Release #09.037
July 30, 2009

ALPA Announces 2009 55th Air Safety Forum

WASHINGTON, DC—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) takes on emerging aviation safety challenges and explores innovative solutions from across the industry during its 55th ALPA Air Safety Forum, to be held August 5-6 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The 2009 Air Safety Forum, themed “It Takes a Pilot,” focuses on the best practices that promise to form the foundation for making the already safe airline industry even safer. Aviation experts from across the globe will gather to discuss the newest data and latest developments in aviation safety.

The two-day Forum will culminate with ALPA’s 2009 Air Safety Awards Banquet, which recognizes the individuals and flight crews who have achieved excellence in the piloting profession.

Wednesday, August 5

• ALPA Awards Luncheon 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  Presentations include Airport of the Year, ALPA’s Presidential Citations, and Outstanding Airport Liaison Representative.

Air Safety Forum Opening Ceremony begins at 1:00 p.m. eastern time

• Welcoming remarks from Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president.
• FAA Administrator J. Randolph Babbitt presents the keynote address.
• Session: “Feeling Trapped by Cockpit Automation?”—Explores the pros and cons of cockpit automation and examines strategies for training tomorrow’s pilots.
• Session: “CrewPASS”—How screening already highly vetted airline pilots more efficiently can make airline security more effective.

Thursday, August 6

The Forum opens at 8:00 a.m. eastern time.

• Session: “Wildlife Hazard Mitigation”—Technology and trends to help safeguard aircraft against birds and other wildlife hazards.
• Session: “Legally Green”—What the mandates to reduce emissions mean and how the airline industry is preparing to meet them.
• Session: “Next Gen—Why isn’t it Now Gen?”—The need to modernize our country’s air traffic control system and national airspace could not be more urgent.
• Session: “Pilots Engaged”—How ALPA pilots are engaged and committed to enacting progressive, safety-based policy.
• Address by Martin Eley, Transport Canada director general of civil aviation
• ALPA’s 2009 Annual Air Safety Awards Banquet.
  Presentations include ALPA Air Safety Award, Aviation Security Award, Pilot Assistance Award, the Aviation Security Award for Valour, the Superior Airmanship Award, and the Distinguished Crew Safety Award to the crew of US Airways Flight 1549.

All events will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, NW, Washington, D.C. A full agenda is available at www.alpa.org under “Events.”

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