Release #: Vol. 85, No. 2
March 01, 2016
Connecting with ALPA’s Members in New Ways
By Kevin Cuddihy, Contributing Writer
ALPA’s Membership Committee continued its outreach efforts January 21–24, attending the National Gay Pilots Association’s (NGPA) Winter Warm-Up and Industry Expo in Palm Springs, Calif., and sharing information about the union’s many resources and services, designed by pilots, for pilots.
“This event is the perfect opportunity to allow our members within the NGPA to connect with the Air Line Pilots Association,” stated F/O Jolanda Witvliet (United), chairman of ALPA’s Membership Committee. “It’s very important for ALPA to be inclusive and diverse, and to be welcoming of all backgrounds—male and female, old and young, gay and straight.”
At the expo, more than 1,400 pilots—ALPA members, nonmembers, military, corporate, and general aviation—lined up to learn about the career paths that are available to obtain employment with successful airlines. ALPA members shared their knowledge and experience at the Association’s booth, visited by more than 250 pilots (both members and nonmembers), who learned more about what ALPA’s doing to advance the airline piloting profession.
“We heard everything from ‘I’m so glad ALPA is here’ to ‘What is ALPA’ and ‘What can ALPA do for me’ to basic questions about change of address, getting a membership pin, ALPA insurance, and more,” said Witvliet.
Many of the pilots who stopped at ALPA’s booth were fee-for-departure pilots looking for advice on how to get hired by a mainline carrier or by another airline with ALPA-represented pilots. ALPA pilots steered them to the Fee-for-Departure (FFD) Committee website (ffd.alpa.org), which provides resources and assistance—such as hiring webinars, interview prep workshops, and more—to FFD pilots looking to take the next step in their careers.
“Our biggest success this week,” Witvliet continued, “was the ability for ALPA volunteers to reach out to both ALPA members and non-ALPA members. We were able to talk about ALPA’s resources, assistance, and strengths, and how ALPA can contribute to them having a strong career.”
And the attendees recognized and appreciated ALPA’s presence. “Being a sponsor and vendor shows ALPA’s awareness and recognition of its LGBT members,” commented F/O Mark Bomber (United). Others saw the benefit of the two organizations working together. “As the largest and most respected pilot union in the world,” said F/O Erin Recke (Alaska), “ALPA can play an integral role in the areas of education and diversity inclusion among its members.”
From left, ALPA volunteers F/O Steve Reynolds (United), F/O Mark Bomber (United), F/O Kaori Paris (United), F/O Jolanda Witvliet (United), F/O Robert Cole (United), and F/O Brent Farrar (ExpressJet) participate in the National Gay Pilots Association’s Industry Expo, speaking to more than 250 pilots during the event. All photos courtesy James Tavenner.
Diversity and inclusion
Bomber has witnessed an evolution throughout his career. “It was definitely a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ environment concerning my sexual orientation” while he was in the Navy and early in his career at United. But now, he said, “It’s legal to be LGBT in the military, and my airline has a diversity department and a business resource group for LGBT employees.”
Capt. Jason Seider (Envoy Air) pointed to a new generation that’s changing things. “The first officers I work with now are part of a much more accepting generation.” And with growing ranks comes added comfort and confidence.
“There are more and more LGBT-out people in the workplace,” said F/O J’son Burnett (FedEx Express), “so I’m not as isolated as I once was.” These pilots can help set the standard. “As a captain,” explained Capt. Erika DeLong (Endeavor Air), “I concentrate on leading through example, demonstrating safety, professionalism, and kindness…. With this approach, LGBT issues have not been a problem.”
Issues still remain, however. Recke talked about discrimination throughout her career, even after being hired at her dream airline. “Thankfully my company rallied around me in a big way,” she said. And she was inspired to develop “education and training in Flight Ops Departments at all airlines as the Advocacy Committee chairwoman of the NGPA.”
“ALPA has served a critical role in helping eradicate homophobia/transphobia on the flight deck,” added F/O David Pettet (Hawaiian), the NGPA’s executive director. “I’m excited for the NGPA to further develop a close working relationship with ALPA.”
More than 600 people attended the networking event, where a clear message prevailed: although something might make you different from your fellow pilots, there’s a whole lot more that you have in common with them. “As aviation professionals, we all aspire to have long and fulfilling careers,” Recke noted. “The fact that some of us happen to be LGBT ought to be incidental.”
“In the end,” said Seider, “we’re all pilots and have much more in common than not.”
Witvliet concurred, “No matter the differences we all have in our lives, when the cockpit door closes, we are all airline pilots with the same goal: to do our job to the best of our abilities.”
Meet an ALPA Volunteer
F/O Robert Cole (United) has been in the airline industry for more than a decade, including time spent working as a ramp agent, gate agent, ticket counter agent, customer service supervisor, and a flight attendant while on furlough from ExpressJet. He explained why he volunteered at the National Gay Pilots Association’s Industry Expo. “ALPA has been very supportive of the LGBT community,” he stated. “There are many of us who’ve been given an opportunity to give back to our pilot family and foster a welcoming environment to our new-hire pilots. It makes me proud that ALPA is participating in this event, fostering our unity as a pilot group.”
ALPA Resources
One attendee at the National Gay Pilots Association’s Winter Warm-Up and Industry Expo shared a very personal story of how ALPA has directly affected her career.
“ALPA helped and led the process of my transition at Endeavor Air,” said Capt. Erika DeLong (Endeavor Air). She singled out ALPA’s Representation Department and Aeromedical Office, saying, “ALPA was a leader in guiding the company to follow federal and state laws and creating a plan for a seamless transition.” She said Capt. Tom Wychor, Endeavor Air’s chief pilot (and a long-standing ALPA volunteer), was a “key player in helping me transition without any issues.”
Pilots at the event asked about a number of pilot resources available through ALPA. Visit our Pilot Resources page to learn more about the resources available to ALPA members.
This article is from the March 2016 issue of Air Line Pilot magazine, the Official Journal of the Air Line Pilots Association, International—a monthly publication for all ALPA members.
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