Special Guest Commentary by F/O Eric Stoltz, Alaska Airlines

I take a personal interest in safety because, well, it’s my life on the line. Mine, ours, and theirs, really. My safety is first, so I can make sure my crew is safe, which means the people, dogs, cats, boxes, airplane, and buildings will be too. So I jumped at the opportunity to visit Members of Congress as part of ALPA’s Legislative Summit and tell them why it’s so important to maintain the safety standards put into effect in 2010—and specifically the first officer qualification and training rules.

Today, as the nation celebrates its freedom and a record number of fliers travel over the Fourth of July holiday, ALPA is celebrating the progress we’ve made in the fight to #KeepFlyingSafe. Thanks to more robust pilot training and qualification requirements which were passed by Congress in 2010, the U.S. has enjoyed the longest period in aviation history without a commercial airline passenger fatality. Aviation is currently the safest mode of transportation in the country. The truth is simple: well-trained pilots save lives. Unfortunately, some special-interest groups aren’t concerned with the well-being of passengers and pilots. These groups are pushing to weaken pilot training and qualification requirements – putting your safety at risk for the sake of corporate greed. 

Capt. Larry Frantom (United) remembers playing with his little girl, Jenny, in the flight simulators before she went on to take her first solo flight at age 16. Jenny received her Private Pilot Certificate by learning to fly after school and on weekends. Her father was her first passenger.