ALPA Works with Colgan Management to Enhance Safety

February 11, 2010 - The following statement was made today by Capt. Mark Segaloff, chairman of the Colgan pilots chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA).

“In the past year, the pilots and management of Colgan Air have begun working together to improve the safety of our operation.

“By mutual agreement, we are in the process of developing proven safety programs such as the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) and the Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) program. These programs are used throughout the industry to improve safety.

“Once those building blocks are in place, we will be able to move to the next level. One example is our very recent discussions with management regarding the creation of the Colgan Fatigue Review Board, which will identify opportunities to address pilot fatigue in its operations. Colgan has offered ALPA and the Colgan MEC leaders much greater input on this critical issue, and we are seeking to develop industry-leading practices in the area of fatigue management. This collaborative approach can only serve to enhance safety and should be a model for other company initiatives.

“While recent actions show progress, ALPA’s Colgan pilots recognize that these steps are only the beginning. We look forward to working together with Colgan management to combat pilot fatigue and to implement non-punitive safety-reporting programs, and on a broad range of other issues that can—and must—be addressed to ensure the highest possible safety standards for Colgan passengers and crews.”