Each year, about 1,100 hazmat incidents result from the shipment of undeclared hazardous materials. More often than not, these hazardous materials go undeclared simply because of a lack of awareness or understanding on the part of the shipper or their customers. 

Seventeen years ago, on September 11, 2001, the unthinkable happened—the very aircraft we operate each day to deliver passengers and cargo to destinations around the globe were used as weapons in terrorist attacks. And today, every time pilots and passengers fly, there are reminders of the tremendous impacts that day had on our industry.

As the world’s largest pilots’ union, we are reflecting this Labor Day on our current and past efforts to protect the airline pilot profession. The U.S. and Canadian economies depend on airline pilots to deliver passengers and cargo safely and on time. This Labor Day, we hope that you can take a moment to lend your voice to our current causes. 

On Aug. 23, 1958, the president of the United States signed the Federal Aviation Act, which created the new Federal Aviation Administration, responsible for civil aviation safety.

From the start, unexpected challenges arose. It quickly became evident that airport and flight safety needed technological innovation and widening of government programs, and ALPA was happy to bring our “Schedule with Safety” motto to work with them. As industry partners, ALPA and the FAA remain aligned in the desire to keep safety front and center while having the most reliable and productive air transportation system in the world.

As we reflect on the multi-agency effort to support a safe and secure aviation industry, the FAA remains invaluable to the entire operation. Happy 60th birthday, FAA!

ALPA is proud to celebrate National Aviation Day—chosen in honor of Orville Wright’s birthday. This is a day to honor the lasting legacy set by the Wright brothers, who flew the first powered aircraft in 1903. National Aviation Day has been celebrated since 1939, when a proclamation made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt highlighted how aviation had started to grow and thrive as an industry in the United States and around the world. National Aviation Day is a time to reflect on the history of aviation and how far the industry has come. ALPA’s motto, “Schedule with Safety,” has continued to be prevalent in air travel. Aviation will never stop advancing, and both safety and security must always advance with it.