Vice President’s Report

The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) is organized as a trade association representing member pilot associations in areas of safety, security and legislative affairs. The independent member associations within CAPA are responsible for all member support and contract negotiations for their own airline pilots, however, they share information and act collectively on many issues through CAPA.

The CAPA office personnel consist of a permanent President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer and an Executive Director. Our committees are composed of the member airlines Government Affairs, Safety, and Security committees. Member airlines coordinate their committee activities and aid each other in the accomplishment of their goals. CAPA is regularly asked to provide representatives for the many Aviation Symposiums, Aviation Rulemaking Committees and Safety Panels.  Those representatives are appointed by the CAPA President from the member airline committees.

Acting together, in solidarity, we accomplish far more than by individual efforts. For example, in response to the recent ANPRM issued by the FAA on “New Pilot Certification Standards”, our office and member airlines collaborated on a very extensive and professional submission, ensuring that the voices of the CAPA represented airline pilots are heard in Washington.   CAPA believes that the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certification for both the Captain and First Officer in part 121 air carrier operations is an absolute necessity in reversing the negative trends in airline safety.  However, the only other primary organization representing airline pilots chose not to respond to this extremely important ANPRM which has profound implications for our shared profession.  Fortunately, there were individuals within their own membership who felt compelled to submit their own comments on this critically important issue.

At CAPA, we have always felt that it is important that the people advocating for the profession be involved in the profession.  Every CAPA officer and committee member is a line flying pilot at a member airline.  There are NO full-time representatives in CAPA.  While some airline labor organizational structures maintain large staffs of former pilots and professional employees, at CAPA, we are careful to provide you maximum representation with a minimal staff.   Every pilot working within the CAPA umbrella regularly flies line trips.  The only way that we can represent your interests, is if we are one of you.   Every CAPA officer and committee member is sponsored by a member association with trip-loss coverage and related expenses only.  CAPA dues, at only $2 per pilot per month, support CAPA’s entire infrastructure.  There are no inflated compensation and benefit plans in our offices.

CAPA believes that only airline pilots can truly understand the complex issues of the aviation industry. Over the last ten years the pilot profession has had too much given away in contract negotiations by labor organization representatives personally unaffected by the devastating financial impact of their decisions. Abrogated contracts, up to 40% pay loss, loss of pensions and retiree medical benefits, and revolving-door bankruptcies are the result of this vacuum of leadership.

While we employ lobbyists to guide our legislative efforts, all legislative initiatives are promoted by pilots who work under the provisions for which they advocate. We don’t advocate for your profession, we advocate for our profession.

- Jeff Skiles      
Vice President