Source: ALPA The world’s largest pilot union, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), today appointed Stacey Bechdolt to serve as director of Engineering and Air Safety. Bechdolt succeeds retiring director Keith Hagy and will oversee ALPA’s esteemed and robust department of professionals specializing in aviation safety, security, pilot health, accident investigation, flight training and operations, pilot and aircraft certification, air traffic control, sustainability and environment, and a variety of other disciplines. “Stacey’s extensive aviation experience and industry-wide reputation as a safety champion will ensure that ALPA continues its leadership role as the world’s largest nongovernmental aviation safety organization. Not only does Stacey have extensive industry experience, from airline operational safety management to advancing issues as a member of several [...]

Source: US DOT The U.S. Department of Transportation today released consumer complaint data about air travel for February 2023. The release of 2023 consumer complaint data has been delayed primarily because of the increase in consumer complaints received this calendar year compared to the prior two years. The Department is examining how best to review and process the increased number of consumer complaints received in 2023 so not to delay its reporting. Complaints About Airline Service In February 2023, DOT received 6,644 airline service complaints from consumers, down 38.6% from the 10,822 complaints received in January 2023, but up from the 3,735 complaints received in February 2022. Of the 6,644 complaints received in February 2023, 4,405 (66.3%) were against U.S. [...]

Source: TSA Roadmap will drive key benefits such as improving the security screening performance, enhancing the customer experience and expanding TSA's engagement with aviation security industry partners The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) published its Open Architecture (OA) Roadmap that defines TSA's long-term strategy to enhance screening capabilities. Open Architecture is a technology-design approach for software and hardware that uses widely accepted standards to ensure interoperability across tools and platforms regardless of the technology designer, manufacturer or supplier. This approach increases the number of available partners who can supply improved technology quickly and at a lower cost. "Open architecture directly supports TSA's mission and its workforce, while further protecting the nation's transportation systems," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. "This roadmap outlines [...]

Source: US FAA The Federal Aviation Administration named Kyle A. deCant as senior labor policy advisor. He will oversee strategic planning on labor issues and advise the agency’s acting administrator and deputy administrator. This is the first time the FAA’s front office will have a permanent position focused on these issues. “Kyle brings very strong legislative and policy experience to this position. He will be a great asset as we work with our labor partners daily to achieve our safety mission,” said Deputy FAA Administrator Katie Thomson. Prior to joining the FAA, deCant served as senior labor policy counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor. There he helped draft labor legislation including the Protecting the Right [...]

Source: TSA Plan Raise Provides all TSA Non-Executive Employees Compensation Equal to Federal Government's General Pay Scale The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has officially implemented its new Transportation Security Compensation Plan, previously referred to as pay equity for all TSA employees. This plan honors the commitment by Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro N. Mayorkas to invest in TSA's workforce through a modernized pay structure comparable with their colleagues on the federal government's General Schedule (GS) pay scale, regular step increases and a clear progression for pay mobility and growth. Since the inception of TSA, the workforce that secures the nation's transportations systems has been paid at a lower rate than the rest of the federal government. Today, DHS Secretary [...]

Source: US DOT Rulemaking Finalized on 33rd Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act On the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced a new rule which requires airline lavatories to be more accessible. This rulemaking, authorized by the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), would require airlines to make lavatories on new single-aisle aircraft large enough to permit a passenger with a disability and attendant, both equivalent in size to a 95th percentile male, to approach, enter, and maneuver within as necessary to use the aircraft lavatory. Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg previewed this rule at a White House ADA Anniversary event earlier this month. "Traveling [...]