Release #: 16.31
August 25, 2016

ALPA Honors Hawaiian Airlines Capt. Charles Perkins with Presidential Citation

Honolulu Pilot Honored for Commitment to Enhancing Aviation Security

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) today recognized Hawaiian Airlines Capt. Charles Perkins with a Presidential Citation for his groundbreaking efforts to secure airline jumpseats for off-duty airline pilots. The award was presented during ALPA’s 62nd Air Safety Forum in Washington, D.C.

For over a decade, Capt. Perkins has been a pilot volunteer on ALPA’s Hawaiian group’s Jumpseat Committee. Over the years, he worked on securing reciprocal jumpseat agreements between Hawaiian and various airlines, both domestic and international, in order to allow properly screened pilots and other airline personnel to sit in the jumpseat of an airliner as long as the captain granted his or her permission.

“Thanks to a long-standing commitment to ensuring that our nation’s cockpits remain secure, Capt. Perkins’s efforts have benefited pilots near and far. We applaud his continued drive to ensure that authorized airline pilots are granted full jumpseat access on both domestic and international flights,” said Capt. Tim Canoll, ALPA president.

Shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, severe restrictions were placed on the use of the cockpit jumpseat on international flights. However, because jumpseat access is an important resource on which airline pilots depend for many reasons, including moving between home and base, Capt. Perkins refocused his efforts toward enhancing security screening standards in order to restore access to both domestic and international jumpseats.

Canoll added, “It is always a honor to recognize ALPA volunteers who help pilots throughout the industry. Capt. Perkins is a true testament to the selflessness and generosity that has been the driving force for our union for 85 years. We thank Capt. Perkins for all of his contributions and wish him well in his retirement later this year.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 54,000 pilots at 31 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.

-###-

CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org