30th October 2009 – Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement today.

“The Flight 188 incident is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. ALPA is bound by its status as a party to decline any public comment while the investigation is under way.

“The goal of any incident or accident investigation must be to do everything possible to prevent such an occurrence from happening again. A thorough investigation process and accurate safety information are essential.

“Recent events have caused ALPA pilots grave concern about the integrity of safety reporting programs—such as the FAA’s Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP)—that have become a cornerstone of safety in the U.S. airline industry.

“The release of information, even factually accurate information provided through safety reporting programs, before the investigatory process is permitted to work not only sets the stage for sensationalism and distracts from the investigation, it also undermines ASAP and other voluntary reporting programs that are proven to make the air transportation system even safer.

“ALPA supports the highest standards of professional behavior for airline pilots, but at the same time we expect aviation safety professionals throughout government and industry to adhere to similarly high standards in ensuring that all facts surrounding incidents and accidents are allowed to be brought to light before conclusions are drawn.

“I sent letters to Federal Aviation Administrator Randolph Babbitt and NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman underscoring ALPA’s grave concern about the integrity of this information and the recent departure from an established investigation process. I have already met with members of the U.S. Senate, and ALPA staff have met with members of the U.S. House where I will go next, to make clear the vital role these safety reporting programs play in safeguarding passengers, crews, and cargo, and how a rush to judgment, before all the facts are in and the investigation is complete, fails to advance safety.

“ALPA stands ready as fellow safety professionals to participate in all efforts to improve aviation safety through complete investigation of incidents and accidents and protection of vital aviation safety programs.”

Read Capt. Prater’s letter to Federal Aviation Administrator Randolph Babbitt
Read Capt. Prater’s letter to NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman
Read NTSB Response