Supporting One Another in Difficult Times
By Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA President
In the span of just a few weeks, our union has experienced tragedy and shock at levels that many haven’t seen in their airline piloting career.
On the evening of January 29, a military helicopter had a mid-air collision with PSA Flight 5342 over the Potomac River on approach to Washington National Airport. The accident claimed the lives of all 67 aboard both aircraft, including two ALPA members, Capt. Jonathan Campos and Honorary Capt. Sam Lilley, the first officer. It was an honor to join Capt. Wendy Morse, ALPA’s first vice president; PSA Master Executive Council (MEC) officers; MEC officers from across ALPA; and the hundreds of pilots who attended the funeral services for Capt. Campos and Honorary Capt. Lilley.
On February 17, Endeavor Air Flight 4819 overturned while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, thankfully without claiming any lives. But surviving a significant accident and seeing the ever-present dramatic video images capturing the event will leave behind scars.
These two aviation events have our union taking on our most important work: supporting our members in times of distress—because ALPA’s true strength emerges in moments like this. None of us are merely colleagues. We’re a family bonded through hours on the flight deck, time together during layovers, our shared experiences safely transporting passengers and cargo, and, yes, tragedy.
In both instances, on January 29 and on the afternoon of February 17, our Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP) and accident investigation teams were immediately activated. We work tirelessly to ensure a safe outcome for every flight; but when the worst occurs, ALPA has a robust team of expert volunteers ready to respond at a moment’s notice for scenarios such as these.
These teams play the critical role of supporting the crew and families involved in accidents, supporting ALPA members affected by tragedy, investigating the factors that led to the accidents to recommend safety improvements, and supporting each other.
In aviation, we rigorously investigate the factors that led to accidents and incidents not to assign blame but to take steps to ensure they don’t happen again. When applicable, ALPA supports those investigations as subject-matter experts with the U.S. NTSB and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. We honor the legacies of the fallen crewmembers both through memorials and through safety improvements so that no family will have to experience that same pain.
In the days following the PSA accident, I sat down with Capt. Steve Jangelis (Delta), ALPA’s Aviation Safety Group chair, and Capt. Travis Ludwig (United), ALPA’s Pilot Assistance Group chair, for our Air Line Pilot Podcast to talk about the work our union is doing to recover from this tragedy. Both shared the details of how the process works as we investigate and grieve in the wake of tragedy. Both take time, and we must get both right.
We also show our unity by supporting our members when they face uncertain times in their careers. ALPA members at several of our pilot groups are navigating bankruptcies, furloughs, or forced downgrades of captains. I was among those furloughed early in my career in 2003 and experienced the uncertainty and stress that brings, so I’m committed to providing support to our members facing difficult times in their profession. In this month’s “Weighing In,” Capt. Sean Creed, ALPA’s vice president–administration/secretary, details the resources available to our members facing uncertainty, and I commend all of the pilot groups that have pledged support and hosted job fairs for those facing career turbulence.
It’s difficult enough to deal with the tragedy of PSA Flight 5342 and the Endeavor accident in Toronto; but in addition, there’ve been attacks on our members and rampant speculation about the causes of these accidents. Our professionalism has been unjustly called into question, and that impacts us all. ALPA pilots support each other. Attacks on our members or the high standards that we’re held to are simply not acceptable. All ALPA pilots, regardless of background, meet the same regulatory experience requirements and are trained and evaluated to the same uncompromising standard.
Our union must stand united and support each other because an attack on one is an attack on all. Our union family will also look within for the support we need as we mourn and face these difficult times. I laud all our volunteers who are doing the critical work of supporting our members and the investigations.
At times like these, we must stand together—nearly 80,000 members across 42 airlines, acting as one union, supporting each other. Our solidarity is our strength, and it’s what will continue to allow us to remain unified even in trying times.