Episode 44 - Aftermath —The Disputed Election of 1990 and ALPA’s Future, Part 2
Hank Duffy’s Executive Administrator Randy Babbitt wins the ALPA presidency in a closely contested election against Roger Hall.
Jul 03, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Flying the Line
Recount an exciting chapter in aviation history and the beginnings of the Air Line Pilots Association, the world’s largest pilot union and nongovernmental air safety organization, through an abridged retelling of the book by George E. Hopkins, ”Flying the Line.”
Volume 1 narrated by Corey Kuhn. Volume 2 narrated by Gina Leahy.
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Episodes
Episode 43 - Aftermath —The Disputed Election of 1990 and ALPA’s Future, Part 1
Eastern’s Randy Babbit and United’s Roger Hall vie for the ALPA presidency.
Jun 19, 2024•19 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Episode 42 - The Eastern Strike and the Fall of Lorenzo, “How do you spell ‘Pyrrhic Victory,’ Frank?” Part 3
Frank Lorenzo’s failure at Eastern is so complete that he, for all intents and purposes, is finished in the airline industry.
Jun 05, 2024•18 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Episode 41 - The Eastern Strike and the Fall of Lorenzo, “How do you spell ‘Pyrrhic Victory,’ Frank?” Part 2
With no hope of an SOS (suspension of service), the Eastern pilots attempt a “back door” Presidential Emergency Board, which George Bush vetoes.
May 22, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Episode 40 - The Eastern Strike and the Fall of Lorenzo, “How do you spell ‘Pyrrhic Victory,’ Frank?” Part 1
In response to the Eastern pilot strike, Frank Lorenzo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
May 08, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Episode 39 - Lorenzo's Last Gamble: The Origins of the Eastern Strike, Part 3
ALPA and Frank Lorenzo maneuver for the high ground at Eastern Airlines, and Lorenzo demonstrates that he has no intention of working cooperatively.
Apr 24, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Episode 38 - Lorenzo's Last Gamble: The Origins of the Eastern Strike, Part 2
As Frank Lorenzo gains control of Eastern Airlines, ALPA President Hank Duffy prepares to take on his greatest challenge.
Apr 10, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Episode 37 - Lorenzo's Last Gamble: The Origins of the Eastern Strike, Part 1
ALPA President Hank Duffy struggles to keep ALPA’s larger pilot groups from going independent amid the newly deregulated airline environment.
Mar 27, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Episode 36 - National Politics and Mergers: The Election of 1986 and Beyond, Part 3
Incumbent Hank Duffy and First Vice President Tom Ashwood angle for position in the 1986 ALPA presidential elections.
Mar 13, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Episode 35 - National Politics and Mergers: The Election of 1986 and Beyond, Part 2
With the 1986 ALPA presidential election neck and neck, candidate Tom Ashwood challenges the union’s use of its long-standing, contracted law firm.
Feb 28, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Episode 34 - National Politics and Mergers: The Election of 1986 and Beyond, Part 1
Following watershed strikes at Continental and United, mergers test ALPA’s strength and determination.
Feb 14, 2024•18 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Episode 33 - Of B-Scales and ALPA’s Future—The United Strike of 1985, Part 3
A 29-day strike tests the fortitude of the United pilots and ALPA as a whole.
Feb 01, 2024•12 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Episode 32 - Of B-Scales and ALPA’s Future—The United Strike of 1985, Part 2
During the United 29-day strike in 1985, the MEC miraculously convinces 570 new pilots in training not to cross the picket line.
Jan 17, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Episode 31 - Of B-Scales and ALPA’s Future—The United Strike of 1985, Part 1
The United pilots’ Blue Skies honeymoon is cut short with the introduction of a two-tiered wage scale.
Jan 05, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Episode 30 - Blue Skies and MEC Wars—The Origins of the United Strike of 1985, Part 2
A Ferg-Ferris alliance and the contentious “Blue Skies” agreement lead to concerns about the United pilots’ possible secession from ALPA.
Dec 19, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Episode 29 - Blue Skies and MEC Wars—The Origins of the United Strike of 1985, Part 1
An unlikely connection between United’s CEO and the pilots’ MEC chair leads to a controversial contract proposal.
Dec 06, 2023•18 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Episode 28 - The Continental Strike—ALPA’s Dark Night of the Soul, Part 3
ALPA raises safety concerns as Continental continues to fly during its protracted strike.
Nov 22, 2023•16 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Episode 27 - The Continental Strike—ALPA’s Dark Night of the Soul, Part 2
The Bildisco decision, although temporary in its precedence, seals the Continental pilots’ fate.
Nov 10, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Episode 26 - The Continental Strike—ALPA’s Dark Night of the Soul, Part 1
Continental’s striking pilots fight back as Frank Lorenzo looks for ways to keep his airline flying.
Oct 25, 2023•16 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Episode 25 - The Origins of the Continental Strike—Lorenzo Prepares His Blitzkrieg, Part 2
Frank Lorenzo uses the leverage of Chapter 11 to compel Continental pilots to make even more concessions.
Oct 11, 2023•18 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Episode 24 - The Origins of the Continental Strike—Lorenzo Prepares His Blitzkrieg, Part 1
With ample resources hidden in Continental Airlines’ parent company, Texas Air Corporation, Lorenzo files for bankruptcy.
Sep 13, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Episode 23 - Pilots and PACs, Republicans and Labor—The “Reagan Revolution” Hits ALPA, Part 2
ALPA’s responds to the adverse effects of deregulation, recession, and the Lorenzo wars by forming a Political Action Committee.
Aug 30, 2023•18 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Episode 22 - Pilots and PACs, Republicans and Labor—The “Reagan Revolution” Hits ALPA, Part 1
In this episode we look at airline deregulation and the evolving nature and influence of the Republican Party.
Aug 16, 2023•17 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Episode 21 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 3
Hank Duffy inherits the debacle at Continental.
Aug 04, 2023•16 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Episode 20 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 2
A rift between junior and senior Continental pilots occurs when they most desperately need to be unified.
Jul 19, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Episode 19 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 1
Frank Lorenzo takes over Continental Airlines.
Jul 06, 2023•12 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Episode 18 - Who Are These Guys?—Frank Lorenzo and His Kind, Part 2
Frank Lorenzo enters the industry and advances his airline ambitions.
Jun 23, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Episode 17 - Who Are These Guys?—Frank Lorenzo and His Kind, Part 1
A new breed of corporate leadership challenges the status quo in the aviation industry.
May 26, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Episode 16 - Duffy Takes Charge–A Troubled Transition, Part 2
We explore the Duffy administration's inauspicious start and the emergence of Frank Lorenzo.
May 01, 2023•14 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Episode 15 - Duffy Takes Charge—A Troubled Transition, Part 1
We take a look inside the transition from J.J. O’Donnell's administration to Hank Duffy's.
Apr 12, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 15
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