Stevens In As ALPA Chairman

There are some new names at the top of the Air Line Pilots Association's Northwest Airlines unit.

After a vote last Friday, the union will now be led by Dan Stevens, who'll serve as chairman, and by Randy Helling, who'll take over as Vice Chairman. They join current MEC Secretary Treasurer Bob Elflein to complete the NWA MEC officer team.

"The three of us are honored to serve Northwest pilots and will work tirelessly to help build consensus within our pilot group," said Stevens, who has been a pilot for Northwest since 1985.

The election came three days after Northwest pilots dumped the man who'd led their segment of the union since 1999, Mark McClain.

McClain guided the union through a huge wage reduction, as Northwest navigates bankruptcy. Many believe he lost favor among members of the union's executive council over the steep pay cuts pilots were forced to bear in their new contract.

"We believe it is crucial to have the input and confidence of all segments of the pilot group and imperative that we build consensus," Stevens said. "Our goal is to have all Northwest pilots supporting and contributing to a single integrated agenda and ready to face our next challenge as a unified pilot group."

Stevens -- who now flies a Boeing 747 out of his base in Anchorage, Alaska -- will serve until January 2008.

FMI: www.alpa.org, www.nwa.com