Release #09.060
August 5, 2009

Air Canada Jazz Capt. Craig Hall Receives ALPA’s Top Security Honor
Sherwood Park, Alberta, Pilot Hailed as Leader in Aviation Security

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), will recognize Air Canada Jazz Capt. Craig Hall with its 2008 Aviation Security Award for his longstanding contributions to aviation security. The award, which is the Association’s highest security honor, will be presented to Capt. Hall on August 6 at ALPA’s 55th Air Safety Forum Awards Banquet in Washington, D.C.

“Capt. Hall’s technical expertise and in-depth understanding of the most complex aviation security issues has earned him the deep respect of his peers,” said Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president. “He is an extraordinarily powerful asset as the airline industry continues to pursue an ever higher standard of security for its passengers, crews, and cargo.”

Widely regarded as a leading expert on a broad range of security issues, Capt. Hall has forged critical relationships for ALPA with other airline security stakeholders, including Transport Canada, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program. In addition, he has represented the interests of ALPA pilots both to the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Capt. Hall was instrumental in developing and implementing the Canadian Restricted Area Identification Card (RAIC) program, a leading- edge aviation security initiative that employs biometric data and in-depth background vetting to more effectively and securely identify airline pilots and other airline employees. In 2004, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) introduced the RAIC iris and fingerprint program. Since then, the initiative has been expanded to include approximately 100,000 employees who work in restricted areas at Canada’s 29 largest airports. The Canadian RAIC program has become an international model for airline employee screening programs.

The gravitas that Capt. Hall brings to aviation security was particularly evident in 2007, when the Canadian Commission of Inquiry sought his testimony as part of its evaluation of airline security improvements since the 1985 bombing of an Air India flight. In his testimony before the Commission, Capt Hall discussed the RAIC program and challenged the Canadian government to do more to screen passengers for intent to do harm through behavioral evaluation as opposed to simply screening for objects.

“I have had the opportunity to work with Capt. Hall for several years and have seen his dedication and commitment to his fellow pilots and the safety of the airline industry,” said Capt. Brian Shury, chairman of ALPA’s chapter at Jazz. “We have been able to count on him for all our security needs and questions, and we at Jazz are very proud and happy to see that others are recognizing and honouring Capt. Hall in this way.”

Capt. Hall has also presented ALPA pilots’ perspectives in the Canadian and international news media. His testimony before the Air India inquiry was covered by numerous news organizations, including the National Post, the Vancouver Sun, the Toronto Star, and CBC television.

Capt. Hall currently serves ALPA pilots as the Association’s National Security Committee Director—Canada. He joined ALPA in 1990 and currently flies the Bombardier Dash 8.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union, representing nearly 54,000 pilots at 36 airlines in the United States and Canada.

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Contact: Linda Shotwell or Rusty Ayers, 703/481-4440 or media@alpa.org