ALPA's Communications Department provides information and support for news media inquiries. An ALPA communications representative can be reached in the Herndon, Va. office at (703) 481-4440.

Release #01.127
December 4, 2001

WASHINGTON, D.C.---The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Art LaFlamme as its air safety and legislative coordinator for Canadian operations, effective January 1.

LaFlamme comes to ALPA from Transport Canada, where for the past three years he served as the director general of civil aviation, a position similar to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s administrator. Before joining Transport Canada in 1989, LaFlamme served for five years as the Canadian Aviation Safety Board’s chief of investigation. In his new role with ALPA, LaFlamme will interface directly with Transport Canada, Nav Canada, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Labour Canada and other government departments and agencies to advocate the interests of professional airline pilots.

LaFlamme has 35 years of experience in Canadian aviation as a military pilot, aircraft accident investigator, manager, and executive. He holds a bachelor of science degree (with honors) in computer science from the University of Ottawa, and a current airline transport pilot license.

ALPA’s president, Capt Duane Woerth, said, "I’m extremely pleased to have Art LaFlamme working on our Canadian safety, security, and legislative issues. His keen insight from prior positions with the Canadian government will reap huge benefits for our Canadian members. I look forward to Art’s helping ALPA to advise members of the Canadian Parliament on legislative issues, and working to ensure the highest degree of pilots’ health, welfare, and working conditions in areas affected by Canada law."

LaFlamme will be based in the Association’s Ottawa offices, where he will join Jim Stewart, ALPA’s air safety coordinator. Also moving from Toronto to Ottawa is the Association’s Canada Board, the Canadian pilots’ chief vehicle of advocacy with the Canadian government and in other international arenas.

"I am very pleased to be joining ALPA," LaFlamme said. "I sincerely hope my extensive background on Canadian aviation security, safety and legislative issues will help to advance the goals of the Association’s membership. I look forward to my role as ALPA’s liaison with the Canadian government and aviation industry."

ALPA, the world’s oldest and largest professional organization of airline pilots, represents 66,000 airline pilots at 47 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Its web site is cf.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contacts: John Mazor, Ron Lovas (703) 481-4440