Advertise on podcast: Air Line Pilot Podcast

Boeing's Chief Aerospace Safety Officer Don Ruhmann, joined ALPA President, Capt. Jason Ambrosi for a conversation about Boeing’s safety culture. They cover how Boeing's safety management system is spreading across the company, why non-punitive reporting depends on trust, and how input from about 200 line pilots shaped the 777-9's flight deck alerts. Ruhmann also explains why Boeing is focused on two pilots on the flight deck and why aviation can never be "safe enough" as the number of flights keeps growing.

As we reflect on 25 years since 9/11 and 95 years of ALPA, we examine ALPA’s history through the voices of past presidents: Capt. Randy Babbit, Capt. Duane Woerth, and Capt. John Prater. Their perspective on unity, safety, and resilience speaks directly to where we are now and where we are headed.

In-flight fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are increasing in frequency, which is a serious threat to flight safety. In this episode, ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi speaks with Capt. Dave Schlichting (FedEx Express), head of ALPA’s Dangerous Goods program, about what pilots need to know about the risks of lithium-ion batteries and how to mitigate them.

During the ALPA Legislative Summit, ALPA President Capt. Jason Ambrosi spoke Rep. Val Hoyle from Oregon about the work she is doing on Capitol Hill to advance safety, security, and workers’ rights. Hoyle came to Congress after serving as Labor Commissioner in Oregon and  is a true champion for working people, the labor movement, and aviation safety. She serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

During the ALPA Legislative Summit, ALPA President Capt. Jason Ambrosi spoke Rep. Rob Bresnahan from Pennsylvania about the work he is doing on Capitol Hill to advance safety, security, and workers’ rights. In addition to being a helicopter pilot, Bresnahan serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is a committed ally on several aviation safety priorities in Congress.

Flipping the script from our usual format, this episode features ALPA President Capt. Jason Ambrosi as the guest, in conversation with Aviation Week's Karen Walker on the Window Seat Podcast. In a broad discussion that includes ALPA’s safety priorities and recent advocacy, Ambrosi covers his career as a pilot, ALPA’s work to pass COVID payroll support, the importance of pilots at the center of aircraft safety systems, and the ongoing efforts to urge the House and Senate to enact new law and technologies based on the lessons learned in the fatal midair collision near Washington, DC, last year.

ALPA’s Aviation Medicine Advisory Service (AMAS) has provided free medical consultations to U.S. ALPA members since 1969. ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi welcomes Dr. Quay Snyder, ALPA aeromedical advisor and AMAS president/CEO, to explain the role of AMAS in advising pilots on how to stay healthy and compliant with medical certificate requirements. Snyder covers common pilot questions about whether specific medications are compatible with flying and how to accurately meet medical reporting requirements.

How do we protect commercial aircraft from the threat of unmanned aerial systems? ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi talks with Col. Bill Edwards, director of counter-unmanned aerial systems operations at ENSCO, about the rapidly growing drone threat to commercial aviation and what it will take to counter it. Edwards discusses the evolution of small UAS driven by global conflicts, the scale of drone detections near U.S. airports, and how limited detection and mitigation authorities have constrained responses. He outlines detection methods (radar, radio frequency, optical, acoustic) and mitigation options suited for domestic use.

Joined by leaders from several ALPA pilot groups and ALPA Canada, ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi discusses key developments within the union. Guests include Capt. Larry Payne (Hawaiian Airlines) and Capt. Will McQuillen (Alaska Airlines), both chairs of their respective MECs, who provide updates on their ongoing merger. Capt. Brian Smith (Porter Airlines) shares insights from the recent organizing effort at Porter, and Capt. Brad Small (Air Transat) discusses his pilot group’s contract negotiation. Additionally, Capt. Wayne Scales (JetBlue) and Capt. Andy Nelson (Spirit) discuss issues affecting their pilots, including contract enforcement and support through Spirit’s financial uncertainty. Finally, ALPA Canada president Capt. Tim Perry discusses the Association’s priorities in Canada.

Each year brings new opportunities and challenges for our union, and 2025 was a powerful reminder of just how unpredictable a single year can be. This year, ALPA mourned loss, confronted economic instability at several airlines, and felt the harsh impact of political turmoil, including the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. To close out 2025, ALPA President Capt. Jason Ambrosi had an in-depth discussion with ALPA general manager David Krieger on the challenges and successes of the past year.

Capt. Ronan O'Donoghue, chair of ALPA's Strategic Preparedness and Strike Committee, joined ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi to discuss the transformation of ALPA's culture. Collaboration, strategic and communication planning, and solidarity among pilot groups all play critical roles in ALPA’s recent successes. Informational pickets and the introduction of new initiatives like the fact team and virtual components are just a few examples that highlight these efforts.

How does the aviation industry look from the outside? ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi found out in this interview with Elan Head, senior editor at The Air Current, and a helicopter pilot herself. The conversation covers industry trends, media perspectives, pilot misconceptions, the impact of emerging technologies, and how reporting on aviation can influence understanding and accountability within the industry.

As 2025 unfolded, the airline industry's initial optimism was met with unexpected challenges. ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi sat down with Aviation Economist Patrick Cropper from ALPA’s Economic and Financial Analysis Department to discuss the factors that were fueling early confidence and the hurdles airlines now face. From high profits at Delta and United to the struggles of ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit, this episode explores the state of the aviation industry and what it means for ALPA pilots.

In aviation, we learn from the past to build a safer future. One of the most effective ways we do that is through accident investigation—identifying contributing factors to reform processes, designs, and policies to prevent similar accidents from happening again.     ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi interviews Transportation Safety Board of Canada Chair Yoan Marier about how the board investigates accidents and incidents and develops recommendations in Canada.

For many ALPA members, flying is more than a career—it is a passion. And that passion is on full display at EAA’s AirVenture Oshkosh every year. At the 2024 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the Air Line Pilot Podcast caught up with ALPA members who arrived in classic warbirds or other vintage aircraft, or who flew as part of the daily airshow. William “Skip” Stewart (FedEx Express) gave aerobatic performances in his modified Pitts S-2S, Bill Sleeper (United, ret.) provided rides in a 1929 Ford Tri Motor, Billy Janus (Delta) piloted a C-47 Skytrain, Jeff Linebaugh (FedEx Express) flew a P-51 Mustang, and Martin Gerhard (United) and Steve McGarry (Kalitta) reenacted as paratroopers to commemorate the 80th anniversary of World War II’s Normandy invasion.