Flying the Line

By Air Line Pilots Association, International

What's Flying the Line about?

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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Flying the Line episodes:

05.08.2024
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.
04.24.2024
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.
04.10.2024
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.
03.27.2024
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.
03.13.2024
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.
02.28.2024
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.
02.14.2024
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.
02.01.2024
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.
01.17.2024
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.
01.05.2024
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.
12.19.2023
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.
12.06.2023
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.
11.22.2023
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.
11.10.2023
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.
10.25.2023
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.
10.11.2023
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.
09.13.2023
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.
08.30.2023
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.
08.16.2023
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.
08.04.2023
Episode 21 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 3
Hank Duffy inherits the debacle at Continental.
07.19.2023
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.
07.06.2023
Episode 19 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 1
Frank Lorenzo takes over Continental Airlines.
06.23.2023
Episode 18 - Who Are These Guys?—Frank Lorenzo and His Kind, Part 2
Frank Lorenzo enters the industry and advances his airline ambitions.
05.26.2023
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.
05.01.2023
Episode 16 - Duffy Takes Charge–A Troubled Transition, Part 2
We explore the Duffy administration's inauspicious start and the emergence of Frank Lorenzo.
04.12.2023
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.
03.29.2023
Episode 14 - Hank Duffy’s Destiny—The Making of an ALPA President, Part 2
We explore the experiences that led Hank Duffy to pursue the ALPA presidency.
03.15.2023
Episode 13 - Hank Duffy’s Destiny—The Making of an ALPA President, Part 1
In this episode we follow Hank Duffy's path to Delta Air Lines.
03.03.2023
Episode 12 - The End of the O’Donnell Era—The Election of 1982, Part 2
We learn more about the ALPA presidential election of 1982 and how labor protection provisions, or LPPs, played a role.
02.15.2023
Episode 11 - The End of the O’Donnell Era—The Election of 1982, Part 1
We review the events and decisions leading up to the 1982 ALPA presidential election.
02.02.2023
Episode 10 - O’Donnell’s Dilemmas—The PATCO Strike, Braniff, and Furloughs, Part 2
This episode covers the PATCO strike and its impact on ALPA, the J.J. O’Donnell administration, and airline labor.
01.18.2023
Episode 9 - O’Donnell’s Dilemmas—The PATCO Strike, Braniff, and Furloughs, Part 1
We examine the aftermath of the Braniff debacle.
01.04.2023
Episode 8 - The Braniff Debacle—Deregulation Hits Home, Part 2
We look at how Braniff pilots faced a crisis that no other U.S. pilot group had ever confronted.
12.22.2022
Episode 7 - The Braniff Debacle—Deregulation Hits Home, Part 1
We examine the reasons behind Braniff’s demise.
12.08.2022
Episode 6 - Dodging Bullets—Crew Complement, Politics, and the Wien Strike, Part 2
We explore the history of the crew compliment issue.
11.23.2022
Episode 5 - Dodging Bullets—Crew Complement, Politics and the Wien Strike, Part 1
We examine the administrative change from regional to executive vice president and how that changed the political landscape of the Air Line Pilots Association.
11.02.2022
Episode 4 - The Trials of J.J. O’Donnell - Part 2
We examine the 1981 suspension of service, codenamed “Operation USA.”
10.05.2022
Episode 3 - The Trials of J.J. O’Donnell - Part 1
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.
09.21.2022
Episode 2 - The Legacy of Four Golden Decades
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.
08.31.2022
Episode 1 - The World of the Airline Pilot
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...
12.10.2021
Chapter 25 - The Rise of J.J. O’Donnell
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.
12.10.2021
Chapter 24 (Part 2) - ”Skyjacking”
A surge of skyjackings tears through the industry. Armed with experience, ALPA mobilizes to halt the advancing threat despite significant pushback.
12.10.2021
Chapter 24 (Part 1) - ”Skyjacking”
The pilots of Eastern Airlines strike and ALPA is forced to walk a fine line with management.
12.10.2021
Chapter 23 (Part 2) - ”Jets and Thin Ice”
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.
08.16.2021
Chapter 23 (Part 1) - "Jets and Thin Ice"
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.
08.09.2021
Chapter 22 (Part 2) - "American Airlines Goes It Alone"
The dissidents of American Airlines mount their challenge, and decide on their future, with or without ALPA.
08.09.2021
Chapter 22 (Part 1) - "American Airlines Goes It Alone"
The pilots of American Airlines decide to chart their own future after the issue of crew complement returns to the forefront, and dissident leaders seize their chance to break away.
07.15.2021
Chapter 21 - "The Origins of the American Airlines Split"
ALPA's during its early years was a remarkable story of unification across company lines. There were cracks lying under the surface, but unity kept any schisms at bay. But as time went by, the old spirit of shoulder-to-shoulder solidarity among...
05.17.2021
Chapter 20 (Part 2) - "Charley Ruby's Hour"
The unique experiences of Charles Ruby’s life and career made him an unlikely choice for the Association’s president. But his due to the circumstances surrounding the departures of his predecessors, and the place ALPA was in at the time of...
05.17.2021
Chapter 20 (Part 1) -"Charley Ruby's Hour"
The election of ALPA President Charles Ruby, a seemingly status quo leader, brings reform and new ideas to the Association – challenging what some members’ thoughts on what their union’s purpose should be.

What's Flying the Line about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Flying the Line episodes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Episode 6 - Dodging Bullets—Crew Complement, Politics, and the Wien Strike, Part 2

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

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

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

Episode 2 - The Legacy of Four Golden Decades

Episode 1 - The World of the Airline Pilot

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

Chapter 24 (Part 2) - ”Skyjacking”

Chapter 24 (Part 1) - ”Skyjacking”

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

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

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

Chapter 22 (Part 1) - "American Airlines Goes It Alone"

Chapter 21 - "The Origins of the American Airlines Split"

Chapter 20 (Part 2) - "Charley Ruby's Hour"

Chapter 20 (Part 1) -"Charley Ruby's Hour"