Avion

Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: Campus News

Nick Candrella

Representatives from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which has over 50,000 members, came to Embry-Riddle Jan. 27 and 28 visiting the Daytona Beach campus to experience the next generation of future airline pilots. Captains and First Officers from various major and regional airlines toured the campus, sat in on Aeronautical Science classes, participated in meetings, and even held a forum Wednesday night for students interested in becoming professional airline pilots.

In light of recent airline tragedies, a heavy importance has been placed on professionalism in the cockpit, as well as safety, two of ALPA's steadfast beliefs. John Sluys, Chairman of ALPA's Professional Development Group, and Dave Ryter, Chairman of ALPA's Education Committee, along with representatives from the Education Committee, led a student focus group meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

The discussion covered various topics, from pioneering a new informational website for future airline pilots, to how ALPA can have more of an impact on current students.

ALPA also wants to convey who they really are; not just a pilot union but an example group of pilots that work together for the benefit of the profession. ALPA believes and recognizes that Embry-Riddle is known for the quality of pilot it produces.

In the future, ALPA may be more visible on campus as they frequent the school more often to be a resource of information to aspiring pilots, and reintegrate the important characteristics of professionalism, safety, and conduct.

Later Wednesday evening, ALPA held an open question and answer forum in the College of Aviation Atrium. Pizza was served, and by the time the session got underway it was standing room only. Interested pilots attended the forum to ask questions about the life of an airline pilot, the business itself, and the steps to take to end up in the right seat of their first jet.

The Captains and First Officers on hand all stressed that keeping a clean record, making smart decisions, and staying honest were the best things to help land any airline job. Sluys, a Captain from Alaska Airlines, said it is "all too often that pilots have 'self-inflicted wounds,' stemming from irrational decisions or inappropriate content of themselves on the internet."

The panel of seven spent three hours giving in-depth answers to students and many people left having gained something from the night.

Continued...

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