ALPA Statement on ICAO Ambassador Nomination

WASHINGTON—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), issued the following statement after Jeffrey Anderson was nominated to serve as ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO):

“The United States is the world’s leader in aviation safety, and the ICAO Ambassador is critical to America maintaining its global leadership role. Unfortunately, the Administration’s nominee is unqualified to fulfill this mission.

“Unlike the last Senate confirmed ICAO Ambassador, Capt. Sully Sullenberger, Mr. Anderson fails the basic experience and qualifications test and could set back America’s aviation leadership for years to come. In fact, it appears that Mr. Anderson’s only real qualification for the post is his support of a position—raising the mandatory pilot retirement age—that would leave the United States as an outlier in the global aviation space and create chaos on pilot labor, and international and domestic flight operations.

“Mr. Anderson would be advocating on the world stage based on his personal interests, contrary to policy that was settled in last year’s FAA Reauthorization. We urge the United States Senate to reject this nominee.”

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org