MEMBER STEVEN R. CHEALANDER TO LEAVE NTSB AT END OF MONTH

NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx> · Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:40:13 -0500

************************************************************
                      NTSB PRESS RELEASE
************************************************************

National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2009
SB-09-08

************************************************************

************************************************************

	National Transportation Safety Board Member Steven R. 
Chealander has announced his resignation from the Board, 
effective February 28.

	Chealander has been a Board Member since January 3, 
2007.  During his tenure at the Board he was the Board 
Member on scene for three major transportation accident 
investigations - a mid-air collision between two news 
helicopters in Phoenix, Arizona in 2007, the crash of a 
corporate aircraft in Owatonna, Minnesota in 2008, and last 
week's crash of a turboprop airliner near Buffalo, New York.

	Member Chealander testified before the Texas State 
Senate in April 2007 on sobriety checkpoints, and before the 
Tennessee House of Representatives in October of that year 
on drunk driving laws.  In April 2008, he testified before a 
subcommittee of the United States Senate Commerce Committee 
on the NTSB's most wanted aviation safety issues.

	Before coming to the Board, Member Chealander was a 
fighter jet pilot for the United States Air Force, at which 
time he was a member of the famed U.S. Air Force 
Thunderbirds, and was a captain for American Airlines.

	In his letter to President Barack Obama yesterday, 
Chealander said, "I wish you and your administration well as 
you lead America through the challenges facing this great 
Nation of ours...It has been one of the most rewarding 
experiences of my professional life to work with the 
professional career employees of the NTSB, not to mention 
the four other dedicated Presidential appointees that 
constitute the Board."

	Chealander has accepted a position in Miami, Florida 
with Airbus Americas as Vice President, Technical Training.

			- 30 -

NTSB Press Contact:	Ted Lopatkiewicz
			(202) 314-6100
			lopatt@xxxxxxxx

************************************************************

This message is delivered to you as a free service from the 
National Transportation Safety Board.

You may unsubscribe at any time at 
http://www.ntsb.gov/registration/registration.htm   

An archive of press releases is available at 
http://www.ntsb.gov/pressrel/pressrel.htm

Current job opportunities with the NTSB are listed at 
http://www.ntsb.gov/vacancies/listing.htm

For questions/problems, contact pubinq@xxxxxxxx