By Capt. Tim Canoll
On this Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, ALPA is proud to recognize the men and women who have served in the United States and Canadian military. Throughout these nations’ histories, servicemen and women have helped to safeguard our countries and their citizens’ freedom and the democratic way of life.
While veterans grant security to every citizen in Canada and the United States, the military is strongly connected with the airline industry. Many airline pilots like myself learned to fly while serving in the armed forces. After their service, many military pilots elect to apply their skills and experience as airline pilots flying passengers and cargo for commercial airlines.
Even while working in the U.S. airline industry, many pilots proudly support the U.S. military through their airlines’ participation in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) program. Today, many airlines with ALPA-represented pilots commit to help our nations and fellow citizens by providing airlift when needed to support humanitarian and defense missions, both internationally and domestically.
In the United States, 23 carriers and 523 aircraft were enrolled in the CRAF program as of October, according to the Air Mobility Command. This includes 486 aircraft in the international segment and 37 in the domestic segment. These aircraft and their pilots can transport troops and equipment to locations that often mean these men and women can find themselves in harm’s way.
Today, the United States and Canada recognize the servicemen and women who protect our countries, but we also remember the importance of maintaining a strong and competitive North American airline industry to help drive the economy, provide jobs, and defend our democracy.
Please take a moment today to express your appreciation to a veteran. They may be in uniform, but not the one you might expect––the uniform of an airline pilot.