PORTLAND, Ore., Mar 19, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding Horizon Air's Maintenance and Engineering Department the Diamond Certificate of Excellence for achieving the highest level in safety training programs.

This will be the fourth year in a row that Horizon has received the award.

FAA representatives will make the presentations in a ceremony on Thursday, March 20 starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Horizon Air Portland Operations Center, 8070 NE Airtrans Way, Portland, Ore.

Horizon earned the FAA's recognition for the quality of its safety training program, and for 100 percent employee participation in ongoing safety training. Approximately 550 maintenance employees will be recognized for their initiative to complete training in aircraft systems, FAA regulations, and safety training.

FAA Portland Flight Standard District Office Manager Larry Bird stated, "This number represents the entire Horizon Air maintenance workforce, an incredible achievement. Only one other carrier as large as Horizon has managed to accomplish this. Horizon's dedication to training, especially under the current pressures experienced by civil aviation, demonstrates a remarkable willingness to look to the future. This type of foresight speaks volumes about Horizon's view of the future."

"Horizon has always fostered a culture that encourages our maintenance employees to build on all elements of training," said Mike Fox, Horizon's director of maintenance. "This participation reflects the pride we have in our profession which gives rise to our commitment to safety and compliance."

The FAA created the Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards program in 1992. The program is meant to encourage companies to provide initial and recurrent training and for individual maintenance technicians to actively participate in employer-sponsored programs or outside programs.

"Horizon's technical training department, which includes 11 full-time instructors, a records coordinator and a multi-media technician, conducts at least 20 80-hour initial training classes and nearly 100 shorter subject-specific classes a year," said Keith Dieringer, Horizon technical training instructor.

Horizon Air operates a fleet of 60 aircraft including the Bombardier 70-seat CRJ-700 jet, 70-seat Q400 turboprop and the 37-seat Q200 turboprop. Horizon Air and its sister carrier, Alaska Airlines, serve more than 80 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Horizon and Alaska are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group. For more information, visit Horizon Air's Newsroom at http://newsroom.horizonair.com.

CONTACT:          Horizon Air
                  Cheryl Temple, 206/431-4672
                  or
                  Dan Russo, 206-431-4513
                  or
                  http://newsroom.horizonair.com

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