Steve Dickson Confirmed as FAA Administrator

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24 Jul

On behalf of the 11,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees represented by PASS, the union congratulates Steve Dickson on his confirmation by the U.S. Senate to become the next FAA administrator.

PASS National President Mike Perrone, who served with Dickson on the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Advisory Committee, said today, “The FAA has been without a permanent administrator for more than a year and I welcome the steady hand that Dickson will bring to the helm during a time when the agency is facing intense scrutiny. I look forward to meeting with him very soon and sharing the thoughts and experience of our members.”

At a hearing in May in front of the Senate Commerce Committee, Dickson expressed support for the safety-critical work performed by FAA employees and the vital role the government plays in maintaining the largest, safest and most complex air traffic control system in the world.

PASS, Aviation Unions Call on Secretary Chao to Address Foreign Repair Stations

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26 Jun

Washington, D.C.—In a letter sent to Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao today, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), joined a coalition of aviation unions in calling on the secretary to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and proper oversight of foreign repair stations that work on U.S. aircraft.

The letter was signed by PASS, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the Transport Workers Union of America and the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

“Congressionally directed action regarding drug and alcohol testing, security screening for safety-sensitive personnel, and risk-based oversight at foreign aircraft repair stations are now years overdue—a reality that has led to a two-tiered safety system with glaring regulatory loopholes,” the unions wrote.

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With Shutdown Looming, PASS President Warns Against Gambling With Aviation Safety

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17 Jul

As Congress continues to debate government funding, history may repeat itself in the form of another government shutdown, and the president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS)—representative of 11,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees—is providing information on the impact of a shutdown on aviation safety and other concerns during a hearing today before the House Aviation Subcommittee. The government continues to heal from the partial government shutdown in January—the longest in history—and PASS National President Mike Perrone is warning that another shutdown would be a gamble with aviation safety that the country should not be willing to take.

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Aircraft Maintenance Summit Calls Attention to Foreign Repair Stations

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10 Jun

Never missing a chance to bring the voice of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees to the table, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) joined other aviation unions and industry groups at an Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Summit on June 4, presented by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Business Travel Coalition. At issue was the rising use of foreign repair stations to work on American aircraft and the loss of American jobs. PASS represents the aviation safety inspectors at the FAA who are to inspect and regulate aircraft repair stations, both foreign and domestic. PASS Region IV Vice President Mike Gonzales joined a panel to discuss the ramifications of having mechanics who are not FAA certificated working on aircraft overseas without adequate oversight from aviation safety inspectors. National President Mike Perrone was also on hand and brought up the union's long-standing concerns with this practice as well as the impact of the government shutdown on the inspector workforce.

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