Release #12.03
February 1, 2012

Pilot and Air Traffic Controller Partnership Enhances Air Safety
ALPA Congratulates NATCA on Silver Anniversary

WASHINGTON – Airline pilots and air traffic controllers have worked for decades in powerful partnership to advance safety in air transportation, and so are uniquely positioned and fully engaged to help North America’s airline industry safely and efficiently meet future demand, said Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), following remarks before the National Air Traffic Controllers Association’s annual safety conference, held this week in Atlanta, Ga.

“This nation’s air traffic controllers move more than 50,000 flights each day and more than 770 million passengers each year. As dedicated professionals, the more than 15,000 members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association have made an enormous contribution to our industry’s remarkable safety record,” Capt. Moak said. “I congratulate every NATCA member on their organization’s silver anniversary, and I commend those air traffic controllers who are receiving this year’s Archie League Awards for safety.”

Capt. Moak underscored the strong working relationship and shared commitment to professionalism between pilots and air traffic controllers as the critical driver behind a broad range of safety initiatives, including nonpunitive safety reporting programs that have allowed the industry to identify and address safety risks before incidents ever occur. He also made clear that pilots and controllers have an essential role in any successful effort to modernize the national airspace system through NextGen and in positioning North America to compete in the global marketplace.

“ALPA is proud of our long heritage of collaborating with air traffic controllers and other airline employees, as well as airline management and regulators, in what must be an industry-wide commitment to ensuring that air transportation in North America is the safest in the world,” concluded Capt. Moak. “We look forward to working together in the future to seize every opportunity to enhance safety for our passengers, cargo shippers, and crews.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 53,000 pilots at 37 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

###

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