Associated Motion Picture Pilots (AMPP) was a union of

aviator An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its Aircraft flight control system, directional flight controls. Some other aircrew, aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are al ...

s who worked as stunt pilots in the Hollywood film industry. The group, one of the first unions in film work, was organized by Pancho Barnes in 1931Kelly, 2008, p. 8 and formally established on January 4, 1932.Kelly, 2008, p. 46 It established "a virtual monopoly on motion picture flying".

Union formation

During the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

era, stunt pilots were self-employed. In 1924, three aviators formed "The Black Cats" union, later gaining ten more members to make "Thirteen Black Cats."Centennial of Flight
Hollywood Stunt Pilots.
Retrieved on November 28, 2009. The Black Cats were the first to set a standard for stunt flier wages. The Black Cats performed stunts live in front of crowds as well as for films. At the end of the 1920s, some of the fliers had died and others changed careers. In September 1930, Pancho Barnes met with several aviators and began to organize more pilots so that they could take more control of filming conditions and increase the safety of stunts in what was an extremely dangerous line of work. They also sought insurance for medical emergencies caused by flying accidents, and they wished to set a standard for payment, using the fee scale first established by the Black Cats. The AMPP pushed for a minimum standard of pay for pilots performing stunts in films. AMPP aviators were paid $350 per week of filming in addition to fees paid for more dangerous stunts.Kelly, 2008, p. 9 In 1938, the AMPP modified this to $50 per

eight-hour day The eight-hour day movement (also known as the 40-hour week movement or the short-time movement) was a social movement to regulate the length of a working day, preventing excesses and abuses. An eight-hour work day has its origins in the 16 ...

of straight flying and $100 per day of stunt flying.Vreeland, Frank. ''Foremost films of ...: a yearbook of the American screen'', p. 20. Pitman Pub. Corp., 1938.

Members

Some of the charter members were Frank Clarke, Al Wilson, and

Dick Grace Richard Virgil Grace (October 1, 1898 – June 25, 1965), known as Dick Grace, was an American stunt pilot who specialized in crashing planes for films. Films that he appeared in include ''Sky Bride'', ''The Lost Squadron'', '' Lilac Time'', and '' ...

Leo Nomis Leo or Léo may refer to: Acronyms * Law enforcement officer * Law enforcement organisation * ''Louisville Eccentric Observer'', a free weekly newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky * Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Arts an ...

was chosen the first president, but was dead a month later in a plane crash while filming aerial scenes for ''

Sky Bride ''Sky Bride'' (also known as ''Sky Brides'') is a 78-minute 1932 drama film, produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by Stephen Roberts. The film stars Richard Arlen, Jack Oakie and Virginia Bruce. ''Sky Bride'' depicts the life of barnsto ...

''. Nomis had been doubling for lead actor Jack Holt who was himself a stunt man but was not an aviator. Clarke picked up the presidency after the death of Nomis. By 1938, Grace was serving as president. The stunt pilot

Paul Mantz Albert Paul Mantz (August 2, 1903 – July 8, 1965) was a noted air racing pilot, movie stunt pilot and consultant from the late 1930s until his death in the mid-1960s. He gained fame on two stages: Hollywood and in air races. Early years Ma ...

had been asking for less money than AMPP standards and had been taking work from union pilots. When Mantz decided to join AMPP so that he could get more money, AMPP required of him more than the usual challenges. Mantz performed 46 outside loops in a row, setting a world record, and was allowed to join.

Films

Many of the pilots hired by

Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and richest people in th ...

to fly in his film '' Hell's Angels'' were later members of AAMP, and were well compensated.Kelly, 2008, p. 112 Aerial scenes in ''The Eagle and the Hawk'' were filmed in 1933 under AMPP auspices. ''

Parachute Jumper ''Parachute Jumper'' is a 1933 American pre-Code black-and-white comedy drama film directed by Alfred E. Green. Based on a story by Rian James titled "Some Call It Love", it stars Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Bette Davis and Frank McHugh. Plot Mar ...

'', also filmed in 1933, used AMPP fliers. ''Men With Wings'' in 1938 employed several AMPP pilots led by Mantz who not only flew stunts but served as director of aerial photography.Internet Movie Database
''Men with Wings'' (1938).
Retrieved on November 29, 2009.

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * Kelly, Shawna. (2008
''Aviators in Early Hollywood''
Arcadia Publishing. {{refend Trade unions established in 1932 Entertainment industry unions Labor relations in California Aviation trade unions Defunct trade unions in the United States Stunts 1932 establishments in California