A and C you may have a point about pilots not being 'political beasts'. This may apply in general but some are very astute politically. Typically those who rise to be DFO! Such an individual would be an asset to BALPA if, and only, if they were proven to be committed to the cause of the Union.
A 'hard headed business person' sounds like a plausible idea. But, might not such a person take BALPA for a ride? After all, what exactly did we all get from Chris Darke? Not much in my books but he must have done very well for himself. By pilots standards he had an excellent salary and the opportunity to make many influential contacts in high places.
Running a Trade Union must be a conflicting ethic with that of business. Are the Firemen run by a business person?
Ultimately, the BALPA General Secretary must be prepared to take pilots out on strike. This, in the final analysis, is our only reall bargaining stance.
In sum, I think the right individual could come from any background but he must be a trade unionist at heart.
Watching with interest, Caractacus.