Capt. Wendy Morse, ALPA’s first vice president and national safety coordinator, addresses attendees of ALPA’s awards banquet.

ALPA’s 68th Air Safety Forum took place on September 9–12 in Washington, D.C., culminating with the Association’s annual awards banquet. Attendees gathered in the ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel to honor individuals who’ve made outstanding contributions to ALPA’s Air Safety Organization (ASO) or who’ve demonstrated exceptional skill and professionalism as aviators. The annual awards are a tradition that dates back to 1957 when ALPA presented its very first Air Safety Award to Capt. E.A. “Ernie” Cutrell for his work on a centerline approach lighting system. Since then, the banquet has served to highlight the work of ALPA’s ASO volunteers and recognize those pilots who’ve displayed excellence in the performance of their duties.

Capt. Wendy Morse, the Association’s first vice president and national safety coordinator, along with each of the ASO group chairs, presented the ASO’s annual awards to four pilot volunteers for work related to safety, security, jumpseat, and pilot assistance. Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA’s president, bestowed the Superior Airmanship Award to two flight crews who exhibited extraordinary ability and judgment during extremely difficult and stressful circumstances.

“We’re so proud to honor the recipients of this evening’s annual awards in recognition of their outstanding work and contributions as pilots and leaders in our union,” said Morse. “They set an example for pilots around the world and uphold our union’s tradition of service to others and an unwavering dedication to excellence.”

Superior Airmanship Award

F/O Emily Wiprud
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282

On Jan. 5, 2024, at approximately 5:06 p.m., Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a B-737 MAX 9, departed Portland International Airport with the captain piloting the aircraft and F/O Emily Wiprud monitoring. Following takeoff, the crew received clearance from air traffic control to climb to Flight Level 230. At approximately 16,000 feet, the crew heard a loud bang with pressure on the flight deck nearly dislodging the captain’s headset. Wiprud’s headset was completely removed due to the increased airflow. Both pilots quickly donned their oxygen masks and noted that the door to the flight deck had blown open. Noise made communication extremely difficult.

The crew promptly contacted air traffic control, declared an emergency, requested a lower altitude, and was directed to descend to 10,000 feet. The captain then asked for the rapid decompression checklist, which Wiprud completed using the Quick Reference Handbook. With the checklist completed, the captain continued to maintain control of the aircraft and coordinated with air traffic control to return to the airport. The aircraft landed safely on Runway 28L, and all on board, including two flightcrew members, four cabin crewmembers, and 171 passengers, disembarked at the gate. Seven passengers and one flight attendant sustained only minor injuries.

“I’m so honored to accept this Superior Airmanship Award on behalf of the entire crew of Flight 1282, the talented and passionate individuals I was lucky to serve alongside of that day,” said Wiprud. “I can’t emphasize strongly enough how incredible the crew was in that moment. At the very same time that we were dealing with the emergency and crucial communications, our cabin crewmembers quickly attended to our passengers, keeping everyone calm and safe. And my captain was a perfect example of grace under pressure, maintaining control of the aircraft while we worked together to land safely. I’m so thankful that there were two flightcrew members on the flight deck, enabling us to work together seamlessly as a team.”

Superior Airmanship Award

Capt. Hugo Carvajal and F/O Robert Bradeen, Jr.
FedEx Express Flight 1432

At approximately 6:40 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2023, FedEx Express Flight 1432 was on approach to land on Runway 18L at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Capt. Hugo Carvajal was flying when F/O Robert Bradeen, Jr., the pilot monitoring, visually identified Southwest Airlines Flight 708, a B-737 with 123 passengers and five crewmembers on board, approximately 1,000 to 1,500 feet down the runway. Bradeen quickly called for a go-around to avoid a collision with the other aircraft, which Carvajal initiated, returning for a safe landing on Runway 18L.

“I want to say how honored Rob and I are to receive this award,” said Carvajal. “There are so many outstanding pilots in our union who do so much for our profession and who safely navigate the hazards that are inherent in aviation on a daily basis. Although the circumstances of our event were far from normal, I think we did a very good job. But we were also very lucky. And this brings me to my next point. There are several things that need to be done to help prevent other situations like ours. But the most important thing, in my opinion, is keeping two pilots on the flight deck of every aircraft. Without two pilots on the flight deck during our flight, the results would have been a significant loss of life and the loss of two aircraft.”

“Our two crews being honored here tonight overcame major challenges, led by example, and exemplified determination and courage,” said Ambrosi. “These flight crews—with two pilots in each airplane—were both necessary to ensure a safe outcome with no loss of life. Without two pilots, the results may have been very different. ALPA will always promote the need for two pilots on the flight deck at all times on every airline flight. That’s nonnegotiable.”

Air Safety Award

F/O Stacey Jackson (WestJet) was awarded ALPA’s 2023 Air Safety Award for her many years of volunteer work and her significant contributions to aviation safety. Jackson has consistently gone above and beyond to identify and implement innovative safety measures that have had a tangible and positive impact on the entire aviation sector. One of her most commendable attributes is her proactive approach to safety. Rather than waiting for incidents to occur, she constantly seeks ways to preemptively address and mitigate potential risks and systemic vulnerabilities. Through her leadership and expertise, Jackson has spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing safety protocols, fostering a culture of accountability, and leading the ASO’s training programs. In addition to her safety work for the WestJet Master Executive Council (MEC), ALPA, and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA), she serves as a member of the Cadet Program Working Group and the IFALPA Female Pilots Working Group and the Accident Analysis and Prevention Committee. She’s a current and founding member of ALPA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee and is the first female member of ALPA’s Accident Investigation Board.

“This award isn’t just a celebration of our accomplishments, it’s also a call to action for the future,” said Jackson. “It’s an encouragement to continuously seek out new ways to enhance our safety practices and remain vigilant in identifying and addressing potential risks. Gathered together here at this Air Safety Forum, we’re reminded of the ever-evolving landscape of aviation—new technologies, emerging challenges, and changing regulations require us to be agile and proactive. Our commitment to safety must be dynamic and forward-thinking. We demonstrate daily that aviation safety is more than just a priority, it’s a fundamental responsibility.”

Aviation Security Award

Capt. William “Bill” Schild (FedEx Express) was the recipient of ALPA’s 2023 Aviation Security Award for his important achievements in aviation security. Schild serves as vice chair of the Association’s Cargo Committee and is the subject-matter expert to the Aviation Security Advisory Committee Subcommittee for Cargo. In this role, he advises the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration on aviation security matters in the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, programs, rulemaking, and security directives pertaining to the transport of cargo on FAR Part 121 aircraft. Schild also ensures that unique aspects of cargo federal flight deck officers (FFDOs) are considered when tactics, techniques, and procedures for FFDOs are developed. He recently worked directly with counterparts at other airlines following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel to manage flight and crew safety and security.

“I want to thank my wife for putting up with all the late-night calls, dinner interruptions, and the vacations where I’ve tried to leave ALPA work at home, but it never quite seemed to work out,” said Schild. “We have a lot of work left to do. We still don’t have hardened flight deck doors on cargo jets. We need tactics and procedures that truly take into account the configurations we have in cargo. And we’re still working with the FFDO program on tactics to address our concerns. We can’t let up.”

Pilot Assistance Award

F/O Carrie Braun (JetBlue) was bestowed ALPA’s 2023 Pilot Assistance Award for her work in pilot peer support. She’s been at the forefront of pilot advocacy for many years, helping to promote open discussion about pilot mental health and has spent an incalculable number of hours volunteering for ALPA’s Pilot Peer Support (PPS) program. When the Association first established the program, the goal was to provide volunteers recurrent training every two years. Braun led the effort to write the entire PPS recurrent training program and continues to work on the course, improving it each time it’s taught. Through her advocacy and tireless efforts, she’s successfully raised awareness of the importance of mental-health support within the aviation industry. Braun’s ability to engage with stakeholders and effectively communicate the significance of mental-health resources has resulted in positive changes and increased support for pilots.

“I’ve been doing this work since 2017, and I can’t believe how far we’ve come,” said Braun. “From the 2015 Aviation Rulemaking Committee to the 2024 Aviation Rulemaking Committee, the conversation around pilot mental health has completely shifted in a positive direction. It’s always been my goal to let all of our pilots know that no matter what they’re going through, they have a sympathetic ear to listen and guide them to appropriate resources to help them through whatever life challenges they’re facing. No one should ever feel alone in this world.”

Aviation Jumpseat Award

Capt. Charles “Cap” Perkins (Hawaiian, Ret.) was honored with ALPA’s 2023 Aviation Jumpseat Award for his work in making jumpseat privileges more accessible to his fellow pilots. Perkins pioneered the concept of open seating for jumpseaters, which is now used throughout the airline industry. He’s also been involved in numerous ALPA committees throughout his career, promoting flight deck jumpseat access as well as pilot-in-command authority, which serves as a benchmark for the airline industry. Perkins began his career as a pilot in 1999, after working for 13 years as a flight attendant and serving as a flight engineer on the DC-10. In 2007, he was recognized by the Hawaiian MEC with the Pilot of the Year Award.

“It’s just so great to be among this community of pilots,” said Perkins. “You know, I get so much pleasure from having helped folks who were trying to get to work or trying to get home to see their families. I’m honored and humbled to receive this award.”

Presidential Citations

In addition to those pilots who were honored at the annual awards banquet, Ambrosi also presented presidential citations to four ALPA members at an awards luncheon earlier in the day.

Capt. Richard Hughey (FedEx Express) received ALPA’s 2023 Aviation Safety Presidential Citation for his contributions to aviation safety. Hughey currently serves as his pilot group’s Central Air Safety Committee chair, colead of the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) Data/Metrics Tiger Team, member of the CAST Strategic Implementation Team, and member of the Joint Implementation Data Analysis Team. He previously served as ALPA’s Aviation Safety Group chair. Hughey believes that safety knowledge should be shared and trusted across airlines and should be a collaborative effort among labor, airlines, regulators, manufacturers, trade associations, and contractors. He also applies this approach to his work as ALPA’s Cargo Committee chair. In addition to his safety work, Hughey previously served as his pilot group’s Scheduling Committee chair and on ALPA’s Flight Time/Duty Time Committee.

Capt. Ed Escobar (Frontier) was awarded ALPA’s 2023 Aviation Security Presidential Citation for his important contributions to aviation security. Escobar has served as his pilot group’s MEC Security Committee chair since 2022. Through his engagement and networking with ALPA’s Security Council, he’s demonstrated a unique ability to better identify threats to civil aviation. Specific threats that Escobar has brought to the attention of his colleagues on the Security Council underscore the importance of collaboration as well as developing and maintaining contacts within the aviation security sphere.

F/O Barbara Bentzin (United) was bestowed ALPA’s 2023 ALPA Pilot Assistance Presidential Citation for her work as an ASO volunteer in the Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP). She’s been a member of her pilot group’s CIRP Committee since 2013 and worked as a CIRP coordinator from 2019 to 2023. Bentzin has been a committed CIRP volunteer and an anchor for the United MEC CIRP team, taking countless calls for critical and other stress-related incidents. She’s demonstrated her commitment by stepping up to support her fellow pilots when others have been unable to volunteer.

Capt. Mark Gaertner (Air Transat) received ALPA’s 2023 Aviation Jumpseat Presidential Citation for his contributions to enhancing and strengthening jumpseating in Canada. He’s served as the ALPA Canada Jumpseat director and a Foundational ALPA Service Training and Jumpseat Expert Training (JET) instructor. Gaertner was instrumental in the implementation of CARs 705.27, contributed to the continued development of the JET program, and has worked on harmonization issues as they pertain to Canadian Jumpseat coordinators.

The awards luncheon also included two special recognitions by organizations outside of ALPA. The FBI recognized Escobar for his contributions to aviation security with a certificate presented by Special Agent David Rodski. And Dr. Susan Northrup, the FAA’s federal air surgeon, honored Dr. Quay Snyder, ALPA’s aeromedical advisor, with the FAA’s Master Pilot Award, which is presented to pilots who’ve accumulated 50 years or more of piloting experience.

“The honorees recognized this afternoon will join a cadre of professional airline pilots who reflect the very highest caliber of excellence in our profession and our industry,” said Ambrosi. “Truly, they’re among the finest examples of the spirit of volunteerism and service to the profession as well as air transportation.”

Airport and Ground Environment Awards

Earlier in the week, Morse joined Capt. Steve Jangelis (Delta), ALPA’s Aviation Safety Group chair, and Capt. Jeff Sedin (United), ALPA’s Airport & Ground Environment (AGE) Group chair, to recognize two pilot volunteers for their outstanding work as ALPA airport safety liaisons.

Capt. Carmelo Marino (JetBlue) was honored with ALPA’s 2023–2024 Airport Safety Liaison (ASL) of the Year Award for his work at John F. Kennedy International Airport and as ALPA’s ASO AGE eastern regional airport coordinator, where he immediately made contributions by establishing strong working relationships with airport stakeholders. Over the last year, he’s dedicated countless hours to building relationships, recruiting and onboarding new ASLs, and providing the line-pilot perspective at numerous airport meetings while still flying a normal schedule for JetBlue. Marino has worked with representatives from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to mitigate operational impacts and address pilot safety concerns, established relationships with air traffic controllers at the control tower and at New York Terminal Radar Approach Control, and played a significant role in facilitating safety enhancements and improved procedures by helping to develop mitigations such as charting, signage, and lighting changes to improve operational safety.

Capt. Ronald DuJohn (WestJet) received ALPA’s 2023–2024 ALPA Airport Safety Liaison of the Year Award for his work at Calgary International Airport. DuJohn has made a significant impact since he began serving as an ASL in 2023, dedicating significant time and effort to developing relationships with airport stakeholders. He regularly provides a line-pilot perspective at airport meetings, contributing to discussions about airport construction and participating in reviews of year-to-year operations and excursion/incursion incidents. DuJohn has recently taken on additional responsibility as ALPA’s ASO AGE prairie & northern regional airport coordinator and has been actively recruiting and onboarding new ASLs in his region, helping to train them on various current and future construction projects. He’s also helped to facilitate safety enhancements, collaborating with airports in the region to increase safety in operations.

“ALPA’s 100-plus ASLs serve as our union’s local representatives at airports across the United States and Canada,” said Morse. “The collaboration they foster with airport management, air traffic controllers, and local communities helps ensure that ALPA has a seat at the table on local aviation policy and that our line pilots are informed when delivering on their commitment to safe and secure flight operations at every airport.”

Morse, Jangelis, and Sedin also presented ALPA’s 2023 Airport of the Year Award to Sacramento International Airport. Walter Escobar, airside construction coordinator with the Sacramento County Department of Airports, accepted the award.

“Sacramento has demonstrated a strong willingness to support flight crews who operate at the airport and seeks out pilot input to ensure that time-critical safety information is made available to crews,” said Morse. “Airport leadership understands the positive benefits of having a strong relationship with ALPA and is always willing to meet and discuss topics of concern to pilots.”