August 19 is National Aviation Day in the United States, originally established in 1939 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to celebrate the development of aviation. This day coincides with the anniversary of the birth of Orville Wright, who was born on August 19, 1871, and, along with his brother, Wilbur, is credited with building and flying a machine that pioneered the way for the modern airplane.
In observance of National Aviation Day, ALPA is continuing our celebration of 85 years of dedication to our “Schedule with Safety” mission as we reflect on our past progress and press on to advance the future of airline safety and security.
In recent years, ALPA has had success in our direct involvement with the FAA and industry to set rational, science-based flight- and duty-time limits and minimum rest requirements for passenger airline pilots. We have also succeeded in working with key stakeholders to create safer and stronger pilot qualifications and training rules. We prioritize making science-based fatigue rules applicable to all airline pilots, improving airline pilot training and career progression, and safely integrating remotely piloted aircraft into the national airspace system.
ALPA pilots continue to work tirelessly with professional staff to advocate for safety and security improvements across a broad range of issues, such as:
- Reducing the safety risk of lithium batteries carried as cargo.
- Mitigating laser attacks on airline cockpits.
- Implementing programs vital to modernizing the Canadian and U.S. air transportation systems.
ALPA’s world-renowned commitment to maintaining and advancing North America’s excellent safety record would not be possible without our network of dedicated pilot volunteers and staff. Together, we will continue to ensure one level of safety and security for all airline operations, both cargo and passenger.
