Culture is built in cockpits, not in decks.
Forty-two years flying the line teaches you something no MBA covers. When the work requires judgment — in a negotiation, at ICAO, under real time pressure — you want someone who has been there.
Read our thinkingLeadership means being the one people call when it’s complicated.
Ron led IFALPA from 2016 to 2019, representing 100,000 pilots across 100 countries. That role doesn’t go to the highest bidder. It goes to the person the industry trusts.
See our approach to integrityReal dedication outlasts the contract.
A paid engagement is the starting line, not the whole race. We stay with the work until the outcome lands — because that is how the industry we care about actually improves.
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Experienced
An airline pilot for over 42 years and a well-known industry veteran, Captain Abel comes to the table with a broad and accomplished decades-long background in leadership roles at IFALPA and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA).

Leadership
Captain Abel was IFALPA’s President from October 2016 to May 2019. He is a recognized leader with a strong reputation for delivering innovative solutions based on honesty and integrity, who believes in turning ideas into reality. Captain Abel was also President and CEO of the InterPilot Aviation Safety Foundation in Montreal and is currently a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Dedication
Ron Abel was a Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Interpilot Aviation Safety Foundation (IPASF) from December 2018 until his retirement in June of 2023. The Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s aim is to connect, influence, and lead international civil aviation safety, security, and environmental sustainability efforts through education and awareness.
Published work

Building a Bridge
"We value people whose lives balance work and non-work activities because we believe they are both more interesting colleagues and are able to make better contributions."
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Experience Teaches
"There’s simply no substitute for experience—it allows pilots to build the critical skills they need to ensure safety!"



