ALPA Welcomes Congressional Action on Airline Safety and Pilot Training

WASHINGTON – Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement regarding today’s announcement of the “Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009” by U.S. Representatives James Oberstar (D-Minn.), Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), John Mica (R-Fla.), and Thomas Petri (R-Wisc.).

“The pilots of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, commend U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Oberstar, Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Costello, and Ranking Members Mica and Petri for their staunch support of enhancing aviation safety.

“Today’s announcement of the ‘Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009’ is the latest demonstration of a long-held commitment by these leaders to ensuring that the airline industry becomes ever safer.

“The bill promises to enhance aviation safety for passengers, crews, and cargo by codifying airline industry best practices and making them applicable across the board. ALPA looks forward to continuing to work together with Congress—and all airline industry stakeholders—in a relentless pursuit of safety.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union, representing nearly 54,000 pilots at 36 airlines in the United States and Canada.

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Contact: Linda Shotwell, 703/481-4440 or media@alpa.org