Flying the Line

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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." Narrated by Corey Kuhn.

Air Line Pilots Association, International


    • Jul 3, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 17m AVG DURATION
    • 88 EPISODES
    • 2 SEASONS

    4.9 from 103 ratings Listeners of Flying the Line that love the show mention: history.


    Ivy Insights

    The Flying the Line podcast is a must-listen for all pilots and aviation enthusiasts. This podcast delves into the rich history of aviation, specifically focusing on the challenges and triumphs of the first generation of pilots. By exploring this history, the podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding our roots in order to navigate the present and future successfully. Through interviews with experts, captivating storytelling, and an in-depth analysis of historical events, Flying the Line provides valuable insights and lessons for both pilots and management.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is its ability to bring history to life. The host does an excellent job of taking listeners back in time, painting vivid pictures of what it was like to be a pilot during the early days of aviation. The stories and anecdotes shared in each episode are fascinating and serve as reminders that many sacrifices were made by those who came before us. Understanding these stories gives us a greater appreciation for how far we've come and offers valuable lessons that can be applied to our own experiences as pilots.

    Another commendable aspect of this podcast is its informative nature. Each episode provides a wealth of knowledge about various aspects of aviation history, including technological advancements, safety measures, labor disputes, and more. The host's research is evident in the detailed explanations provided throughout each episode. Not only does Flying the Line entertain its audience, but it also educates them on important historical events that have shaped the industry.

    However, one downside to this podcast is its pacing. While some listeners may appreciate longer episodes that allow for deeper exploration of topics, others may find it challenging to stay engaged throughout extended periods. Breaking down longer episodes into smaller segments or providing regular breaks could alleviate this issue and make it more accessible for a wider audience.

    In conclusion, The Flying the Line podcast is a compelling exploration of aviation history that is both entertaining and informative. By shedding light on the challenges faced by early pilots and emphasizing the importance of learning from the mistakes and successes of the past, this podcast offers valuable insights for pilots and management alike. While pacing may be an issue for some listeners, the overall quality of research and storytelling in Flying the Line makes it a must-listen for anyone interested in aviation.



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    Latest episodes from Flying the Line

    Episode 44 - Aftermath —The Disputed Election of 1990 and ALPA's Future, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 17:22


    Hank Duffy's Executive Administrator Randy Babbitt wins the ALPA presidency in a closely contested election against Roger Hall.

    Episode 43 - Aftermath —The Disputed Election of 1990 and ALPA's Future, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 19:09


    Eastern's Randy Babbit and United's Roger Hall vie for the ALPA presidency.

    Episode 42 - The Eastern Strike and the Fall of Lorenzo, “How do you spell ‘Pyrrhic Victory,' Frank?” Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 17:49


    Frank Lorenzo's failure at Eastern is so complete that he, for all intents and purposes, is finished in the airline industry.

    Episode 41 - The Eastern Strike and the Fall of Lorenzo, “How do you spell ‘Pyrrhic Victory,' Frank?” Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 15:30


    With no hope of an SOS (suspension of service), the Eastern pilots attempt a “back door” Presidential Emergency Board, which George Bush vetoes.

    Episode 40 - The Eastern Strike and the Fall of Lorenzo, “How do you spell ‘Pyrrhic Victory,' Frank?” Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 17:24


    In response to the Eastern pilot strike, Frank Lorenzo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

    Episode 39 - Lorenzo's Last Gamble: The Origins of the Eastern Strike, Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 16:07


    ALPA and Frank Lorenzo maneuver for the high ground at Eastern Airlines, and Lorenzo demonstrates that he has no intention of working cooperatively.

    Episode 38 - Lorenzo's Last Gamble: The Origins of the Eastern Strike, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 15:25


    As Frank Lorenzo gains control of Eastern Airlines, ALPA President Hank Duffy prepares to take on his greatest challenge. 

    Episode 37 - Lorenzo's Last Gamble: The Origins of the Eastern Strike, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 15:18


    ALPA President Hank Duffy struggles to keep ALPA's larger pilot groups from going independent amid the newly deregulated airline environment.

    Episode 36 - National Politics and Mergers: The Election of 1986 and Beyond, Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 15:21


    Incumbent Hank Duffy and First Vice President Tom Ashwood angle for position in the 1986 ALPA presidential elections.

    Episode 35 - National Politics and Mergers: The Election of 1986 and Beyond, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 17:01


    With the 1986 ALPA presidential election neck and neck, candidate Tom Ashwood challenges the union's use of its long-standing, contracted law firm.

    Episode 34 - National Politics and Mergers: The Election of 1986 and Beyond, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 17:33


    Following watershed strikes at Continental and United, mergers test ALPA's strength and determination.  

    Chapter 1-'What's a Pilots' Worth?'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2024 14:09


    Episode 33 - Of B-Scales and ALPA's Future—The United Strike of 1985, Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 12:27


    A 29-day strike tests the fortitude of the United pilots and ALPA as a whole.

    Episode 32 - Of B-Scales and ALPA's Future—The United Strike of 1985, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 17:11


    During the United 29-day strike in 1985, the MEC miraculously convinces 570 new pilots in training not to cross the picket line.

    Episode 31 - Of B-Scales and ALPA's Future—The United Strike of 1985, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2024 16:21


    The United pilots' Blue Skies honeymoon is cut short with the introduction of a two-tiered wage scale.

    Episode 30 - Blue Skies and MEC Wars—The Origins of the United Strike of 1985, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 14:58


    A Ferg-Ferris alliance and the contentious “Blue Skies” agreement lead to concerns about the United pilots' possible secession from ALPA.

    Episode 29 - Blue Skies and MEC Wars—The Origins of the United Strike of 1985, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2023 17:39


    An unlikely connection between United's CEO and the pilots' MEC chair leads to a controversial contract proposal.

    Episode 28 - The Continental Strike—ALPA's Dark Night of the Soul, Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 16:26


    ALPA raises safety concerns as Continental continues to fly during its protracted strike.

    Episode 27 - The Continental Strike—ALPA's Dark Night of the Soul, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2023 19:09


    The Bildisco decision, although temporary in its precedence, seals the Continental pilots' fate.

    Episode 26 - The Continental Strike—ALPA's Dark Night of the Soul, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2023 16:24


    Continental's striking pilots fight back as Frank Lorenzo looks for ways to keep his airline flying.

    Episode 25 - The Origins of the Continental Strike—Lorenzo Prepares His Blitzkrieg, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 17:43


    Frank Lorenzo uses the leverage of Chapter 11 to compel Continental pilots to make even more concessions.

    Episode 24 - The Origins of the Continental Strike—Lorenzo Prepares His Blitzkrieg, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 19:50


    With ample resources hidden in Continental Airlines' parent company, Texas Air Corporation, Lorenzo files for bankruptcy.

    Episode 23 - Pilots and PACs, Republicans and Labor—The “Reagan Revolution” Hits ALPA, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2023 17:45


    ALPA's responds to the adverse effects of deregulation, recession, and the Lorenzo wars by forming a Political Action Committee. 

    Episode 22 - Pilots and PACs, Republicans and Labor—The “Reagan Revolution” Hits ALPA, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 17:06


    In this episode we look at airline deregulation and the evolving nature and influence of the Republican Party.

    Episode 21 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2023 16:10


    Hank Duffy inherits the debacle at Continental.

    Episode 20 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 15:28


    A rift between junior and senior Continental pilots occurs when they most desperately need to be unified.

    Episode 19 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2023 12:04


    Frank Lorenzo takes over Continental Airlines. 

    Episode 18 - Who Are These Guys?—Frank Lorenzo and His Kind, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2023 19:20


    Frank Lorenzo enters the industry and advances his airline ambitions.

    Episode 17 - Who Are These Guys?—Frank Lorenzo and His Kind, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2023 22:53


    A new breed of corporate leadership challenges the status quo in the aviation industry. 

    Episode 16 - Duffy Takes Charge–A Troubled Transition, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 14:14


    We explore the Duffy administration's inauspicious start and the emergence of Frank Lorenzo. 

    Episode 15 - Duffy Takes Charge—A Troubled Transition, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2023 15:15


    In this episode we take a look inside the transition from J.J. O'Donnell's administration to Hank Duffy's. 

    Episode 14 - Hank Duffy's Destiny—The Making of an ALPA President, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2023 15:24


    In this episode, we explore the experiences that led Hank Duffy to pursue the ALPA presidency. 

    Episode 13 - Hank Duffy's Destiny: The Making of an ALPA President, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 16:38


    In this episode, we follow Hank Duffy's path to Delta Air Lines. 

    Episode 12 - The End of the O'Donnell Era—The Election of 1982, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2023 18:11


    In this episode, J.J. O'Donnell seeks reelection despite the Braniff and PATCO debacles. Learn more about the ALPA presidential election of 1982 and how labor protection provisions, or LPPs, played a role. 

    Episode 11 - The End of the O'Donnell Era—The Election of 1982, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 14:55


    We review the events and decisions leading up to the 1982 ALPA presidential election.

    Episode 10 - O'Donnell's Dilemmas—The PATCO Strike, Braniff, and Furloughs, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2023 16:41


    This episode covers the PATCO strike and its impact on ALPA, the J.J. O'Donnell administration, and airline labor.

    Episode 9 - O'Donnell's Dilemmas—The PATCO Strike, Braniff, and Furloughs, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 16:24


    In this episode, we examine the PATCO strike and its effect on ALPA and airline labor.

    Episode 8 - The Braniff Debacle—Deregulation Hits Home, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2023 19:53


    In this episode, we look at how Braniff pilots faced a crisis that no other U.S. pilot group had ever confronted.  

    Episode 7 - The Braniff Debacle—Deregulation Hits Home, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2022 16:47


    In this episode, we examine the reasons behind Braniff's demise. 

    Didging Bullets—Crew Complement, Politics, and the Wien Strike, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 24:26


    We examine ALPA's administrative change from regional to executive vice president and how that changed the political landscape.

    Episode 5 - Dodging Bullets—Crew Complement, Politics and the Wien Strike, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 11:22


    We examine the administrative change from regional to executive vice president and how that changed the political landscape of the Air Line Pilots Association. 

    Episode 4 - The Trials of J.J. O'Donnell - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 17:39


    In this episode, we examine ALPA's administrative change from regional vice presidents to executive vice presidents. That changed the political landscape, including those pilots plotting O'Donnell's fall.

    Episode 3 - The Trials of J.J. O'Donnell - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022 17:52


    In this episode, we look at the legacy of ALPA President J.J. O'Donnell, the effects of the skyjacking phenomenon, and an impending suspension of service.

    Episode 2 - The Legacy of Four Golden Decades

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 20:36


    The deregulation of the airline industry makes an indelible mark on the modern profession, as politics and economics become a part of an airline pilot's daily routine.  

    Chapter 1-”The World of the Airline Pilot” Flying the Line, Vol. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 20:52


    In the span of one lifetime, commercial aviation has made progress that would shame the wildest flights of science fiction fancy. And yet, the basic process of flight, of readying both pilot and airplane, is eerily similar. Join us as we examined the challenges of airline flying, the evolving industry landscape, and the perception of the airline pilot in the public psyche, in our new podcast, Flying the Line, Vol. 2!

    Chapter 25 - The Rise of J.J. O'Donnell

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 34:34


    ALPA's fight against skyjacking is taken to the next level, as an unorthodox tactic is deployed to raise public awareness in the wake of continued violence.

    Chapter 24 (Part 2) - ”Skyjacking”

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 25:15


    A surge of skyjackings tears through the industry. Armed with experience, ALPA mobilizes to halt the advancing threat despite significant pushback. 

    Chapter 24 (Part 1) - ”Skyjacking”

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 24:46


    The pilots of Eastern Airlines strike and ALPA is forced to walk a fine line with management. 

    Chapter 23 (Part 2) - ”Jets and Thin Ice”

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 21:23


    The transition of pilots and airlines to the jet age becomes a major trouble spot for all, and the rising tensions result in some pilots taking matters into their own hands with an unauthorized strike.

    Chapter 23 (Part 1) - "Jets and Thin Ice"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 18:18


    As ALPA enters the jet age, technological improvements open the door to progress. But much like every major leap in technological progress before, the transition to jets isn't without problems or controversy.

    Chapter 22 (Part 2) - "American Airlines Goes It Alone"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2021 18:02


    The dissidents of American Airlines mount their challenge, and decide on their future, with or without ALPA.

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