Release #08.027
June 4, 2008

ALPA Names Capt. Rory Kay to Lead its Aviation Safety Work

WASHINGTON – The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) has named Capt. Rory Kay (United) its Executive Air Safety Chairman. Capt. Kay is charged with continuing to advance the Association’s long history of enhancing aviation safety and to lead the hundreds of pilot representatives who take part in the union’s safety work.

“Capt. Kay’s commitment to aviation safety spans his entire career,” said Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president. “From facing the intense challenge of working the United Airlines Flight 93 crash site in the first days following 9/11 to planning ALPA’s Annual Air Safety and Security Week, Capt. Kay embodies the professionalism and passion that has helped to create the airline industry’s outstanding safety record.”

Appointed by Capt. Prater, Capt. Kay was confirmed as Executive Air Safety Chairman by ALPA’s Executive Board. Capt. Scott Schleiffer (Atlas Air Cargo) continues to serve ALPA as the Executive Air Safety Vice-Chairman. Capts. Kay and Schleiffer will provide vision and leadership for ALPA’s Air Safety Committee.

More than 75 years ago, ALPA was founded with the motto of “Schedule with Safety.” Building on decades of progress in protecting airline passengers, crews, and cargo, Capt. Kay today inherits an ALPA Air Safety Committee comprised of more than 600 pilot representatives from 40 airlines in the United States and Canada. The Committee members identify potential risks and develop solutions for issues affecting airports, aircraft, pilots, and the airspace system. Capt. Kay’s purview will include overseeing the Committee’s work to address line pilots’ most pressing safety concerns, such as preventing airline accidents, relieving airspace congestion, detecting and suppressing onboard fires, and reducing runway incursions.

“I deeply appreciate the tireless efforts of Capt. Terry McVenes and Capt. Scott Schleiffer to build on ALPA’s safety tradition and move its work to the next level during their tenure leading ALPA’s Air Safety Committee,” said Capt. Kay. “I look forward to gaining the benefit of Capt. Schleiffer’s experience and to working with my Committee colleagues to continue to set the pace for progress in aviation safety.”

Currently a full-time line pilot, Capt. Kay flies and holds a line check airman position for B-757s and B-767s throughout the United States, Europe, and South America. He has served his fellow pilots within the local United Airlines pilot group and national ALPA safety structure since 1989, and has held numerous leadership positions. Capt. Kay has a diverse aviation background. Before joining United, Capt. Kay flew in Africa as a bush pilot and later flew for a major U.S. cargo airline. He also spent a number of years as a training pilot for a major aircraft manufacturer. Capt. Kay is originally from Guernsey, Channel Islands.

Capt. Schleiffer has been with Atlas Air Cargo for 12 years and currently flies as a B-747 captain and line check airman. Before joining Atlas, Capt. Schleiffer had a full career with the U.S. Coast Guard where he flew C-130 search-and-rescue airplanes.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union representing 55,000 pilots at 40 airlines in the United States and Canada.

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Contacts: Linda Shotwell, Molly Martin, 703/481-4440 or media@alpa.org