Release #10.035
August 31, 2010

FedEx Express Captain to Receive ALPA’s Top Security Honor
Las Vegas Pilot Recognized as Leader in Aviation Security

WASHINGTON—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), will recognize FedEx Express Capt. Bill McReynolds with its 2009 Aviation Security Award for his numerous contributions to aviation security. The award, which is the Association’s highest security honor, will be presented to Capt. McReynolds on August 31 at ALPA’s 56th Air Safety Forum Awards Dinner.

A FedEx pilot since 1996, the Las Vegas resident chairs the Security Committee for the ALPA FDX Master Executive Council (MEC) and until recently was vice-chair of the ALPA National Security Committee (NSC). After 9/11, he served as ALPA’s representative to the Aviation Security Advisory Committee’s (ASAC) Air Cargo Security Working Group, which recommended several significant all-cargo carrier security programs that were ultimately adopted by the federal government. He contributed significantly to the development of the All-Cargo Common Strategy by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Additionally, he was a member of the TSA’s Freight Assessment System working groups and continues to assist ALPA’s leaders in developing the Association’s strategic air cargo security priorities and recommendations.

Best known for his work with air cargo security issues, Capt. McReynolds currently chairs the ALPA President’s Committee for Cargo (PCFC) and serves as the director of cargo for ALPA’s NSC. As PCFC chairman, Capt. McReynolds leads a group of pilot security representatives who monitor security, safety, and labor issues that are unique to or prevalent in the all-cargo arena to make sure that they are properly addressed as they pertain to all-cargo operations.

“Capt. McReynolds has aggressively pursued ‘One Level of Safety and Security’ for both air freight and passenger operations,” said ALPA president Capt. John Prater. “He and the PCFC have actively promoted the ‘User Group’ meeting approach for several cargo ramp locations to address security concerns, improve efficiencies, and open lines of communications among stakeholders. He has also helped lead the ALPA charge for better pilot screening protocols and the installation of flight deck secondary barriers, and is a staunch advocate for the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program.”

In his various capacities, Capt. McReynolds has worked extensively in the international arena with the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the International Air Transport Association. This involvement has been critical, as the largest growth sector for all-cargo operations has been in the international arena.

“Simply put, Capt. McReynolds is a results-oriented, no-nonsense professional who gets things accomplished. He is a true ALPA asset,” added Prater, who noted that Capt. McReynolds received an ALPA Presidential Citation for his air transportation security work at last year’s Forum.

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

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