Release #10.032
August 31, 2010

Jazz Air Crew to Receive ALPA’s Superior Airmanship Award
British Columbia Pilots Recognized for Superb Handling of In-Flight Emergency

WASHINGTON—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), will recognize Jazz Air Capt. Paul A. Ivey of Langley, British Columbia, and First Officer Edward Paterson of Surrey, British Columbia, with the ALPA Superior Airmanship Award for their outstanding performance in landing an aircraft with a severely damaged windscreen and a corresponding electrical failure and fire.

“The actions of these Jazz Air pilots underscore the importance of fully understanding cockpit systems and their interaction with the aircraft,” said Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president. “The flight crew reacted quickly and worked together to resolve a potentially disastrous situation and deliver their passengers safely.” The award will be presented on August 31 at ALPA’s 56th Air Safety Week Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

On Oct. 20, 2009, Capt. Ivey and F/O Paterson were the cockpit crew aboard Jazz Air Flight 8216, a Bombardier DHC-8 (Dash 8) traveling from Cranbrook, B.C., to Vancouver, B.C. As the flight descended through 14,000 feet on the final leg of the journey, the pilots heard a loud popping sound and saw a flame flash out from the electrical connection for the windshield heat, beside the captain’s front windshield.

The pilots quickly cut off power to the windshield heat and donned their smoke masks and goggles. After they declared an emergency to Air Traffic Control and received clearance to descend further, the windshield began to crack. The pilots immediately slowed the airplane to reduce air pressure on the windshield and advised Air Traffic Control of this new problem. Airplanes were taking off and landing to the east at Vancouver, but the pilots requested and received permission to land to the west to reduce their time in the air.

Capt. Ivey’s windshield cracked so severely that he transferred control of the airplane to F/O Paterson, who continued the descent and safely landed the aircraft. After airport firefighting and rescue personnel inspected the plane’s exterior, the pilots taxied to the gate, where the passengers disembarked unharmed.

“Capt. Ivey and F/O Paterson skillfully dealt with an in-flight emergency for which pilots are not normally trained and which, if the windshield had failed completely in flight, could have had very serious consequences,” said Capt. Brian Shury, chairman of the Jazz Air MEC. “Their actions serve as a shining example of the professionalism of ALPA members.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union, representing nearly 53,000 pilots at 38 airlines in the United States and Canada.

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CONTACT: ALPA Communications, 703/481-4440 or media@alpa.org