As the world’s largest pilots’ union, we are reflecting this Labor Day on our current and past efforts to protect the airline pilot profession. The U.S. and Canadian economies depend on airline pilots to deliver passengers and cargo safely and on time. This Labor Day, we hope that you can take a moment to lend your voice to our current causes. 

On Aug. 23, 1958, the president of the United States signed the Federal Aviation Act, which created the new Federal Aviation Administration, responsible for civil aviation safety.

From the start, unexpected challenges arose. It quickly became evident that airport and flight safety needed technological innovation and widening of government programs, and ALPA was happy to bring our “Schedule with Safety” motto to work with them. As industry partners, ALPA and the FAA remain aligned in the desire to keep safety front and center while having the most reliable and productive air transportation system in the world.

As we reflect on the multi-agency effort to support a safe and secure aviation industry, the FAA remains invaluable to the entire operation. Happy 60th birthday, FAA!

ALPA is proud to celebrate National Aviation Day—chosen in honor of Orville Wright’s birthday. This is a day to honor the lasting legacy set by the Wright brothers, who flew the first powered aircraft in 1903. National Aviation Day has been celebrated since 1939, when a proclamation made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt highlighted how aviation had started to grow and thrive as an industry in the United States and around the world. National Aviation Day is a time to reflect on the history of aviation and how far the industry has come. ALPA’s motto, “Schedule with Safety,” has continued to be prevalent in air travel. Aviation will never stop advancing, and both safety and security must always advance with it. 

The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) is holding its 42nd Annual Convention and Career Expo in Houston, Tex., on August 14–17, 2018. This annual aerospace convention includes notable industry speakers, development workshops, networking opportunities, scholarship presentations, and a career exhibit hall with more than 30 participating carriers—and ALPA will be there!

This week in Washington, D.C., stakeholders across the North American aviation industry gathered to discuss all things aviation safety and security at ALPA’s 64th Air Safety Forum.

ALPA president Capt. Tim Canoll opened the Forum’s public session on Wednesday by highlighting the results of a recent poll indicating that more than 80 percent of the American public say that they are not ready for pilotless airplanes. Even when offered airline ticket prices 30 percent lower than current fares, two-thirds said they would not take the deal to fly on a pilotless airplane. And nearly 70 percent stated that they opposed the proposed regulations providing for a government-funded study regarding the idea. Canoll framed the decision as “save a buck or save a life” and said that these poll results show clearly that the American public sides with ALPA's focus on safety in this important issue.