Year-round, ALPA members are active in their communities, supporting charities and other important causes. Take Envoy Air F/O Sean McClain, for example. Although he’s a Chicago-based airline pilot, Sean lives in the Washington, D.C., area and is an active member of the local chapter of Pilots for Kids (PFK), an international, nonprofit aid organization.

As cold weather ensnares the majority of North America, some passengers may find themselves experiencing a flight delay or cancellation—at times even in a city without snow. Your flight in sunny California may be delayed due to the fact that the aircraft is coming from a colder climate. Or, your order from that online retailer might be stuck at a cargo hub for a bit. So why the delays?

Enlisted service members with aviation-related specialties make great airline pilot candidates says Compass Capt. Josh Walden. The former U.S. Army helicopter mechanic explains how he transitioned to the airline cockpit in the “Our Stories” column of this month’s Air Line Pilot magazine

ALPA is proud to celebrate National Aviation Day—chosen in honor of Orville Wright’s birthday. This is a day to honor the lasting legacy set by the Wright brothers, who flew the first powered aircraft in 1903. National Aviation Day has been celebrated since 1939, when a proclamation made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt highlighted how aviation had started to grow and thrive as an industry in the United States and around the world. National Aviation Day is a time to reflect on the history of aviation and how far the industry has come. ALPA’s motto, “Schedule with Safety,” has continued to be prevalent in air travel. Aviation will never stop advancing, and both safety and security must always advance with it. 

Seeing is believing for the pilots and crew aboard Orbis International’s “Flying Eye Hospital.” As a U.S. Air Force veteran, Capt. Gary Dyson (FedEx Express), being of service to others has been a lifelong effort. Ever since his first flight for the organization 18 years ago, Dyson has donated his time to the Flying Eye Hospital using his vacation hours and bidding around the organization’s mission days.