Heading To Job In Private Sector

National Transportation Safety Board Member Steven R. Chealander has announced his resignation from the Board, effective February 28. Until Wednesday, Chealander was the on-scene spokesman for the NTSB at the site of the downing of Continental Connection Flight 3407 near Buffalo, NY.

In a statement released Friday, the NTSB said Chealander accepted a position in Miami, FL with Airbus Americas as Vice President, Technical Training.

Chealander has been a Board Member since January 3, 2007. In addition to serving as Board spokesman on the Fligjht 3407 accident, during his tenure at the Board Chealander was the Board Member on scene for two other major transportation accident investigations -- a mid-air collision between two news helicopters in Phoenix, AZ in 2007, and the crash of a corporate aircraft in Owatonna, MN in 2008.

Member Chealander testified before the Texas State Senate in April 2007 on sobriety checkpoints, and before the Tennessee House of Representatives in October of that year on drunk driving laws.  In April 2008, he testified before a subcommittee of the United States Senate Commerce Committee on the NTSB's most wanted aviation safety issues.

Before coming to the Board, Member Chealander was a fighter jet pilot for the United States Air Force, at which time he was a member of the US Air Force Thunderbirds, and was a captain for American Airlines.

In his letter to President Barack Obama Thursday, Chealander said, "I wish you and your administration well as you lead America through the challenges facing this great Nation of ours... It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life to work with the professional career employees of the NTSB, not to mention the four other dedicated Presidential appointees that constitute the Board."

According to a bio on the NTSB web site, Chealander was nominated by President Bush in December 2007 to continue serving on the board. He told the Associated Press this week his confirmation hearing was delayed throughout Bush's last year in office, and lapsed when the Obama Administration took over on January 20.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov