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Pilots Agreements Signed in Rapid Succession with PCA and C&S

THE AIR LINE PILOT

Vol. 16—No. 5  Published by The Air Line Pilots Association, International, 3145 W. 63rd St., Chicago, Ill.  June, 1947

ALPA's First Executive Board Meeting a Marked Success

Was Hard-Hitting And Fast-Moving

The Air Line Pilots Association and the pilots which it represents reached a greater maturity in May as the new and previously untried Executive Board shed all semblances of conjecture and experimentation and became a proven body of progressive and concrete reality that left the mark of completed adolescence on ALPA.

The Convention-created successor to the Central Executive Council, composed of 35 delegates representing 19 scheduled air lines, passed its acid test in initial meetings held May 21, 22, 23, and 24 and firmly established itself as the answer to the need for a mature governing and policy-making body to function with authority between conventions.

With the falling of the convening gavel at 10:00 a.m. May 21
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June Activities Set Work Record

In a month in which the spotlight was focused brilliantly on the history-making first Executive Board meeting, ALPA's employment agreement making activities continued to forge steadily ahead with the signing of two more agreements and the carrying of negotiations on seven other air lines to the verge of conclusion.

Despite the crowded schedule engendered by the preparation and follow-up work, as well as the Executive Board meeting itself, agreements were signed with Chicago and Southern Air
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ALPA GROWS UP

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Here are the men that ALPA President David L. Behncke credited with "near miracles"—the members of the first Executive Board created by the Ninth Convention and pictured as they met in the Prado Room of the Del Prado Hotel on May 22 to write ALPA history in broad decisive strokes. "This," said President Behncke, "is a history making meeting of ALPA. An executive board of a representing organization is not a new innovation, but it is a sign and a definite indication that an employee representing organization has grown up." Second in power only to the Convention and the Board of Directors, the new Executive Board, which supplants the former Central Executive Council, survived its baptism of fire in a manner even beyond expectations, formulating sound internal and external policies, making administrative decisions with unanimity and finality, and establishing itself as an additional democratic step forward in the building of a democratic representing organization for the air line pilots. The first Executive Board meeting lasted four days (May 21 through May 24). It was actually a streamlined interim convention that took full cognizance of its duties and responsibilities and disposed of them in a confident manner indicative of strength and unity. At the head of the conference table (l. to r.) are J. E. Wood, first vice-president of ALPA; David L. Behncke, president of the Air Line Pilots Association and chairman of the meeting; and W. P. Kilgore, temporary acting executive vice-president. The total number of Executive Board members present was 35.

EMBLEMS

New Ninth Convention-approved ALPA ring and modernized lapel emblems are described in pamphlet, including prices, soon to be distributed to the membership. Dignified and striking, ALPA's new ring symbolizes air line progress.

ALPA History Is Born in Dignity

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Another history's first is born in drama; silent, dignified, but far-reaching in its significance. The recording reporter notes her wrist watch as the convening gavel falls and President Behncke speaks the words that will forever be etched deeply on the scrolls of ALPA history: "The first meeting of the Ninth Convention-created Executive Board is now in session." The hour on the reporter's wrist watch is 10:00 a.m.; the time, May 21, in the year of our Lord in 1947; the place, Chicago, Ill. at the Del Prado Hotel, 53rd Street and Hyde Park Blvd. That was the start of the first Executive Board meeting. The bang of the gavel in the hush of the conference room and the opening words of President Behncke were historic ones, indicating the passing of another milestone and a new maturity for a vastly expanded Air Line Pilots Association. In photo 1, President Behncke declares the initial meeting in official session with the words: "I am sure you all realize the history making
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PILOT SKILL BACKBONE OF SAFETY

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Pilot proficiency as the backbone of air safety and the part that ALPA plays in air safety promotion was told to a large air audience on May 18 as an air line pilot, Robert N. Buck, of Local Council No. 2, TWA-New York (above right), and an air line president, W. A. Patterson, president of United Air Lines, expounded their views on Northwestern University's radio forum, the Reviewing Stand. Pointing out that ALPA's motto is SCHEDULE WITH SAFETY, Buck stated: "Over half of the Air Line Pilots Association's efforts and money expenses is in the direction of safety. There are more than 70 councils throughout the United States. There is an active air line pilot of each council who is the accident representative. There are suggestions and ideas for improving safety sent in almost daily. In the recent Congressional investigation, the Air Line Pilots Association put in approximately 48 suggestions concerning safety." Stated Mr. Patterson: "Practically all the advances we have made in safety in the last ten years have been the increased proficiency of the pilots and the mechanical personnel in the organization. We are getting finer technique in flying than we did a few years ago." Other members of the four-man discussion panel were F. B. Lee, CAA executive assistant, and E. C. Sweeney, Northwestern University professor of law. "Despite the large supply of flyers which will be available after the war, air line pilots never will be 'a din-a-dozen'," Patterson has often declared. "We hear it said pilots are going to be a 'dime-a-dozen' because a million boys are learning to fly in the war. Pilots are never going to be a 'dime-a-dozen' and if any of them are, I don't want to fly with them. The air line pilot is a professional man. The law of supply and demand does not determine the compensation paid for professional services."