The Hill recently published a must-read editorial urging the U.S. government to protect aviation jobs, mandate a healthy flying environment, and inspire the American flying public to fly again. Coauthored by Capt. Joe DePete, ALPA president, and Sara Nelson, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA international president, the article implores Congress and the administration to protect aviation workers during this critical time.

Congress has returned to session in Washington, D.C., and lawmakers have just over two weeks to pass legislation that extends the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act through March 21, 2021—an action that would stave off layoffs for thousands of airline pilots when the current funding expires on September 30, 2020. As many airlines have already indicated a significant reduction in workforce once the funding ends, ALPA remains steadfast in reinforcing its calls to the U.S. government to help save hundreds of thousands of aviation jobs through a clean extension of the CARES Act.  

Time is running out for many American workers. The Payroll Support Program—which prevents companies that receive CARES Act grants from making layoffs or involuntary furloughs and secures the pay and benefits for airline workers—expires on September 30. This fall, hundreds of thousands of more workers across our entire economy could lose their jobs and health insurance due to the pandemic.

Emily (Hanrahan) Howell Warner, 80, passed away on July 3, 2020, leaving behind a remarkable career and a legacy as a trailblazer for women in aviation. Hired to fly for Frontier Airlines in 1973, she became the first female pilot to fly jets on a permanent basis for a U.S. carrier.

Recently, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report that further fueled frustrations with the lack of government leadership. It outlined a priority recommendation that the DOT should act upon immediately to improve our national aviation sector’s preparedness for communicable disease threats from abroad. In the report, GAO officials highlighted that despite previous recommendations, the DOT was still underprepared for such an event.