Today, members of ALPA carry on a legacy inherited from the original ALPA founders whose struggle to secure safer working conditions and fair compensation for pilots compelled them to meet in secret in the early 1930s to establish the Association, the very first pilot union. Now, as ALPA enters its 94th year, it remains the largest and most influential pilot union in the world, representing more than 79,000 pilots flying for 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines.

All these pilots have one thing in common: a shared commitment to the highest standards of safety and professionalism. From scheduled passenger operations to charter and cargo flights, ALPA’s motto, “Schedule with Safety,” has always been the imperative that guides the organization’s decision-making. And central to that commitment is the guarantee of always having at least two pilots on the flight deck—a proven safety measure that remains commercial aviation’s most important safeguard.

Click the button below to learn how ALPA’s pilot groups, whose members are essential to the successes of their airlines, have confronted scheduling issues, industry consolidation, and management disputes while remaining united in their pursuit of industry-leading contracts and unwavering advocacy for aviation safety.