While many of us will travel by air during the holidays, this time of year also marks the busiest season for sending packages. Many gift givers not only ship packages, but also bring gifts on board flights. If not disclosed and handled properly, lithium batteries and other hazardous materials such as food packed in dry ice or flammable liquids can present a serious risk.

‘Tis the season for wintry weather! With the cold and snow settled in parts of the U.S. and Canada, it’s fitting that a majority of submissions in this year’s annual photography issue capture the extreme challenges, as well as the stunning beauty, of the coldest months. We hope you’ll find a warm spot to enjoy these spectacular AvGeek photography submissions from ALPA members.

In a clear bait and switch for U.S. workers, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an egregious decision at the end of the day on December 2––an order granting Norwegian Air International (NAI) a foreign air carrier permit to serve the United States under the U.S.–EU Air Transport Agreement (ATA). Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS), NAI’s parent company, has left no doubt that the NAI business model was designed expressly to lower labor standards—an outcome specifically prohibited by the ATA’s labor article.

Pilots at Hawaiian Airlines issued a warning to future passengers, including those from Japan, that upcoming travel could be at risk if pilots are forced into a lawful strike.

After the last round of mediated negotiations ended on November 19 without a tentative agreement, the National Mediation Board (NMB) advised ALPA and management that it will not schedule any future mediation sessions, and will instead move forward with the actions available under the Railway Labor Act to bring negotiations to a close.

Special Guest Commentary by Mark Haley, ALPA Education Committee chairman 

With the 2016-17 academic year fully under way, ALPA pilots are reaching out to students of all ages to relate how their love of flying has translated into a fulfilling career. For decades, ALPA has worked to pique the interest of new generations of aviators with the goal of ensuring a strong pilot workforce for the future.