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Constitution of ICPA

The first stirrings of a pilots union began in the United States of America in July 1919 when the air mail pilots refused to fly in heavy fog when ordered to do so by non-pilot ground personnel. Pilots did not have the authority to make basic go, no-go decisions. Those choices were the purview of non-flying clerks who decided if the weather was or aircraft was good enough for the pilots to fly.

In those days, pilots were their own worst enemy. It was a matter of bragging right if you braved the weather when another, lesser, pilot would not.This was known as overflying, and pilots got so wrapped up in proving their prowess that  good sense was left behind. Alas, they began to hit the ground at an alarming rate.  In the two weeks preceding  the strike there were 15 crashes, with two dead. Something had to be done. In a secret meeting,the pilots decided that if one refused to fly, then all would refuse.Thus began the tradition that no pilot would take an aircraft or flight that another pilot refused. The Air Mail strike of 1919 was led by Capt. Hamilton Lee.