Page 13 - 2016-Issue4

VOICE OF THE REGIONS 13

hat does IFALPA mean
Wto you personally? CAPTAIN MIKE DAVIDSON
Captain Davidson - My first encounter with RVP SOP

IFALPA was back in the mid-nineties when CAPTAIN DIANA MARTINEZ
Australia’s two principle pilot associations (The
Australian Federation of Air Pilots and RVP SAM/NORTH
Australian & International Pilots Association), CAPTAIN SAMIR AHMED
came under the umbrella of The Australian
Airline Pilots Association. During this time my RVP AFI/EAST
interest was piqued by the sharp focus on CAPTAIN MIGUEL SILVEIRA
safety and technical matters after having some
involvement with a Regional Conference in President APPLA Portugal
Sydney. I was keenly interested in the way
pilots were able to influence aspects of aircraft
operations and how these interacted with our
day-to-day work. I began to see how much of
our environment was shaped by the progress of Captain Silveira - In 1989, when I joined TAP knowledge, political ability, and capacity to
technology within the aviation industry and as a First Officer, I quickly noticed that the engage with so many different cultures around
indeed by the work of IFALPA and its close ties pilots’ association was the way forward in them.
with ICAO and IATA. order to develop work for the flying IFALPA became a reference point for me,

Captain Ahmed - IFALPA to me truly is the community that would be far and beyond so much so that in 2014, when I took on the
Global Voice of Pilots. This could not be self-interest. I always found extra motivation role of APPLA’s President, my team and I got
demonstrated more clearly than it is in my when working for an entire community. The some inspiration from IFALPA, amongst
region. As a member of a small MA, IFALPA bonus, in this instance, was that I was also part others, in order to reorganize APPLA.
provides an invaluable network of subject of the community and, therefore, I would be ave you seen any changes
matter experts that smaller MAs can utilize in working for myself as well. I have been Hin aviation technology
both safety and industrial matters. working for APPLA ever since, although I took
some pauses, mainly to work on my academic and/or the industry during
Captain Martinez - As the worldwide pilots’ goals. your career? What has
most representative organization, IFALPA Although I had always been aware of improved?
means the possibility to contribute as a pilot, international pilots’ organizations, IFALPA and Captain Ahmed - I have seen more
and as a Colombian, to the improvement of air later ECA were the two organizations that I involvement of MAs in several initiatives
safety operations. It also means that, as a was most familiar with. In 2003 APPLA hosted locally by regulators, and internationally by
united front, we are respected and recognised the 58th IFALPA Conference on Madeira, and ICAO as they start to recognize pilots as
all over the world, at every international I took on the role as Director of Transportation important stakeholders in improving aviation
aviation agency. and Logistics for the event. At this time I safety. The reporting of Deficient Aerodromes
As the IFALPA Regional Vice President for became profoundly aware and appreciative of
the South America – North region, I actively what IFALPA was all about, how it was and Airspace, a major issue in our region, has
also highlighted some of the safety areas that
support the development of the profession by organized, its incredible diversity of cultures all need to be addressed.
representing Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, working for a common mission: promoting the It is hard to say what has improved because
Venezuela, Panama and Surinam pilots’ highest worldwide level of safety in aviation, our region is particular. Improvements are
associations. In 2014, I was elected as Regional while being the global voice of pilots. Ted sometimes not sustained. For example, an
Vice President for South America of the ITF’s Murphy was then the President, and during aerodrome without any instrument approaches
Pilots’ Committee. I also represent IFALPA in the Conference Dennis Dolan was elected the may have an ILS installed, however you may
the Regional Aviation Safety Group new President. Still fairly young at the time, find that it takes time for them to be calibrated,
(RASG-PA/ESC) and in different IATA and what struck me most were the incredible actually rendering them unusable.
ICAO forums and meetings. personalities of Ted and Dennis, their