Release #09.045
August 5, 2009

Capt. Stephen Ormsbee Receives ALPA’s Presidential Citation
Norfolk, Va., Pilot Recognized for Bold Leadership in Enhancing Aviation Safety

WASHINGTON—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), will recognize Piedmont Airlines Capt. Stephen Ormsbee with its 2008 Presidential Citation for his outstanding efforts to advance aviation safety. The award will be presented today during ALPA’s Air Safety Week in Washington, D.C.

“Capt. Ormsbee’s relentless pursuit of safety as the regional segment of our industry first evolved set a foundation of safety that continues to benefit passengers and crews today,” said Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president. “I speak for all ALPA members in congratulating him on this well- deserved honor.”

Capt. Ormsbee became a member of ALPA in 1985. Almost immediately, he joined ALPA’s Regional Airline Short Haul Committee, which became the Regional Airline Committee in 1987, and enthusiastically took on the safety challenges he experienced flying as a line pilot in the regional segment of the U.S. airline industry. He also served as the Committee’s chairman for 12 years. Through the tireless dedication of Capt. Ormsbee and others, ALPA launched its groundbreaking “One Level of Safety” campaign to press for enhanced safety regulations for regional airlines.

In 1995, ALPA’s One Level of Safety campaign paid off with a watershed policy change for the regional segment of the airline industry. The FAA announced a new regulation mandating that commuter aircraft with 10–30 passenger seats were to be operated under the same, more stringent safety rules as those aircraft with more than 30 seats.

“For the first time in history, all airline passengers and crews benefited from the same safety regulations, regardless of the size of their aircraft,” continued Capt. Prater. “The One Level of Safety rule was a remarkable achievement for Capt. Ormsbee and all those who worked to put it in place.”

Capt. Ormsbee has worked on behalf of the Piedmont pilots for decades. He has served as the Piedmont pilot group’s chief accident investigator and is the group’s Central Air Safety chairman.

“It is an honor to fly alongside Capt. Ormsbee,” said Capt. Charles Martinak, chair of the Piedmont unit of ALPA. “On behalf of all of Capt. Ormsbee’s fellow pilots at Piedmont, I congratulate him on this award and thank him for his commitment to the safety of all pilots and passengers.”

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 or Rusty Ayers, 703/481-4440 or media@alpa.org