Tis the season for gift giving, family dinners, and ugly neckties and sweaters . . . and let’s not forget the outdoor light displays! High-tech light and laser displays are increasingly popular and accessible, and our senses (and sensibilities) are bombarded with dazzling displays of light coordinated with the Die Hard soundtrack (yes, it’s a Christmas movie). But did you know that these high-tech displays put airline pilots (with your family and packages on board) in danger?

This week marks the first National Drone Safety Awareness Week and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) is excited to welcome aspiring aviators into our nation’s shared airspace. One of the most important things to remember is that we are all responsible for keeping our skies the safest in the world. ALPA is committed to making sure all new entrants into the airspace are held to the same high standard of safety and security.

The last few years have borne witness to an incredible feat—the coming of age of commercial spaceflight. Launch vehicles regularly and safely depart for low-earth orbit to deploy satellites or deliver astronauts and cargo to and from the International Space Station. And for the first time since the heady days of the Apollo program, humankind is looking to step foot on other worlds. While it is an exciting time for commercial space operations, these achievements in space must take into consideration those of us who work in the lower parts of the sky.

Air Line Pilot Association (ALPA) executive leaders and safety champions testified on behalf of 63,000 airline pilots at two hearings this week on Air Traffic Control (ATC) modernization and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization.  

With the fall television season in full swing and the Emmy Awards rapidly approaching, what better time to highlight some of ALPA’s own award winners? Each year at the ALPA Air Safety Forum, ALPA members are recognized for their outstanding performances and professionalism.