Let's see.. ALPA Aeromedical has and continues to be a great help when it comes to the medical. Without them I'd have flown illegal flights if I'd relied on AOPA's medical department (AOPA is clueless about 121 ops). ALPA (and showing up at the Feds everyday at Airventure) got the medical back with minimal grounding time, my mistake in having seen a bad egg AME.

I enjoyed crewpass, made good use of the jumpseat, and wasn't video-recorded for more than a minute or two while in the cockpit as a tourist passed by filming their little one's first plane ride. As the world continues on the trend of criminalizing aircraft accidents and incidents, it's nice to know that not every move in the cockpit will be analyzed for violations and liability.

The occasional comment while sitting for hours at EWR on the taxiway, in technical violation of sterile cockpit, didn't result in getting fired, even with a check airman in the next seat. The FOQA data told the company it wasn't the sterile cockpit violations that were trying to kill crews, it was a feeder route into MSLW, since changed.

I suppose the labor rules, lots of safety stuff like not having to fly 24/7, getting per diem during training, having the hotel room paid for, getting hired in the first place, and a few other things can be traced to ALPA having a hand in them.

However, ALPA is currently not standing here fanning me with palm fronds, massaging my feet, feeding me grapes and bon-bons, while starting a new airline with no passengers so I can fly whenever I want, and I'm on a seemingly anonymous message board, so I should be complaining.