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Stay Tuned: ALPA’S Battle to Improve SIRO/LAHSO Not
Over Yet  In the last issue of Critical Juncture, I
informed you that ALPA achieved victory in our campaign to improve the safety of
land-and-hold-short operations in the United States. However, I wanted to take this
opportunity to ensure that every ALPA pilot understands that our union cannot claim
full victory in our "battle" to improve LAHSO in North America because the
Canadian government has not instituted satisfactory regulations covering simultaneous
intersecting runway operations (SIRO, the official term for these maneuvers in Canada).
Therefore, I am urging YOU, the ALPA member, to continue to follow our union’s recommendation to decline SIRO/LAHSO clearances at all airports and under all circumstances in Canada. A final victory for our Association-wide SIRO/LAHSO campaign—to the benefit of our passengers, crew, and air safety—can only be reached if our entire membership stands firmly and stands tall behind this recommendation. Our ability to close this chapter depends on your continued support. Our ability to declare success rests with YOU. Success May Not Be Black and White However, I feel that I must be frank with you. Although ALPA continues to pursue every possible avenue to enact SIRO/LAHSO reforms in Canada, the prospect for success currently looks bleak. In some ways, seeking reforms in Canada is more complicated than the United States because there are more parties involved in the decision-making process. In Canada, the air traffic control system is privatized. ATC is controlled by a non-government entity called NAV CANADA. This additional entity has increased the number of parties involved in the SIRO/LAHSO debate north of the border—and the greater number of "fingers in the pot," the greater the difficulties in achieving a consensus during any decision-making process. As an Association, we may have to define our "success" in a different way: If ALPA remains unable to convince the Canadian government to institute the necessary reforms, then we must view our success as pilots using their best judgement in declining to participate in the operations because of safety concerns. SIRO/LAHSO Reform Hits a Dead-End Today, unfortunately, progress to reform SIRO/LAHSO regulations in Canada has hit a brick wall. And, no guarantee exists that things will change any time in the near future. The SIRO Working Group met early last month to develop the necessary components of a new notice of proposed amendment on SIRO/LAHSO. Transport Canada had previously withdrawn its initial draft NPAs on the subject. Meeting participants included representatives from the government, NAV CANADA, ALPA, the Canadian airline industry, and other interested parties. The goal of this meeting was to make recommendations for a revised draft NPA that Transport Canada will present to a CARAL Part VIII technical committee meeting in November. Although the representatives came up with some recommendations for the NPA, ALPA opposed many of the proposals. So, the future of SIRO/LAHSO regulations in Canada remains to be seen. Transport Canada is scheduled to release its new NPA covering SIRO/LAHSO in November. The government knows very well what ALPA’s five minimum criteria for the safety of these airport capacity-enhancement operations are. However, I must emphasize that no guarantee exists that all of ALPA’s criteria will be included in the proposed regulations. Included with this issue are two stickers. I highly encourage you to place the stickers prominently somewhere—on your flight kit, Jeppsen manual, clipboards, or other appropriate places—to remind you that ALPA’s recommendation to say "no" to LAHSO/SIRO clearances in Canada will remain in effect until the government enacts satisfactory regulations covering these operations. ALPA will never compromise air safety for capacity. Never. |
SIRO/LAHSO remains a Canadian safety issue that threatens pilots on both sides of the border who fly in Canadian airspace. Although ALPA lifted our recommendation for pilots to decline LAHSO in the United States, our recommendation to say "no" to SIRO/LAHSO clearances in Canada—for both U.S. and Canadian pilots—remains in full effect. The campaign will remain active until Transport Canada enacts sufficient regulations to ensure the safety of these operations. According to critics of ALPA’s campaign, SIRO/LAHSO is safe. Transport Canada asserts that Canada has used SIRO/LAHSO for many years without serious incident. Some line pilots also have questioned the reasons for ALPA’s campaign. To clear up any misconceptions, let’s take a look at the myths and realities of SIRO/LAHSO. MORE>> Instructions
on how to decline If you choose not to participate in SIRO/LAHSO, you will have to communicate this to air traffic control. Keep in mind that participation in SIRO/LAHSO occurs in two contexts: 1) active participation—participating as the aircraft directed to land and hold short of an intersection; and 2) passive participation—participating by either taking off or landing on a full-length runway while another aircraft is being asked to hold short on an intersecting runway. Instructions>>
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