IFALPA News 22
September, 2003
Spotlight on
Caribbean-ALPA
The Caribbean Airline Pilots Association (Caribbean-ALPA) represents seven hundred and
thirty professional pilots from nine Caribbean Associations whose objective it is to
provide a forum for a high standard of safety in aviation within the Caribbean, to present
different views of the Member Associations on matters of common interest and concern, to
make such decisions and/or to implement such action for the best interest of the Member
Associations and exchange all information and ideas on technical, professional and
industrial matters.
All affiliated with IFALPA, the Associations (in alphabetical order) are Bahamas ALPA
(Bahamas), CAPA (Cayman Island), ALPA-Guyana (Guyana), JALPA (Jamaica), LIALPA (Leeward
Islands), TTALPA (Trinidad & Tobago), VNV-NA (Netherlands Antilles), VSV (Suriname)
and VVA (Aruba).
The pilots of the Caribbean recognise that the airline industry is rapidly evolving
towards airline globalisation and the evolution of the industry has significant long term
effects on the carriers and their members. Therefore it is necessary to build a
relationship of mutual cooperation and support to protect the career prospects, working
conditions and all aspects of airline safety, while respecting the National autonomy and
individual rights of each Association.
In January 1997 pilot representatives first met with a view to 3establishing
Caribbean-ALPA. This was further developed at a meeting held in Antigua in September 1997.
With the full support and assistance of IFALPA it was concluded that cooperation and unity
of purpose was necessary to protect their mutual interest in the establishment of
Caribbean-ALPA and would further facilitate attainment of those goals and enable pilots to
prepare for the many future challenges.
One of these challenges is the proposal that one regional airline be created to better
serve the interests and needs of the Caribbean region, with a view to becoming the
dominant world-class carrier of the region for passengers and cargo, offering a safe,
efficient and high quality standard of service to all corners of the globe. This regional
integration of the current carriers is in the interest of economical survival,
competitiveness and control and protection of the Caribbean tourism product.
IFALPA is proud to be affiliated with Caribbean-ALPA and will strive to do all in our
power to assist them in moving further into the future with development plans. Check out
their website www.caribbeanalpa.com
For information on any of IFALPA's news and activities, please do not hesitate to
contact...
Debra Batson
IFALPA Media Communications Officer
debrabatson@ifalpa.org