Release #08.036
July 24, 2008

Pilots Share Aviation Security Successes with Congress
ALPA President highlights CrewPASS, a new pilot screening procedure

WASHINGTON – Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), told members of the U.S. House of Representative’s Subcommittee on Aviation today about the many initiatives pilots have helped implement over the years to make air travel more secure for the traveling public.

“In a real sense, pilots are security in the air,” said Capt. Prater. “Flight crewmembers are often the last line of defense during a hijacking attempt. As such, we have a vested interest in advocating for the implementation of better procedures, training, and technologies that let us stay one step ahead of those who intend to do harm.”

ALPA touted recent implementation success stories including CrewPASS, an enhanced security screening portal for pilots, and the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, which adds a significant layer of protection to the nation’s commercial aviation system.

“CrewPASS reduces passengers’ wait time in long, already jam-packed security screening lines,” said Capt. Prater. “As of today, ALPA has tallied that over 3,000 pilots have used CrewPASS instead, enabling the TSA officers to focus on catching the bad guy, not your trusted pilot in command.”

In his testimony, Capt. Prater also called on congress to review and improve the FFDO program, consider allocating funding for the installation of secondary barriers, and improve overall security in cargo operations.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing 55,000 cockpit crewmembers at 40 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit www.alpa.org for more information.

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ALPA CONTACTS: Pete Janhunen, Linda Shotwell, Molly Martin (703) 481-4440, media@alpa.org