Release #05.008
March 15, 2005

Pilots to Congress: "Give Us Security Information in Cockpit Now"

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Captain Terry McVenes, Air Safety Chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association, and First Officer Parry Winder testified on lasers as an aviation safety hazard before the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today. Winder, who was lased in the cockpit while approaching Salt Lake City, provided a first-hand account of his experience.

"While lasers are a serious issue, the public should recognize that flying remains extremely safe," McVenes testified. "We are very concerned about the potential risk lasers pose to the health of our pilots, but the public should understand that every commercial aircraft carries a professional two-pilot crew. It is highly unlikely that both pilots could be incapacitated simultaneously."

McVenes called on Congress and the federal agencies to take the following actions:

• ALPA calls on the federal government to improve information flow, both for reporting incidents and for informing pilots about major security concerns such as lasers while they are in the cockpit. 
• Government and industry must support efforts under way to help pilots respond in the event of an unauthorized laser illumination, including creating operational procedures, conducting simulator training, and adapting ground school materials. 
• Government and industry must accelerate research and development of technology that can protect airline crews from the risk of lasers. 
• While the federal government has publicly said that it knows of no credible evidence that terrorists have been involved in laser incidents, we must not assume that this will always be true. ALPA urges the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to continue monitoring for any indications of terrorist activities. 
• Law enforcement agencies must fully investigate and prosecute those who intentionally illuminate cockpits with lasers to the maximum extent of the law.

"Aviation security is about more than protecting pilots and planes, it is about protecting our nation," concluded McVenes. "By virtue of our passion and our professionalism, pilots have an unrivaled stake in aviation safety and security issues. We look forward to working together with the federal agencies and with Congress to address lasers and any other threats to passengers, crew and cargo."

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's largest pilot union, representing 64,000 pilots at 41 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contact: John Mazor or Linda Shotwell, 703-481-4440 or media@alpa.org.