Part 70, page 69

Transcript

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CAB EXAMINER AGAINST AAL-WAL MERGER PLAN

CAB Hearing Examiner William Madden recommended on Dec. 20 that the proposed merger between Western and American be denied. If approved, he said, the merged pattern of service would "seriously disrupt" the nation's air transportation system, particularly on West Coast and Pacific routes. Further, he predicted that the creation of a supercarrier would totally "upset the balance" between larger and smaller trunkline service.

In his 80-page decision, Madden stressed that the merger of a big four airline and another trunk carrier is not in the public interest.

He also noted the availability of improved labor-protective provisions as recommended in the Delta-Northeast and Allegheny-Mohawk cases, should the Board decide to approve the American-Western merger.

Madden's initial decision will be reviewed along with other recommendations before a final decision on the case is reached by CAB. Final approval must be given by President Nixon since the proposed merger involves international routes.

Madden's decision was hailed by ALPA as "a clear recognition of the need to preserve the nation's competitive system of commercial air service."

In a statement Dec. 21, ALPA stressed that the merger, if approved, would lead to the creation of multi-billion-dollar "supercarrier," diverting revenues from other airlines and weakening their market position.

"Inevitably," ALPA said, "this would lead to a series of defensive mergers, thus further deteriorating levels of competition and service."

The Association's Executive Board, recently took action "cohesively opposing" the American-Western merger.

The U. S. Justice Department and CAB's Bureau of Operating Rights have also recommended that the merger be rejected.

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NOMINATIONS OPEN

The following councils are conducting nominations (Election Group One) for the term of office beginning July 1:

ALI 114 EAL 18 PRN 125 ALI 143 EAL 142 SOU 20 ALA 68 MOH 90 TCA 63 ALA 118 MOH 139 TWA 2 AAA 32 NEA 116 TXI 85 AWI 136 NCA 126 UAL 11 BNF 42 ONA 23 UAL 33 CPT 141 OZA 106 UAL 34 CAL 15 PAA 10 UAL 150 CAL 153 PAA 70 UNI 66 CBA 81 PAI 40 UNI 144 DAL 48 PAI 120 WAL 21 DAL 131 WCA 35

Nominating ballots are to be returned to the council chairman no later than the time and date of council meetings advertised for the purpose of nominating local council representatives. Any member of the above councils who does not receive a ballot should contact David E. Halpin, director, Council and Administrative Services, in the Home Office, or his council chairman.

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ELECTION BALLOTS TO BE COUNTED JAN. 21 AT HOME OFFICE

The Election and Ballot Certification Board will meet at the Home Office on Jan. 21 to check, open and tally the following elections. Any active member in good standing is entitled to be present to observe the ballot count. Chairman and vice chairman elections: AWI 111, AAA 32, DAL 131, SEA 132, PAI 121 and PAA 61. Captain representative election: AAA 138. Copilot representative elections: TWA 25, UNI 119 (and flight officer representative). Secretary-treasurer elections: TWA 24 and PAI 122.

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COUNCIL ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCIES SCHEDULED THIS MONTH

Elections to fill vacancies are being conducted by the following councils. Any active member who did not receive a ballot, has lost his ballot or wishes to change his vote should contact David E. Halpin, director of Council and Administrative Services at the Home Office. Elections and their deadline dates are: Flying Tiger Council 97: chairman and vice chairman, Jan. 27. Piedmont Council 121: chairman and vice chairman, Jan. 28. TWA Council 4: copilot representative, Jan. 31. Capitol International Council 141: captain representative, Jan. 31.

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TENTATIVE AGENDA SET FOR 72 AIR SAFETY FORUM

"What Price Air Safety?" will be the theme of the 1972 ALPA Air Safety Forum to be held May 23-25 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. Captain Richard Heller, Region Three safety chairman, has been named general chairman of the 19th annual Pilot Division meeting. The 10th S&S Division Forum will convene one day earlier for closed sessions.

Tentative agenda for the Pilot Forum calls for closed sessions on Tuesday afternoon (May 23), with meetings of the five regional safety committees scheduled for that evening.

Open sessions begin on Wednesday morning (May 24) with a welcome by the ALPA President. The Wednesday morning program will discuss today's big safety problem--hijacking. A Wednesday afternoon session will consider disaster planning, and be followed by a discussion of two-segment approaches and noise-abatement procedures.

Thursday morning (May 25) sessions will be concerned with airport safety; specifically the status of airport certification program, and a discussion of ALPA's program to accelerate the installation of needed air-carrier airport facilities. The Forum will break up into workshop action groups on Thursday afternoon with the following tentative subjects: (1) air traffic control and collision avoidance systems; (2) airworthiness and performance, and (3) accident prevention.

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HAZARDOUS MATERIAL PROBLEM INFORMATION SOUGHT

Any pilot having experienced hazardous material cargo transportation problems should get in touch with ALPA Executive Administrator Jack Bavis at the Home Office.