ALPA’s Premier Aviation Safety Conference Honors Pilots, Highlights Issues Facing Industry

CHICAGO, Ill.—Today at the Association’s 69th Annual Air Safety Forum, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) honored the pilots of two flights who overcame significant operational challenges during in-flight emergencies, led by example, and exemplified determination and courage. ALPA’s Superior Aviating Award recognizes pilots who put their piloting skills, training, and experience into practice during extraordinary and unexpected events to transport their passengers and cargo safely.

 “These flight crews combined their expertise and decision-making to ensure a safe outcome with no loss of life. Without two pilots, the results may have been very different. Therefore, ALPA will always promote the need for at least two pilots on the flight deck at all times on every airline flight—this is non-negotiable,” remarked Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA president.

ALPA’s Air Safety Forum coincided with the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Recently, ALPA called on airlines to end decades of delay and finally implement secondary barriers, which act as key flight deck security protections. Earlier this month, Southwest Airlines became the first major air carrier to begin deploying secondary flight deck barriers following the 2018 Congressional mandate.

“The anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks is a powerful reminder of the importance of securing the flight deck to prevent our aircraft from being turned into weapons of war. With the help of our partners on Capitol Hill and our labor allies, we succeeded in urging Congress to require secondary barriers on all new commercial airline passenger aircraft, but after two years to comply, the airlines lobbied to delay the implementation deadline. We urge airlines to utilize these life-securing devices as soon as possible and end these needless delays. The barriers are already being installed on aircraft, so the fact that we’re still debating whether to actually use them more than two decades after the terrorist attacks is inexcusable,” said Ambrosi.

Read more about these events and other recipients of awards at this year’s Air Safety Forum.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 43 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.

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