Over the past two weeks, airlines throughout the world have announced voluntary bans on the passenger carriage of hoverboards on aircraft. These boards pose a serious threat to the safety of aircraft because of their power source: lithium batteries. Each board has a single battery that is capable of self-igniting and burning hotter than standard fire suppression systems are capable of putting out. That’s bad news mid-flight.

Passenger airlines have recognized the grave dangers posed by just one lithium battery; imagine the incredible threat a pallet-full or an entire cargo compartment of these batteries can pose. While some passenger airlines have also voluntarily banned bulk shipments of lithium ion batteries, other airlines have not and unfortunately, for cargo pilots, they live with this threat every day from the carriage of both lithium ion, and worse, lithium metal battery shipments.

On Friday, December 11, Wasaya Airways Flight 127 went missing north of Pickle Lake, Ontario. The Cessna 208 aircraft was operated by one pilot and was flying cargo out of Pickle Lake on its way to Wapekeka First Nation. Canadian Forces Search and Rescue teams reached the cargo aircraft late Friday night, and it is with great regret and sadness that the pilot was found unresponsive and could not be resuscitated. Our thoughts are with his family and the entire Wasaya pilot group.

By. Tim Canoll, ALPA President

Whether received as a holiday gift, used for stargazing on clear winter nights, or featured in festive light displays, lasers have been in the news—and so has ALPA’s plan for safeguarding airline pilots from laser strikes.

ALPA, in partnership with the FAA and FBI, helped launch a laser strike awareness campaign which was rolled out in major cities around the United States last year. Unfortunately, laser strikes on aircraft have continued to increase at record pace. In response to this growing issue, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) recently called on federal agencies to collaborate efforts to put an end to this crime.

By Capt. Tim Canoll, ALPA President

As world leaders meet for the United Nations Conference on Climate Change this week, it’s a great opportunity to recognize how much airline pilots are working to protect the environment, safely enhance efficiency, limit noise, and save money.

Here are just a few examples of how airline pilots who transport both passengers and cargo fly green every day and on every flight: