Who Are the Pilots Behind ALPAWatch?

Kevin Jones DTW757FO started it with the idea of an Ethics Pledge for the Leadership  and the rest followed.  Kevin has a background in business, an intense sense of fairness and a dedicated desire to help repair the damage that has been done to our careers.

Later Tyler Brisbon DTW320FO (on Medical Disability) became a permanent participant who is taking an active role in helping your career.  He is also passionate about making NWA ALPA function as it should, and once did.

We are looking for up to 3 more permanent members and we want a mix of FNWA and Delta pilots. We currently have some candidates but are looking for more.

Since the beginning of this effort, many other pilots have volunteered to help from time to time.  The names are always changing. They come and go as they balance the demands of job, family, life's demands and their desire to improve the careers of their fellow pilots. New volunteers contact us almost every week. We are steadily finding jobs for those people. One of the most demanding jobs we always have trouble filling is having an ALPAWatch representative present at all LEC and MEC meetings. Few can find the time to make such a commitment. Almost everyone can help with another important task, promoting ALPAWatch to other pilots. Promoting ALPAWatch means telling them a little about it, like someone did for you, and then asking them to check it out by visiting this website and subscribing to the ALPAWatch Newsletter. Word-of-mouth is still our best promotional tool.

So, it isn't a fixed group.  Any and all are welcome. We need the help on all levels.  Those that work for ALPAWatch on the deepest level must agree to put your seniority, position, prior affiliations, and personal agendas aside.  Your actions must result in positive changes and conditions that are fair and equal to all DAL pilots.  You can have no ambitions for ALPA elected office or company management.

In the beginning, we were reluctant to mention any names associated with ALPAWatch. We were reluctant for three reasons:

1. We were fearful of retribution from the union. It seemed reasonable to assume that criticizing the very organization that you are depending on to protect you, could be risky. Today, we realize that is not a threat and never was. All the current MEC members have expressed support for what ALPAWatch is doing. Some may not enjoy having an organization "looking over their shoulder," (understandable) but they support its purpose.

2. We want to lead by example. We thought the union had become to dominated by personalities over objectives and standards. We wanted to let our actions, stated objectives, principles and standards speak for us. We still believe ALPAWatch is better defined by its actions and what it stands for rather than the personalities behind it. We work hard to conduct ourselves accordingly.

3. We seek no credit for ourselves or ALPAWatch. ALPAWatch can do nothing to directly improve the contract and your career. The union must do that. The changes that will make your career better will come from the actions taken by your Union Leadership. They have the big job. Therefore they deserve the credit for any improvements. There are many talented pilots doing tireless union work on behalf of the pilot group. If you want to give credit to someone, thank the pilots that make the union work. And if you are one of those pilots, give yourself a pat on the back as well. ALPAWatch thanks you. We realize that without your work, there is no opportunity for improvement.

So why the change in policy about naming names now?

Short answer, not doing so was holding us back. pilots (particularly NWA) just don't trust the message unless they know something about the messenger. Given the history of NWA, its clicks, splinter groups, self serving agenda groups and propensity to prey on one another, it is not surprising that most pilots were suspicious of ALPAWatch. That suspicion was holding back progress. And holding back progress is costing us money.

We are exactly what we say we are. The pilot's advocate. An altruistic group that is dedicated to improving the function of our union and in doing so improve the careers of every DAL pilot, as equally and fairly as possible.

If you still have concerns, read some of the materials on this website. Read some past issues of the ALPAWatch Newsletter. If you have any questions or lingering doubts we are happy to answer them by email, on the phone or in person. Just send a note to alpawatch@comcast.net. Someone will get back to you as soon as altitude and airspeed permit.

Who is paying for all this?

Kevin has paid for almost all of it. He felt strongly about the need for an independent over site organization, so he paid for it. To get started, he did receive some donated software and computer server time. Those donations came from friends of Kevin's (outside the industry) that are sympathetic to what has happened to the airline pilot profession. He asked them for help and they came through.

Now other volunteers are starting to share some costs. Printing and some telephone costs so far. ALPAWatch currently has no budget or income, so the pilots that volunteer give not only their time but also absorb the costs as well.

We have been offered money several times by several pilots. We have not accepted any money because:

1. No one asked us to do this. Our idea, our expense.

2. Pilots already pay dues. They shouldn't have to pay anything extra to get the career they deserve.

3. We didn't feel it was right to take a dime until and unless ALPAWatch could show some solid progress; some tangible results that directly help improve the bad situation we are in today. The pilots that have offered us financial support believe we already have accomplish a great deal and want to help. While we appreciate their offers, we still believe we need to do more before any financial support is warranted.

4. In late 2007 we started making plans to take some contributions. But when a Delta merger became likely, we decided to wait. If donations are to be accepted, we would like those donations to come somewhat equally from the all Delta pilots, not just FNWA pilots. To do that we need to gain acceptance from the DAL pilots first. That process is underway.

If we do accept some contributions in the future, those contributions will have to come with no strings attached. We would not accept any single, large contribution. Also, the donors will have to agree to have their names and the amount of their contributions published on this website. To retain our independence and integrity, we will keep everything out in the open.