ALPA Response to NTSB Actions on Emery Accident

Washington // August 5, 2003, Tuesday 5:27 PM Eastern Time

The following statement was issued today in response to National Transportation Safety Board actions at its Sunshine Meeting regarding the Emery Flight 17 accident, which occurred on February 16, 2000 near Sacramento CA:

This investigation revealed significant safety issues in cargo airline operations, loading and maintenance practices, and FAA oversight. While ALPA appreciates the effort that the NTSB has devoted to this investigation, and we are pleased with the recommendations that the Board did make, we are disappointed that these recommendations did not go far enough in addressing deficiencies in corporate safety culture and FAA oversight. Absent a comprehensive set of NTSB recommendations to correct cargo airline safety deficiencies, we are concerned that the overall level of safety will not be improved. ALPA will nevertheless continue to work with our government and industry partners to see that these issues are addressed.

Since 1984, the NTSB has conducted at least 38 accident investigations involving cargo operators. Although these investigations have resulted in numerous recommendations to the FAA and to cargo operators, success in rectifying the safety deficiencies of the cargo airline industry has been limited. A recent UK Civil Aviation Authority study of worldwide fatal accidents concluded "cargo operations have a fatal accident risk at least four times that for passenger flights." Although ALPA included cargo operations in our "One Level of Safety" campaign of the mid-1990's, industry and government have been very slow in adopting this comprehensive philosophy. In order to increase the focus on cargo airline safety, ALPA has formed the President's Committee for Cargo to more clearly define the issues, and to highlight our concerns to the industry. We are encouraged by previous NTSB discussions about conducting a cargo airline safety forum to identify additional issues, and look forward to participating in this proactive approach.

ALPA, the world's oldest and largest pilot union, represents 66,000 airline pilots at 42 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA Web site at www.alpa.org.

Contact: John Mazor of the Air Line Pilots Association, +1-703-481-4440

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