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Recount an exciting chapter in aviation history and the beginnings of the Air Line Pilots Association, the world’s largest pilot union and nongovernmental air safety organization, through an abridged retelling of the book by George E. Hopkins, ”Flying the Line.” Volume 1 narrated by Corey Kuhn. Volume 2 narrated by Gina Leahy.
Episodes
Monday Jul 27, 2020
Chapter 13 (Part 1)-”The National Airlines Strike of 1948”
Monday Jul 27, 2020
Monday Jul 27, 2020
Fresh off the TWA Pilots’ strike of 1946, ALPA had another battle looming with the management of National Airlines. In the minds of the pilots of National Airlines, the strike of 1948 was like World War II—a good fight, a just cause, an evil foe. George T. “Ted” Baker, founder of National Airlines and its president during the strike, was the villain while ALPA President Dave Behncke was the heroic champion of justice. Learn why ALPA’s National Airlines pilots felt this way about their “unscrupulous” owner and what events led up to the longest and costliest strike at ALPA to that point.
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Chapter 13 (Part 2)-”The National Airlines Strike of 1948”
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Monday Aug 10, 2020
In ALPA’s short history, Ted Baker, the owner of National Airlines, was one of the most unscrupulous operators Dave Behncke had to deal with. The pilots of National Airlines attempted to hold their management accountable for poor working conditions, but to no avail. This, compounded with the firing of one pilot resulted in the pilots voting to authorize a strike. Hear how the longest and costliest strike at in the history of ALPA to that point, turned out.
Monday Aug 24, 2020
Chapter 14 (Part 1)-”The Ordeal of E. P. McDonald”
Monday Aug 24, 2020
Monday Aug 24, 2020
In the wake of the National Airlines strike, management resorts to dirty tricks to topple labor, and one pro-ALPA captain, Ed McDonald, is removed from flying as two other pilots sabotage his airmanship.
Saturday Sep 12, 2020
Chapter 14 (Part 2)-”The Ordeal of E. P. McDonald”
Saturday Sep 12, 2020
Saturday Sep 12, 2020
The fight for Capt. MacDonald's career ends with a victory for the union pilots of National Airlines after a long and hard-fought battle with National's CEO, George T. Baker. However, this was only the start of what would be a series of battles with George Baker.
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Chapter 15 (Part 1)-”The Fall of Dave Behncke”
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
ALPA’s founder and first president, Dave Behncke, works to maintain his position against all odds. But an investigative committee looks into various factors that would eventually lead to his downfall, including discontent among the professional staff of ALPA and the fulfillment of Behncke's dream, ALPA's first national headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Chapter 15 (Part 2)-”The Fall of Dave Behncke”
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Against all odds and amidst a quickly shifting industry and labor landscape, ALPA’s first president Dave Behncke continues his fight to maintain his position atop the organization he founded. Questions about the legitimacy of an vote takes the battle for leadership into the courtroom.
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Chapter 16 (Part 1)- "The Sayen Style"
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Monday Nov 23, 2020
In a way, ALPA's second president, Clancy Sayen was a victim of the ouster of ALPA's founder and first president, Dave Behncke. When Sayen joined ALPA, he did not have the presidency in his plans. However, due to his well-spoken and eloquent nature, he started to become noticed by many of his fellow members and quickly ascended to national leadership, which culminated in being chosen to succeed Behncke. The intentional and analytic nature of Sayen came as a stark contrast to Behncke's, and ALPA's culture changed as a result of the Sayen administration.
Monday Dec 07, 2020
Chapter 16 (Part 2)- "The Sayen Style"
Monday Dec 07, 2020
Monday Dec 07, 2020
ALPA’s second president Clancy Sayen began his term on the heels of a bitter fight that ousted ALPA’s founder Dave Behncke. Upon his election, Sayen began a top-to-bottom reorganization of ALPA’s governance structure in order to democratize the association. In addition, he took head-on the issue of how the quick advancement of aviation technology impacted productivity, and thus, the pay rates of pilots. With the advent of jet technology, Sayen created the Jet Pay Study Committee to determine how best ALPA could navigate addressing the dual issues of aviation safety and crew complement in the cockpit, while protecting pilot jobs and pay.
Monday Dec 21, 2020
Chapter 17 (Part 1)- "Safety and Crew Complement in the 1950s"
Monday Dec 21, 2020
Monday Dec 21, 2020
ALPA advocates on behalf of having three pilots working on the flight deck of the new airliners of the post-World War 2 era, but accidents and pilot pranks do little to help the cause, all while one airline’s pilots mull over leaving the Association.
Friday Jan 29, 2021
Chapter 17 (Part 2)- "Safety and Crew Complement in the 1950s"
Friday Jan 29, 2021
Friday Jan 29, 2021
A prank by a pilot in the jumpseat on a scheduled passenger flight highlights the need for more stringent standards on who should be afforded the right to have a seat on the flight deck. But this battle with federal regulators over crew complement would set the foundation for what would be the toughest and most painful period for ALPA in the years to come.