Reiterates Call For Secondary Barriers On September 11 Anniversary

The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l held its 69th Annual Air Safety Forum and took the opportunity to honor two pilots with its Superior Aviating Award for overcoming significant operational challenges during in-flight emergencies. The Association also used the anniversary of the attacks on September 11 to restate its call to airlines to implement secondary flight deck security barriers.

The pilots received the awards for leading by example, displaying exemplary determination and courage in putting their piloting skills, training, and experience into practice during extraordinary and unexpected events to transport their passengers and cargo to safety.

Capt. Jason Ambrosi, President of ALPA said, “These flight crews combined their expertise and decision-making to ensure a safe outcome with no loss of life. Without two pilots, the results may have been very different. Therefore, ALPA will always promote the need for at least two pilots on the flight deck at all times on every airline flight—this is non-negotiable.”

The Air Safety Forum coincided with the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and Capt. Ambrosi remarked, “The anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks is a powerful reminder of the importance of securing the flight deck to prevent our aircraft from being turned into weapons of war.

“With the help of our partners on Capitol Hill and our labor allies, we succeeded in urging Congress to require secondary barriers on all new commercial airline passenger aircraft, but after two years to comply, the airlines lobbied to delay the implementation deadline.

“We urge airlines to utilize these life-securing devices as soon as possible and end these needless delays. The barriers are already being installed on aircraft, so the fact that we’re still debating whether to actually use them more than two decades after the terrorist attacks is inexcusable.”

FMI:  www.alpa.org/