ALPA Legal Services

ALPA attorneys help formulate and process requests for interpretations of existing regulations when questions develop, and advise and support National Officers, National Committees, MECs, and individual pilots like you on the accepted interpretations of those regulations. This close contact means ALPA's attorneys have a long history and familiarity with the subtleties of the regulations you operate under every day. This ready expertise means that our attorneys can and do answer questions instantly around the clock, so you don't have to make that dicey call on your own.

Responding to Your Questions in Real Time. When a question of a Federal Avaiation Regulation (FAR) interpretation comes up, every ALPA pilot is just a phone call away from the answer. The experience and information gained by ALPA attorneys in advising national committees, developing responses to rulemaking, and working closely with government officials and industry representatives on important regulatory issues create an unparalleled base of knowledge to which pilots on the line have access every day, 24 hours a day.

Preventing Exceptions to the Regulations. ALPA attorneys monitor and coordinate ALPA's efforts to resist individual carriers' attempts to create piecemeal exceptions to the flight time regulations. This vigilance is critical to preventing the erosion of those regulations, and it protects the entire piloting profession's safety standards.

Developing Guidelines for ULRs. ALPA provides legal and technical support in the development of guidelines for ultra-long-range operations (ULRs single segment flights in excess of 16 hours). ALPA has worked with the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) to develop policy for the operation of these flights and is continuing to work with ICAO to devise a recommended practice for such flights. ALPA attorneys and technical staff will work actively on any rulemaking that occurs on this topic.

Supporting ALPA's Flight Time/Duty Time Committee. ALPA attorneys advise and work closely with the ALPA Flight Time/Duty Time Committee (FT/DT), which is tasked with ensuring that acceptable flight time/duty time regulations are promulgated, interpreted, and enforced.

Responding to Proposed Changes in the Regulations. ALPA attorneys and technical staff help prepare ALPA's responses to Aviation Rulemaking Committees (ARCs), including the ARC currently tasked with developing consensus on potential changes to Parts 125/135 governing flight/duty/rest regulations. ALPA uses its authority and familiarity with pilots' concerns to bring about positive change to FT/DT regulations that best reflect your interests and concerns.

Coordinating Responses to Scheduling Issues. ALPA attorneys support and train your MEC Scheduling Committee representatives on the scheduling changes that have occurred in the industry and on collective bargaining initiatives to address Preferential Bidding System issues and other scheduling matters. The breadth of your attorneys' experience provides a critical perspective in developing and crafting bargaining solutions.

Coordinating Responses to Reports of Pilot Fatigue. ALPA attorneys and technical staff work closely with your National Officers and ALPA's Fatigue Task Force, Collective Bargaining Committee, and Flight Time/Duty Time Committee to coordinate ALPA's response to increasing reports of pilot fatigue.