The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) is holding its 42nd Annual Convention and Career Expo in Houston, Tex., on August 14–17, 2018. This annual aerospace convention includes notable industry speakers, development workshops, networking opportunities, scholarship presentations, and a career exhibit hall with more than 30 participating carriers—and ALPA will be there!

This week in Washington, D.C., stakeholders across the North American aviation industry gathered to discuss all things aviation safety and security at ALPA’s 64th Air Safety Forum.

ALPA president Capt. Tim Canoll opened the Forum’s public session on Wednesday by highlighting the results of a recent poll indicating that more than 80 percent of the American public say that they are not ready for pilotless airplanes. Even when offered airline ticket prices 30 percent lower than current fares, two-thirds said they would not take the deal to fly on a pilotless airplane. And nearly 70 percent stated that they opposed the proposed regulations providing for a government-funded study regarding the idea. Canoll framed the decision as “save a buck or save a life” and said that these poll results show clearly that the American public sides with ALPA's focus on safety in this important issue.

Since the start of ALPA #onthisday 87 years ago, our motto, “Schedule with Safety,” has been championed by the highly trained and dedicated pilots who make up the world’s largest pilot union. And the network of airline operations in the United States and Canada—both cargo and passenger—has seen a continued growth in safety and professionalism. 

On this day, July 20, in 1969, Apollo 11 became the first space flight to land two humans on the moon. Apollo 11 was launched from Cape Kennedy and was the fifth manned mission of NASA’s Apollo program. American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the lunar module Eagle at 20:18 UTC.This became the first TV transmission to Earth from Apollo 11—an estimated 530 million people watched Armstrong’s televised image. Armstrong spoke one of the most famous statements ever made during the event as he took “. . . one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind,” forever changing the future of the space program.

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.