This past Saturday marked a historic milestone for the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), as the union held its first-ever joint MEC (Master Executive Council) event in New York City at The Standard. Organized by United ALPA’s Captain Colleen Lambert and Delta ALPA’s Captain Marc Cervantes, the event brought together representatives from Delta ALPA, United ALPA, and Endeavor ALPA, alongside committee members, volunteers, and general member pilots. Against the backdrop of a growing movement within ALPA to foster cross-union collaboration and communication, this event served as a platform for sharing ideas, strengthening relationships, and encouraging deeper engagement across pilot groups. Notably, United ALPA’s new MEC Chair, Captain Brian Noyes, was in attendance, reinforcing the importance of these connections.
The event, which was open to all ALPA pilots, invited representatives from every MEC with a pilot base in the New York City area. As ALPA continues to evolve, leadership, elected directly by pilot members, has placed increasing emphasis on creating opportunities for meaningful, union-sponsored interactions between pilots, their families, and union leaders. These events offer an informal setting where pilots can exchange ideas, raise concerns, and give direct feedback to their representatives, helping shape the future direction of their union. They also foster a sense of community that extends beyond the flight deck, encouraging volunteerism and long-term engagement.
United ALPA’s Family Awareness Subcommittee, chaired by Captains Colleen Lambert and Blake Ditlow, has been at the forefront of this movement. At United ALPA, events once exclusively a local effort managed at the LEC level, have grown significantly since becoming United MEC Committee-led initiatives. United ALPA’s recent events have seen record-breaking attendance, including one in Denver that welcomed over 1,000 ALPA members and their families.
While hosting joint MEC events presents challenges—such as navigating differing event policies between MECs—the enthusiasm and turnout at Saturday’s gathering suggest a bright future for increased cooperation and unity among ALPA pilots.
