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SEATTLE, June 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska Airlines today
announced the election of Chris Glaeser as vice president of safety.
An aviation professional with more than 30 years of experience in
military and commercial environments, Glaeser will oversee all aspects of
the company's safety program in the air and on the ground. He will report
directly to Bill Ayer, Alaska Airlines' chairman and chief executive
officer.
"As a pilot and an executive, Chris has demonstrated an overwhelming
passion for safety," Ayer said. "The depth of his experience with safety
programs and systems in the airline industry and the military make him the
perfect choice to join our team. We feel fortunate to have someone of
Chris' caliber."
Glaeser, who starts his new position July 5, will also report to the
Safety Committee of Alaska's board of directors. Alaska is one of the few
air carriers in the industry to maintain such a committee on its board. The
airline also conducts external audits of its entire safety program at least
every two years.
Glaeser joins Alaska from Northwest Airlines, where he has served as
director of flight safety, quality assurance and industry affairs since
2003. In this role, he has been responsible for all aspects of flight
safety, including overseeing safety reporting and measurement, developing
and executing safety assurance programs, managing incident and accident
investigations, managing internal and supporting external safety audits,
and establishing programs to enhance the airline's safety culture.
In concert with Alaska Airlines representatives, he has led Northwest's
participation in an industry-leading initiative to share data about
safety-related incidents among all U.S. carriers. He also has managed
numerous groups tasked with addressing safety matters such as runway
collision avoidance and improved inflight emergency coordination between
cockpit and cabin crews.
A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with a bachelor's degree in
engineering science, Glaeser served on active duty in the military until
1988 and in the Air National Guard and Reserves for another 10 years. He
was highly decorated as a fighter and test pilot and served as a U.S. Air
Force Test Pilot School instructor.
In 1983, he graduated from the British Royal Air Force Empire Test
Pilot School. He also earned a master's degree in management from Troy
State University in Alabama.
After joining Northwest in 1988, Glaeser flew Boeing 727s, 747s, DC-10s
and Airbus A-320s as a second officer, first officer and captain. He also
served as an A-320 check pilot, instructor and special project pilot for
eight years. During his military and commercial career, Glaeser has flown
some 9,100 hours on more than 200 types of aircraft.
He became assistant to the vice president of flight operations at
Northwest in 1997 and assistant to the vice president of safety and
regulatory compliance in 2000.
Alaska Airlines and sister carrier, Horizon Air, together serve 88
cities through an expansive network throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada
and Mexico. For reservations visit alaskaair.com. For more news and
information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air News Room at
alaskaair.com.
Anyone care to venture a guess as to why Mr. Glaeser would be leaving?
SEATTLE, June 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska Airlines today
announced the election of Chris Glaeser as vice president of safety.
An aviation professional with more than 30 years of experience in
military and commercial environments, Glaeser will oversee all aspects of
the company's safety program in the air and on the ground. He will report
directly to Bill Ayer, Alaska Airlines' chairman and chief executive
officer.
"As a pilot and an executive, Chris has demonstrated an overwhelming
passion for safety," Ayer said. "The depth of his experience with safety
programs and systems in the airline industry and the military make him the
perfect choice to join our team. We feel fortunate to have someone of
Chris' caliber."
Glaeser, who starts his new position July 5, will also report to the
Safety Committee of Alaska's board of directors. Alaska is one of the few
air carriers in the industry to maintain such a committee on its board. The
airline also conducts external audits of its entire safety program at least
every two years.
Glaeser joins Alaska from Northwest Airlines, where he has served as
director of flight safety, quality assurance and industry affairs since
2003. In this role, he has been responsible for all aspects of flight
safety, including overseeing safety reporting and measurement, developing
and executing safety assurance programs, managing incident and accident
investigations, managing internal and supporting external safety audits,
and establishing programs to enhance the airline's safety culture.
In concert with Alaska Airlines representatives, he has led Northwest's
participation in an industry-leading initiative to share data about
safety-related incidents among all U.S. carriers. He also has managed
numerous groups tasked with addressing safety matters such as runway
collision avoidance and improved inflight emergency coordination between
cockpit and cabin crews.
A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with a bachelor's degree in
engineering science, Glaeser served on active duty in the military until
1988 and in the Air National Guard and Reserves for another 10 years. He
was highly decorated as a fighter and test pilot and served as a U.S. Air
Force Test Pilot School instructor.
In 1983, he graduated from the British Royal Air Force Empire Test
Pilot School. He also earned a master's degree in management from Troy
State University in Alabama.
After joining Northwest in 1988, Glaeser flew Boeing 727s, 747s, DC-10s
and Airbus A-320s as a second officer, first officer and captain. He also
served as an A-320 check pilot, instructor and special project pilot for
eight years. During his military and commercial career, Glaeser has flown
some 9,100 hours on more than 200 types of aircraft.
He became assistant to the vice president of flight operations at
Northwest in 1997 and assistant to the vice president of safety and
regulatory compliance in 2000.
Alaska Airlines and sister carrier, Horizon Air, together serve 88
cities through an expansive network throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada
and Mexico. For reservations visit alaskaair.com. For more news and
information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air News Room at
alaskaair.com.
Anyone care to venture a guess as to why Mr. Glaeser would be leaving?
