Weighing In: Expanding Our Horizons
Capt. Bill Couette, ALPA Vice President−Administration/Secretary
As airline pilots, our job requires us to keep our eyes on the horizon and to be prepared for whatever we may encounter during flight. For much the same reason, ALPA regularly reviews its strategic plan so that the union is prepared for the challenges and opportunities that may come our way.
One such challenge is our industry’s continued ability to attract young people to the airline piloting profession. Securing the future of our profession is one of ALPA’s strategic goals; and while there’s currently a sufficient number of pilots who have airline transport pilot certificates to fill existing job openings, no one is more committed to ensuring that this will always be the case than the Air Line Pilots Association, International.
To that end, our union recently participated in EAA’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisc., to connect with and inspire the next generation of airline pilots (see page 28). Joining the dozens of pilots who volunteered this year, I instantly recalled what makes Oshkosh so special. I was surrounded by a half million people who love flying as much as I do. Families were there—generations of mothers and fathers sharing their love of aviation with their children. And school-aged enthusiasts wanted to learn more about what they could do to best prepare themselves for possible aviation opportunities.
Led by members of ALPA’s Education and Membership Committees, ALPA pilots were eager to share their knowledge and experience during this year’s event, which is one of the many activities in which these committees participate to promote the union and the profession.
At this year’s Oshkosh, we engaged with students, parents, and others who stopped by our information booth, participated in our activities with KidVenture, and attended our EAA Forum presentations. ALPA volunteers shared their stories and paths to the cockpit with potential future members and encouraged them to follow their dreams.
ALPA’s Education Committee continues to work with accredited colleges and universities to help build a bridge between classroom education and the airline flight deck. We coordinate ALPA ACE Clubs and other programs and mentor young people to help them realize their dreams of becoming airline pilots. Education Committee volunteers also visit grade schools and high schools in the United States and Canada throughout the year to participate in career days and to promote the profession. In addition, pilots recently attended the American School Counselor Association Conference to ensure that school advisors are fully aware of ALPA’s available resources, including the Association’s website, clearedtodream.org, to help provide their students with the necessary tools to become professional pilots.
Securing the future of our profession means more than just promoting an airline piloting career to future generations. We also need those future generations to understand that demand for the job is on the rise. At this year’s AirVenture, we were able to communicate that message loud and clear. We explained to the many attending future aviators that being an airline pilot is, and will continue to be, a great career.
