looks forward to working with Mr. Washington on the many challenges facing the FAA. We are encouraged by Mr. Washington’s management skills as demonstrated while serving as the CEO at Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Denver International Airport. This experience will be instrumental in implementing provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) within the FAA, work he has begun with the BIL funds received by Denver’s airport. 

PASS looks forward to the nomination process, which will allow Mr. Washington to present his goals and initiatives for the FAA and how those will impact the employees we represent.

Our Members Work Where the Aviation Equipment Is!

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31 May

Americans have returned to air travel this year in numbers not seen since before the pandemic began. They encounter TSA officers, gate agents and flight crews on their journey. They know there are controllers in the airport tower giving instructions to the pilots. But behind the scenes, thousands of PASS-represented employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) are there to ensure the flight crews are following proper procedures; airplanes are maintained and certified; radar, communication and navigation equipment is inspected and maintained; and so much more. And when that equipment is in the Gulf of Mexico, our members are there as well. Maintaining and repairing the complicated equipment and systems that support air traffic control is not as easy as making an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar and bringing your laptop or iPad to the store. You have to go to the equipment.

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PASS Celebrates Federal Employees!

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02 May

As the aviation industry continues to recover from the impacts of a global pandemic, PASS recognizes the extraordinary efforts of the employees we represent at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that the safety of the flying public is never compromised.

Since 1985, Congress has designated the first full week of May as Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) to show appreciation for the men and women who serve our nation as government employees. PSRW may only last a week, but PASS celebrates its members every day for the work they perform on behalf of the American public. “The workforces we represent are highly skilled, experienced and dedicated to the job of keeping our skies safe,” said PASS National President Dave Spero. “They never missed a beat from lockdown in March of 2020 to the increasing number of travelers we are seeing today,” he continued. “And because of their efforts, essential personnel, equipment and vaccines reached their destinations and Americans are able to resume their pre-pandemic travel.”

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PASS Calls for FLRA Nominees to Be Voted On

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01 Apr

This week, PASS joined a coalition of federal labor unions calling on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to move swiftly on the president's nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).

"We are well over a year into the Biden Administration, yet the President's day-one commitment to resetting labor-management relations in the Executive Branch and pursuing collaborative and productive labor relations in federal government is hampered by a Federal Labor Relations Authority currently controlled by a 2–1 majority of anti-worker, anti-union appointees" held over from the previous administration," the letter states.

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PASS Member on Impact of Pandemic on Federal Workers

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25 Mar

Earlier this month, PASS member and union rep Martha Parish was one of several federal employees interviewed by Gov Exec on the impact of the pandemic on the federal workforce. Parish spoke on behalf of the union and not in her capacity as an aviation safety inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration.

How has your work-life balance changed, and what do you think your “new normal” will look like?

I have to say, I probably worked a little bit more. We were afforded more flexibility in the hours that we could work so that we could accommodate people with kids that were home doing homeschool and my division in particular was very generous in terms of saying, ‘Look, if you have to work from 12 to 8 in order to meet your home requirements or your family requirements that have changed,’ they were very flexible in that. I also found myself reaching out to other folks that weren't used to working from home to sort of help them develop their toolbox and their skills.

Read the full interview