Advancing Aviation through Advocacy

It Takes Two for a Safe Flight

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Extended Minimum Crew Operations

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Training Requirements

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Pilot Supply

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Air Rage Perpetrators

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Cargo Flight Security

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Secondary Flight Deck Barriers

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A history of being more than ready

As the world’s largest airline pilot union, ALPA has fought for rigorous training and qualification standards, advocated for proven safety measures and regulations, and defended the rights of the professionals responsible for keeping your flights safe.
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19 33
Limited pilot flight time to 85 hours per month, addressing pilot fatigue.
19 36
Convinced airlines to form some of the first air traffic control centers in the US.
19 40
Advocated for an independent aviation safety board, leading to the creation of the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board).
19 54
Fought for federal requirement of commercial pilot certificates for all cockpit crew members.
19 56
ALPA’s “T” instrumentation layout becomes the worldwide standard.
19 60
FAA requires weather radar on most large transport aircraft.
19 63
ALPA findings lead to flame-resistant cabin materials and improved fire-extinguishing capabilities.
19 71
Held first airport disaster drill in Oakland, CA; FAA makes these drills a thrice-annual requirement in 1987.
19 72
FAA requires airport operators to obtain a certificate proving they comply with safety standards.
19 75
FAA approves rules requiring ground proximity warning systems in airliners.
19 87
FAA requires Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance in passenger aircraft. Since the introduction of TCAS, no airliner in US airspace has been involved in a midair collision.
19 91
Raised pilot qualification standards by restricting the number of different models that can be included under a pilot’s rating.
19 95
FAA requires smaller airliners to be operated under the stricter safety rules of large 30-seat airliners, due to ALPA’s “One Level of Safety” campaign.
20 02
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act is enacted, incorporating many of ALPA’s recommendations on safety and security.
20 10
The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 is passed, setting higher safety standards for training and certification of pilots.