Is Flying the Line still in print?

[Capi_Cafre']

I know its possible to find used copies for cheap on Amazon etc., but I'd be interested to know if it's possible to buy it new.

In a perfect world, the ATP written would have enough questions on the material to force everyone coming into the profession to read it.......

 

[75M]

If ALPA would have lifted a finger to help one of it's founding airlines, it might be worth the read.

 

[satpak77]

maybe not in PRINT but its still FOR SALE

http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?q=%22flying+the+line%22&pid=4810561283614292083&oid=14287526044732946405&btnG=Search+Froogle&ei=oDf6Q4vuN4mMlAGcnJ3MBA&sig2=V-kstDHIAGEf08WLRg_hTg&lmode=&addr=&scoring=mrd&hl=en

 

[sunchaser]

If you work for an ALPA carrier, just contact your membership rep. and they will send you the books. Or get in touch with a buddy from an ALPA carrier and ask him to get it for you. My copies have been floating around at non-union shops for awhile. Fly the Line Vol. 1 and 2 are worth the read. Just keep in mind they are written from the union stand point. But the history and what the old guys did to get us here, makes you feel like you've done nothing and b!tch about everything.... Well, it did for me... Read Hard Landings for the managment view and you will be all edumacated and reel smarts...

 

[bestpilot]

If ALPA would have lifted a finger to help one of it's founding airlines, it might be worth the read.

Duuude, you jus gots to be lettin it go, my brother from another mother!!! Aint you at da Tranny now??? Awww yeaaahhh, maybe like you should be like on dat 737 wit me and da Ty Guy.

Viva Las Begas.............AWWWWW YEEEAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

Dude, jus be like lovvvin it dat you's at da Tranny, cause like dis place got it goin on!!!!

 

[dojetdriver]

I'm still waiting for Flying the Line Vol.3, The RJ Years.

 

[75M]

BP,

Life's good. I'm just sayin'.

75M

 

[Saabslime]

In a perfect world, the ATP written would have enough questions on the material to force everyone coming into the profession to read it.......

No, in a perfect world we would actually have one unified union representing all our interests instead of a bunch of separate self serving entities who all just happen to belong to the same fraternity. Then just maybe we could actually accomplish something and this would once again be a profession worth coming into.

 

[PHXFLYR]

No, in a perfect world we would actually have one unified union representing all our interests instead of a bunch of separate self serving entities who all just happen to belong to the same fraternity. Then just maybe we could actually accomplish something and this would once again be a profession worth coming into.

Amen!!

PHXFLYR

 

[regionaltard]

No, in a perfect world we would actually have one unified union representing all our interests instead of a bunch of separate self serving entities who all just happen to belong to the same fraternity. Then just maybe we could actually accomplish something and this would once again be a profession worth coming into.

I'd wager that the vast majority of ALPA members know little or nothing about the history of their union. I can't help but think that a better-educated membership might have kept the thing from going so far off course.

 

[FlyMeSWA]

I second "sunchaser". read Hard Landing...probably the best book I've ever read. Also Rapid Descent, both about the shakeout from the 70's-90's.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

No, in a perfect world we would actually have one unified union representing all our interests instead of a bunch of separate self serving entities who all just happen to belong to the same fraternity. Then just maybe we could actually accomplish something and this would once again be a profession worth coming into.

But yet everyone liked when DAL used UAL contract2000 to spring themsleves higher.....

You can't have it both ways.....

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Just keep in mind they are written from the union stand point. ...

WRONG!



Actually it isn't pro labor. George Hopkins initially wrote The Airline Pilots: A Study in Elite Unionization, 1971. He was asked by ALPA to write Flying the Line Vol. I, 1982. An incredible read with some dry spots. However required for anyone who gives 1.95% of their income.

Hopkins was asked again to write the second part, published in 2000, which included deregulation. You think Lorenzo was bad? Read about EL Cord. Also CR Smith whom AMR has named thier beloved museum after.


With copy of Vol II in hand turn to page XII of the Preface.

Hopkins, the books' author writes

JJ O'Donnell [then ALPA's president] asked me to write another history commemorating the unions 50th anniversary. With the understanding that I would give ALPA its history "warts and all," I agreed.

The result was Flying the Line; the First Half Century of the Airline Pilots Association, published in 1982. My interpretation of ALPA's history was not censored. I work for WesternIllionisUniversity specifically and for an abstraction called history" generally. Although frankly nervous about the book, O'Donnell understood that prettified "court history" praising the King (so to speak) would be worthless. If pilots were to derive insight from my book, it had to be free to go wherever truth took it.

Hopkins placed his academic career on writing the truth and not being a chump.


Contact your LEC rep and ask for a copy. He might be able to get a complimentry copy. If not what is $10.

Then you can read about how pilots showed up for work, only to be met by an armed guard who escorted them to a company official. This company official handed the pilot both a resignation and an employment application....at a lower wage! (Vol I, chapter 6, page 48)

Coming to work nowadays isn't so bad.


Need more? Read 'When the Airlines Went to War' In this book you will read how Air Line Pilots disregarded thier labor contracts during WWII to 'transport the army and navy' and how the airlines trained Navigators, Pilots and mechanics by the thousands. The required rapid mobilzation of America's Air Power would have never happened if it wasn't for the US Airlines.

You'll earn a new respect for Airports like LGA and DCA, commonly refered to as sh1tholes by the ignorant. LGA and DCA have more history, culture and character than most of us....

Pride in being an Air Line Pilot is not popular right now, but you'll find it in these books...

 

[Saabslime]

But yet everyone liked when DAL used UAL contract2000 to spring themsleves higher.....

You can't have it both ways.....

It's called learning from the mistakes made in the past and moving forward with some new thinking. I don't want it both ways. I just don't want to keep doing things the same old way time after time just so we can take two steps backwards for every step forward.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

It's called learning from the mistakes made in the past and moving forward with some new thinking. I don't want it both ways. I just don't want to keep doing things the same old way time after time just so we can take two steps backwards for every step forward.

So you want new thinking....

You can start by a new piece of legislation to replace the RLA and the NMB.

Remember, the industry is in shambles, not necessarily the representational structure.... IOW ALPA seemed to work fine for UAL COntract2000 and DAL after that...

We've found ourselves in a perfect storm and we're complaining the aircraft isn't rated for T-storm flying... how is that the manufactures fault??