The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award

is presented to

Capt. Robert L. Sumwalt
US Airways and Air Line Pilots Association, International

For his voluntary contributions through research papers, airline-safety programs, accident investigations and the promotion of company-union collaboration to positively influence safety.

As a US Airways captain flying the Airbus A320, chairman of the Human Factors and Training Group of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), and co-founder of the ALPA Training Council, Capt. Sumwalt provided practical guidance to pilots and airline managers. His areas of focus ranged from threat-and-error management and airplane-upset recovery to flight crew monitoring, automation and airport-surface operations. He also conducted research with the Ames Research Center of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Through ALPA and US Airways, he collaborated on an enhanced crew awareness program to improve monitoring, reduce operational errors, and reduce risks of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) and loss of control. Capt. Sumwalt led the airline’s line operations safety audit and helped to launch ALPA’s critical incident response program. He also helped non-U.S. airlines to reduce vulnerability to CFIT and approach-and-landing accidents. He and other volunteers were instrumental in the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s addition of monitoring guidance to an advisory circular.

Flight Safety Foundation is pleased to recognize the achievements of Capt. Robert L. Sumwalt.

FSF 56th annual International Air Safety Seminar
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
November 10, 2003

Stuart Matthews
President and CEO
Flight Safety Foundation

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