FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE CONTACT

Gregg Overman

Allied Pilots Association 

(817) 302-2250

Captain Sam Mayer

(203) 981-9690

ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION REACTS TO NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE FOCUSING ON CO-PILOT¹S PERFORMANCE: ³PREMATURE AND INAPPROPRIATE² TO REACH ANY CONCLUSIONS

Fort Worth, Texas (October 16, 2002) - The Allied Pilots Association (APA),

collective bargaining agent for the 13,300 pilots of American Airlines (AMR:

NYSE), expressed its outrage regarding an article that appears in today¹s

edition of The New York Times on the accident involving American Airlines

Flight #587, an Airbus A300, on November 12, 2001 in New York.

³This article focuses on so-called Œnew information¹ attributed to unnamed

investigators that suggest First Officer Sten Molin¹s performance somehow

led to the Flight #587 accident. To reach any conclusions about the cause of

this accident until the National Transportation Safety Board has concluded

its investigation is premature and inappropriate,² said Captain John E.

Darrah, APA President.

According to the article, the NTSB received information from an American

Airlines Captain with whom First Officer Molin flew in 1997 that calls into

question First Officer Molin¹s handling of wake turbulence. Flight #587

departed immediately after a Tokyo-bound Japan Airlines 747-400, and

subsequently encountered the 747¹s wake. The turbulence produced by an

aircraft¹s wake-particularly that of a large, heavy aircraft such as a

747-400-is the number one cause of loss of control involving multi-engine

turbojet aircraft.

Darrah noted that the Captain who provided the information flew a total of

six flights with First Officer Molin almost six years ago. He further noted

that the NTSB also has testimony from both Flight Engineers who were aboard

the same flights that directly contradicts the Captain¹s testimony. In

addition, the NTSB has testimony from other Captains who flew more than 70

flights with First Officer Molin who have nothing but praise for his

piloting abilities.

³It seems ill advised to focus on one individual¹s testimony when it is

clear that this testimony is in dispute,² said Darrah. ³The traveling public

is much better served by permitting a methodical, thorough investigation to

go forward without the unnecessary distraction produced by such incomplete,

dubious information.²

Earlier this year as part of its participation in the Flight #587 accident

investigation, APA called for non-destructive testing of composite materials

on today¹s modern airliners; asked the Federal Aviation Administration to

update wake turbulence studies for the new, heavier wide-body aircraft now

operating; and asked for a safety study of the departure procedure at New

York¹s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

³The goal of the investigation process is to pinpoint the cause of this

accident so that we can prevent any recurrence, and APA is absolutely

committed to that goal,² said Darrah.

 Headquartered in Fort Worth , Texas , APA was founded in 1963.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Go to the 2002 Press Releases Page

Go to the Home Page

------------------------------------------------------------------------

HTML by APA Communications comm.coord@hq.alliedpilots.org