Airline Pilots Commend Appointment of Christopher Hart to NTSB Vice-Chairmanship

WASHINGTON – Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement in response to the Obama administration’s appointment of Christopher A. Hart as Vice-Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

“The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, hails the Obama administration’s appointment of Christopher A. Hart as vice-chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

“Mr. Hart’s long history of proactively enhancing aviation safety and preventing accidents through improved data sharing reflects a deep commitment to leveraging safety information that is shared by ALPA’s thousands of pilots. As a steering committee member of the Global Aviation Information Network, ALPA pilots witnessed first-hand Mr. Hart’s commitment to data-driven decisions based on safety information beyond what is found through accident or incident investigation.

“Hart’s proven leadership in identifying emerging aviation safety trends as the FAA assistant administrator for system safety and as a former member of the NTSB stand to benefit the traveling public and the entire airline industry.

“ALPA is eager to begin working with Vice-Chairman Hart in his new role to further our mutual goal of achieving the highest standards of aviation 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