Cool! Had no idea you ever checked message boards; now that you're here, what a great opportunity to set the record straight. SPA MEC, except for the FLL reps and our jumpseat chair, have for years chosen to completely ignore the existence of spiritpilotboard.net. Instead of recognizing it for what it was (a non-public forum for airing our dirty laundry, a good place to bounce viewpoints off of each other, a good source of info about various new hire concerns), our MEC saw it as a cancer and breeding ground for opposing views (ie 26%ers). Suddenly, after years of defiant denial, ALPA moves to shut it down without any mention or explanation, leaving the pilots that visited the board guessing and in further disconnect with the same union we pay to support. If you have any more information on the how and why, the pilot group would love to hear it.

I've got no beef with you personally; I enjoyed flying with you years ago and your sense of humor is second to none. I apologize if this comes across as a personal attack. It's not. But to most line pilots, you ARE a big presence at ALPA National and will always be tied in with what goes on in that arena as long as you participate in it. As well, you've always chosen spoken word over print- maybe you've got a good reason for it- but it often comes across as secretive and withholding; the entire MEC is that way and it leaves a bad taste in the pilot group's collective mouth.

If there's a good explanation, we'd love to hear it.