It’s no surprise that the unfortunate concentration of natural disasters in the past two months has led to a surge in humanitarian efforts by ALPA members. Our pilots are always ready to assist those in desperate need, and they have been out in force in the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

With the legislative clock ticking and time running out, Washington, D.C., special interests like the Regional Airline Association are in overdrive trying to persuade Congress to put profits ahead of safety in the FAA reauthorization. Unfortunately for airline passengers, these lobbying efforts could threaten the unparalleled record of safety the United States has enjoyed since passage of the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010, which improved airline pilot training, qualification, and flight-experience requirements. 

Sixteen years ago, our lives and our industry were changed forever. Today, we pause to remember the events of September 11, 2001, and to honor the brave men and women who heroically made the ultimate sacrifice. 

The announcement of a new five-year capacity purchase agreement with United Airlines last February shed some much-needed sunshine on the vitality of Air Wisconsin, the largest privately held regional airline in the United States. We look forward to partnering with the United Express family in the coming months with the many new opportunities this partnership creates for our organization. Our airline has a long and storied history and has flown an amazing variety of aircraft over the years—more than a dozen different types, starting with a single de Havilland Dove in 1965. We’ve flown across almost the whole continental United States during that time, from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic coast.

Today, we celebrate Labor Day throughout the U.S. and Canada. Traditionally, the Canadian Labour Day was established as an occasion to campaign for and celebrate workers’ rights during parades and picnics organized by trade unions. In the U.S., Labor Day was first established by trade unionists to celebrate labor, and now this federal holiday continues to honor the numerous contributions workers have made to the country.