Page 4 - 2017-Issue3

4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The Test of Time

It is an honour to deliver this message for the first time as IFALPA president. I
am indeed privileged to serve our Federation, especially as part of such an ex-
ceptional leadership team. Captain Amornvaj Mansumitchai, IFALPA Deputy
President, and our eight executive Vice-Presidents demonstrate the dedication
and experience that has allowed our federation to successfully stand the test of Cockpit Smoke Protection
time.

For nearly 70 years, the IFALPA Conference has brought together pilots from
around the globe to take on challenges and develop solutions that can focus
on a single aerodrome or span the global air transportation system. This year
Captain Ron Abel, IFALPA President in Montreal, our members called on all aviation professionals, particularly
pilots and air traffic controllers, to strictly adhere to the use of standard ICAO
phraseology. Our Federation also expressed a commitment to the right of pilots 18,000 +
to have full freedom to choose their collective bargaining representative in
response to an International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and OSM
Aviation agreement in which OSM appeared to give preference to ITF in orga-
Reports of smoke, fire
nizing efforts.
Building on Conference, IFALPA continues its work in many important areas,
including supporting our pilots’ contract negotiations. We held our most recent or fumes have been
Negotiations Seminar 23-25 May, in Mexico City. The principles discussed
at the event were put into practice mere weeks later, as the Mexican Air Line recorded by the FAA
Pilots’ Association, ASPA de Mexico, sought mutual assistance on behalf of the
Aeromar pilots. As you’ll see in this issue, IFALPA’s next Negotiations Seminar between 2000 - 2015
will be held this fall in Amsterdam.

While IFALPA’s focus remains on safety in all aspects of aviation, times have
changed a bit with regard to the nature of the risks we face. One example is the
integration of unmanned aircraft systems. In our recent position paper, IFALPA
underscores the distinction between accommodating and integrating them into
airspace. We emphasize that it is not acceptable to change safety-based rules to
accommodate UAS. Rather, UAS must be truly integrated and safety must be
the priority.

IFALPA’s new position paper regarding access to cockpit voice recorder (CVR)
data for maintenance purposes acknowledges the need to confirm CVR func-
tionality and intelligibility for effective accident investigation. However, we
remain extremely concerned that CVR data continues to be used for purposes
outside the intended accident investigation, despite clear protections. CVR
data has been leaked to the news media and shared on social media. Aviation
authorities must codify and enforce protections designed to prevent the misuse
of CVR data.

In the global aviation community, examples of how data can be effectively
protected from misuse are plentiful. We have learned from voluntary safety
reporting programs such as the Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA)
program, the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), and Safety Management
Systems, that data can be collected securely and used only as intended. In the
case of FOQA and ASAP, the data is used to proactively detect and address
risks before incidents or accidents occur. It helps to make a safe industry even
safer. Full stakeholder involvement and a Just/Non-punitive safety culture will
be critical to the success of these programs.

At IFALPA, our dedication and experience achieves change that stands the test Visit YouTube.com/VisionSafeCorp
of time. for our latest smoke in the cockpit
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360 video experience. VisionSafe.com | | #EVAS
ISSUE 3 | 2017 InterPilot | The Safety and Technical Journal of IFALPA