Release #09.055
August 5, 2009

American Eagle Capt. Dana Archibald Receives ALPA’s Presidential Citation
Apex, N.C., Pilot Honored for Outstanding Work in Preventing Pilot Substance Abuse

WASHINGTON—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), will recognize American Eagle Airlines Capt. Dana Archibald with a 2008 Presidential Citation for his inspired activism on behalf of the Human Intervention Motivation Study (HIMS) occupational substance abuse treatment program. This award will be presented today at ALPA’s 55th Air Safety Forum in Washington, D.C.

As ALPA’s national chairman for the HIMS program, Capt. Archibald built the first user-supported program at ALPA for HIMS, which coordinates the identification, treatment, and return to the cockpit of impaired commercial aviators. In addition to being American Eagle’s HIMS chairman since 2002, he has worked on the Eagle pilot group’s Aeromedical, Flow-Through, and Retirement & Insurance Committees.

“Capt. Archibald has spearheaded ALPA’s outreach to cockpit crewmembers suffering from drug or alcohol dependency. It’s a difficult job that requires equal doses of tact, discretion, and compassion, and his combination of all these traits has helped preserve hundreds of careers while also furthering the cause of aviation safety,” said Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president.

Chairman of the FAA Advisory Board for HIMS, Capt. Archibald serves as both the ALPA HIMS liaison to the FAA and pilot HIMS liaison to the airline industry. As the Association’s ambassador for pilot substance abuse awareness and treatment, he is a gifted public speaker who has traveled to the Middle East, Australia, and around the world to share his knowledge and expertise with the international aviation community.

“Capt. Archibald has a unique ability and endless dedication to connecting with pilots at a time in their lives when they need help and sound guidance,” said Capt. Herb Mark, chairman of the American Eagle chapter at ALPA.

Archibald brings a thorough understanding and commitment to his work on the HIMS program, grounded through training regarding chemical dependency received from the Betty Ford Center, the Hazelton Foundation, and other nationally recognized treatment centers.

“Capt. Archibald has put countless hours into helping his fellow pilots conquer their addictions and build worldwide recognition of the benefits of HIMS and early intervention. He has touched the lives of literally hundreds of pilots, and for that, he has earned our respect and recognition,” concluded Capt. Prater.

Founded in 1931, ALPA nearly 54,000 pilots at 36 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit www.alpa.org for more information.

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