Here is a copy of the transcript from Capt. Prater's testimony before the House Subcommitte on Aviation, Committe on Transportation and Infrastructure regarding the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009.
You may not like ALPA. You may not like Prater. You may not agree with all of ALPA's positions, nor will ALPA win all of the fights that are important to us. But I haven't heard of ANY other organization going to bat for things that are important to OUR profession. And I certainly don't know of any other organization with the influence we have. I don't see the Virgin pilots, Allegiant pilots, JetBlue pilots, (insert non-ALPA pilot group here), even having the opportunity to address this important subcommittee, never mind even making the effort to do so in the first place.
You may not like ALPA. You may not like Prater. You may not agree with all of ALPA's positions, nor will ALPA win all of the fights that are important to us. But I haven't heard of ANY other organization going to bat for things that are important to OUR profession. And I certainly don't know of any other organization with the influence we have. I don't see the Virgin pilots, Allegiant pilots, JetBlue pilots, (insert non-ALPA pilot group here), even having the opportunity to address this important subcommittee, never mind even making the effort to do so in the first place.