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Allied Pilots Association Welcomes Nomination of Captain J. Randolph Babbitt to Head Federal Aviation Administration

Dépèche transmise le 2 avril 2009 par Business Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 11,500 pilots of American Airlines (NYSE: AMR), issued the following statement regarding the nomination of airline industry veteran Captain J. Randolph “Randy” Babbitt to serve as the next administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

“We are pleased with the White House’s selection of Captain Babbitt to serve as FAA Administrator. As a longtime airline pilot and labor leader, Captain Babbitt will bring a valuable perspective to this critical government function. Given the many serious challenges confronting our industry—including dysfunctional labor-management relations, antiquated pilot flight time-duty time regulations and the need to upgrade the air traffic control system—we are hopeful that the U.S. Senate will promptly confirm Captain Babbitt. APA stands ready to help him move our industry forward for the good of all concerned.”

That is the full text of APA’s statement.

Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association—the largest independent pilot union in the U.S.—is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 11,500 pilots of American Airlines, including 1,969 pilots on furlough. The furloughs began shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Also, several hundred American Airlines pilots are on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s Web site address is www.alliedpilots.org. American Airlines is the nation’s second-largest passenger carrier and fifth-largest cargo carrier.