Air Line Pilot Magazine March 2026

Advancing the Profession with One Unified Voice

During aviation’s most challenging moments, pilots have never stood on the sidelines.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the critical role that pilots play in not only safeguarding aviation safety and security, but also national security was on full display. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our industry was in crisis, and pilots engaged with Congress to save aviation jobs and keep their airlines operating. And in the hours, days, and months after the midair collision involving PSA Flight 5342, ALPA supported the NTSB’s investigation, working to strengthen the aviation system and prevent similar tragedies from ever happening again. In each moment, at every turn, the mission of our union is clear: As hands on experts in the aviation system, we’re best suited to identify and help implement solutions to make aviation safer and more secure.

On February 24, ALPA spoke out for safety, along with the families who lost loved ones in the PSA Flight 5342 tragedy, advocating for the passage of legislation that would mandate installing Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In (ADS-B In) equipment to provide integrated safety-enhancing capabilities. Requiring equipage with ADS-B technology was a major recommendation in the NTSB’s final report on the collision—and it could have given our pilots increased situational awareness and 40 additional seconds to identify the collision risk and prevent tragedy.

Unfortunately, the U.S. House of Representatives failed by a narrow margin to pass the legislation. But we won’t relent. We’ll continue working to secure requirements for integrated ADS-B In, along with the other NTSB lifesaving recommendations, partnering with industry stakeholders to make aviation even safer in honor of those who lost their lives on PSA Flight 5342.

As a union of more than 80,000 pilots, we’re able to advocate for change far more effectively together than alone. Positioned at the epicenter of the airline industry, we bring our viewpoint and expertise to company CEOs, elected officials, regulators, and other aviation stakeholders.

Our unique perspective shapes our profound responsibility to speak up and speak out. One lone worker’s voice may be overlooked. Workers united in solidarity must be heard. Unions give us the power to stand on equal footing with decision-makers, ensuring that safety, not convenience or cost, remains the guiding principle of aviation policy.

Aviation is one of the most highly regulated industries, and Dave Behncke, our union’s first president, recognized the power that pilots wield when speaking with one unified voice. He filled hearing rooms with uniformed pilots to emphasize the experience, knowledge, and professionalism of ALPA members when decisions were being made.

Today, we honor Behncke’s commitment to pilot advocacy by naming ALPA-PAC membership levels after him. The PAC is a key piece of our toolbox, and it’s solely supported by contributions from U.S. ALPA members. ALPA-PAC is another example of our collective strength. One pilot’s voice may not hold sway, but the united voice of ALPA pilots, championed by the PAC, is a powerful tool that gives the Association the ability to advance our pilot-partisan agenda for the good of our industry.

Every March, we celebrate the thousands of pilots who contribute to the PAC on the pages of the Roll of Distinction. Inclusion in this listing should be a point of pride for our members. It shows that they’re willing to go a step further by investing in the future of our profession and industry.

With more than 80,000 members spread across Canada and the United States and 42 pilot groups, differing viewpoints are inevitable. Yet we remain united by our commitment to safety, security, and moving the piloting profession forward. Being a pilot is more than just a job for us; it’s a passion, and we all share a responsibility to enhance the profession for the next generation of pilots.

It feels like only yesterday that I signed my first ALPA card at Atlantic Southeast Airlines. Now—30 years later—I’m three years into my term as ALPA president. Over the years, I’ve seen our union evolve firsthand—welcoming new generations, new perspectives, and new ways to communicate to bridge the generational gap. What ALPA does so well is unite new ideas with hard-earned experience. Each generation brings insights and expectations, shaped by different aviation paths. This diversity strengthens our collective knowledge to get the job done and to move away from doing what we’ve always done.

Starting with the January–February issue of Air Line Pilot, we rebranded this column to “One ALPA” to reflect the culture of collaboration we’re creating together. We’re rejecting an “us versus them” mentality and building a more united union. Together, we’re speaking out for safety and security. We’re championing workers’ rights. We’re advancing our profession and industry.

We’re one ALPA.

In the March Issue: