Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations Cites `Serious Concern' over TSA Rule; Also Cites Plans to Continue Focus on Protecting Workers' Basic Rights under Railway Labor Act.

Business Editors

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2003

CAPA Also Announces Election of New Officers

The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) announced today that it is considering filing a Petition for Review with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia regarding the new Final Rule that grants the Transportation Security Administration the authority to determine whether an individual's airman certificate should be revoked based on the TSA's assessment of that individual as a "security threat."

CAPA made the announcement at the close of its scheduled quarterly meeting in Washington. The TSA Final Rule in question is entitled "Threat Assessments Regarding Citizens of the United States and Alien Holders Who Hold or Apply for FAA Certificates." It was entered into the Federal Register on Jan. 24, 2003. The rule, which became effective on the date of its release with no advance notice, "Establishes the procedure by which TSA will notify the subject individual and the FAA of TSA's assessment that an individual who is a citizen of the U.S. and holds or is applying for an FAA airman certificate, rating or authorization poses a security threat."

"We have serious concerns about the problems of due process this rule poses, as well as the vague standards of evidence it contains," said Captain Jon Safley, CAPA President. "As soon as our legal counsel has concluded a thorough review of the rule's language, we will decide which course of action best protects our members' interests."

Safley also noted that CAPA representatives spent a portion of the past few days meeting with key lawmakers and their staffs to discuss the ongoing effort by airline management to modify the Railway Labor Act to institute forced binding arbitration at the close of negotiations. In these discussions with elected officials, CAPA has emphasized the effectiveness of the Railway Labor Act as a dispute resolution tool, noting that the overwhelming majority of airline contracts are settled with no disruption in service -- just as the original framers of the Railway Labor Act intended.

"We plan to continue our efforts to educate members of Congress regarding the Railway Labor Act's effectiveness as it currently stands," said Safley. "This is an issue that affects all of transportation labor, and potentially everyone in organized labor nationwide."

Safley noted that CAPA was joined in its meetings on Capitol Hill this week by representatives of the AMR Labor Coalition, which is comprised of the five unions representing American Airlines and American Eagle employees.

Also during its quarterly meeting this week, CAPA elected new officers to two-year terms, effective immediately. They are:

-- Captain Jon Safley, a Fokker 100 pilot for American Airlines, was elected President. He replaces Captain Bob Miller of the Independent Pilots Association.

-- Captain Paul Onorato, a Boeing 737 pilot for Southwest Airlines, was elected Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer. He replaces First Officer Michael Mellerski of the Allied Pilots Association.

CAPA is comprised of the Allied Pilots Association representing the pilots of American Airlines; the Independent Pilots Association representing the pilots of United Parcel Service; the National Pilots Association representing the pilots of AirTran Airways; the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association representing the pilots of Southwest Airlines; and Teamsters Local 1224 representing the pilots of Airborne Express. In all, CAPA member unions represent some 26,000 of the nation's professional pilots.