It’s that time of the year—the beginning of summer marks the start of the busiest season for airline pilots. According to Airlines for America, a record 257 million passengers will fly to vacation destinations all around the world this summer, which is a 3.4 percent increase from the all-time record set last year.

On June 5, nearly 200 ALPA members from 38 states conducted hundreds of meetings with members of Congress to press these decision makers to support pilot-partisan issues. This boots-on-the-ground effort known as “Hill Day” wrapped up ALPA’s seventh annual Legislative Summit on Capitol Hill.

Congratulations on your aviation career taking flight! You’ve soared through the skies to start your dream toward becoming a commercial airline pilot—but we all know landing here wasn’t simple. Completing flight school and graduating from one of the many top-notch aviation universities in the United States and Canada is an important first step.

Today, only 2.5 percent of airline pilots in the United States are of Asian American/Pacific Islander decent. For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, ALPA is proud to honor the contributions of some of the first Asian-Pacific American aviators and reflect on the hardships and challenges they faced. Let us introduce you to a few unsung heroes who overcame obstacles to blaze a path forward for future aviators. 

 

May is National Photography Month and an opportunity to showcase ALPA pilots’ best photographs of the Northern Lights, snow-capped mountains, sunsets, and other awe-inspiring views of nature. From the moment the Wright brothers first took off, there have been photos documenting the glory of flight, and ALPA pilots continue the tradition today.