Flying the Line
Summary: Recount an exciting chapter in aviation history and the beginnings of the Air Line Pilots Association, the world’s largest pilot union and nongovernmental air safety organization, through an abridged retelling of the book by George E. Hopkins, ”Flying the Line.” Volume 1 narrated by Corey Kuhn. Volume 2 narrated by Gina Leahy.
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- Artist: Air Line Pilots Association, International
- Copyright: Copyright 2019-2023 All rights reserved, Air Line Pilots Association, International
Podcasts:
We explore the history of the crew compliment issue.
We examine the administrative change from regional to executive vice president and how that changed the political landscape of the Air Line Pilots Association.
We examine the 1981 suspension of service, codenamed “Operation USA.”
In this episode, we look at the legacy of ALPA President J.J. O’Donnell, the effects of the skyjacking phenomenon, and an impending suspension of service.
The deregulation of the airline industry makes an indelible mark on the modern profession, as politics and economics become a part of an airline pilot’s daily routine.
In the span of one lifetime, commercial aviation has made progress that would shame the wildest flights of science fiction fancy. And yet, the basic process of flight, of readying both pilot and airplane, is eerily similar. Join us as we examined the challenges of airline flying, the evolving industry landscape, and the perception of the airline pilot in the public psyche, in our new podcast, Flying the Line, Vol. 2!
ALPA’s fight against skyjacking is taken to the next level, as an unorthodox tactic is deployed to raise public awareness in the wake of continued violence.
A surge of skyjackings tears through the industry. Armed with experience, ALPA mobilizes to halt the advancing threat despite significant pushback.
The pilots of Eastern Airlines strike and ALPA is forced to walk a fine line with management.
The transition of pilots and airlines to the jet age becomes a major trouble spot for all, and the rising tensions result in some pilots taking matters into their own hands with an unauthorized strike.
As ALPA enters the jet age, technological improvements open the door to progress. But much like every major leap in technological progress before, the transition to jets isn't without problems or controversy.
The dissidents of American Airlines mount their challenge, and decide on their future, with or without ALPA.
The pilots of American Airlines decide to chart their own future after the issue of crew complement returns to the forefront, and dissident leaders seize their chance to break away.
ALPA's during its early years was a remarkable story of unification across company lines. There were cracks lying under the surface, but unity kept any schisms at bay. But as time went by, the old spirit of shoulder-to-shoulder solidarity among ALPA's pilots began to erode. The new generation of pilots coming up were complacent about ALPA and the importance of unity, which would lead to the largest split that ALPA has experienced in its history.
The unique experiences of Charles Ruby’s life and career made him an unlikely choice for the Association’s president. But his due to the circumstances surrounding the departures of his predecessors, and the place ALPA was in at the time of his election, it could only have been Charley Ruby.