Contents:

• Dave Siegel - New US Airways President and CEO
• Nonlethal Weapons Pose Own Risks in Air, Report Says
• Airline allegedly hindered marshals

Officers say they weren't allowed in seats near cockpit

Dave Siegel - New US Airways President and CEO

To All Employees ... Please Post ... Special Bulletin

Dear Fellow Employees:

I am delighted to address you about our announcement earlier today that Dave Siegel will join US Airways as our president and CEO. The board of directors could not be more pleased that we were able to attract an executive of Dave's caliber and background to take over the operation and direction of the company.

He brings a perfect blend of youthful vigor and industry experience to US Airways at a critical juncture in our company's history. Dave is well known within the airline industry for his remarkable work at Continental Airlines from 1993-1999, both for his operational acumen and his leadership skills with people at all levels of the company.

At Continental, his last position was president of Continental Express. Under his guidance, the unit became a substantial contributor of profit to the parent company and the division's operational performance improved considerably. In earlier roles at Continental, he served as senior vice president of planning and scheduling and as vice president of corporate development. During his entire tenure at the airline, he played an instrumental role in Continental's financial and operational turnaround.

The staff of executive and senior officers currently reporting to me will report to Dave, and he in turn will report to the board of directors. He will be fully in charge of setting strategic direction and day-to-day operations for US Airways.

A healthy, prosperous airline providing safe, reliable and friendly service for our customers is our common goal. Only by achieving that goal can we assure a financially sound company that will provide sustenance to every employee and their families for years to come.

Now, more than ever, is the time for all of us, be it line employees, or management, or union officials, or whatever role we choose to label ourselves at US Airways, to come together to support our new CEO.

Please join me in welcoming Dave Siegel into the US Airways family.

On a final note, I want to add that since September 11, amid all the turmoil and uncertainty flowing from that event, you have maintained your focus on our customers and running a quality airline for which I personally have great respect and appreciation.

Stephen Wolf
Chairman

End of Special Bulletin for Wednesday, March 6, 2002
Corporate Communications/Telex:HDQCYUS/COMAT:DCA-H850
 

Flight crews could thwart a hijacker with a nonlethal weapon, such as a stun gun or pepper spray, but the weapons could be risky in the confined space of an airplane cabin, a Justice Department report said.

The report by the National Institute of Justice, a research arm of the Justice Department, was mandated by Congress to help the new Transportation Security Administration decide whether pilots and flight attendants should be allowed to carry weapons aboard commercial airplanes.

On Monday, Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said he does not favor lethal weapons aboard planes, but a final decision on lethal and nonlethal weapons is up to the transportation security chief, John
Magaw, who has not taken a position on the issue.

Read the Washington Post article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44494-2002Mar5.html
 

Two Federal Air Marshals say an American Airlines employee told them that the airline "was growing tired of air marshals taking high-revenue seats" and refused to allow them to sit near the cockpit during a flight late last month, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.

In addition, another airline employee identified the marshals, who are supposed to travel anonymously, by saying in front of passengers, "These air marshals have been a nuisance all week," the marshals say in a report written after Flight 1718 of Feb.  20.

An American spokesman said the airline "challenges just about everything in those marshals' report" and insisted that employees never used the phrase "high-revenue seats."

Read the USA Today article http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20020306/3916146s.htm