Howard (Keith) Hagy

B.S., Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Tech 1979

Until he retired in August 2023 Keith served as the Director of the Engineering and Air Safety Department of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, a labor association representing approximately over 70,000 professional airline pilots flying for more than 40 airlines in the United States and Canada.  

In that role Keith was responsible for guiding and directing all technical projects and programs relating to the Association's safety, flight operations, pilot assistance, and security goals throughout the United States and Canada.  This includes managing liaison with external and international organizations including U.S. and Canadian government agencies, ICAO, IFALPA, the U.S. Congress, the media, and private groups such as aircraft and equipment manufacturers, airlines, consumer groups and other associations.  

Prior to joining ALPA in 1986, Keith spend a number of years with Boeing as an Aircraft Stability and Control Analyst focusing on aircraft design and handling qualities evaluation and flight-testing and at Sperry Flight Systems as a Senior Simulation Engineer developing aero and weapon system models for Navy and Marine Corp aircraft. 

In 1986 Keith joined ALPA as a Senior Staff Engineer in the Accident Investigation Department and has participated in over 30 “major” aircraft accident investigations conducted by the U.S. NTSB and Transportation Safety Board of Canada and in over 100 “minor” field office aircraft accident investigations conducted by NTSB.

While at Boeing Keith was awarded a Patent for a Stability Augmentation System in use on Boeing B737 aircraft.

Keith is a 1979 graduate of Virginia Tech with a BS in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering.  Keith is a licensed pilot and a past 3-term officer (Secretary) of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI).  Keith is also past Chairman of the International Advisory Committee of the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF).  

Keith is a past Board Member of the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and current member of the Laura Tabor Barbour Scholarship Committee which awards scholarships to students in an aviation related field of study.  Students from the Virginia Tech AOE Department have been awarded Barbour Scholarships.  In his role on the Scholarship Committee Keith has also mentored a number of college students in aviation fields and other majors.  Included are students from Virginia Tech, Kansas State, Vaughn College, Florida Institute of Technology, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

In 2021 Keith was selected by the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) as the recipient of the ISASI Jerome Lederer Award for Technical Excellence in Aviation Accident Investigation and in 2023 received the Distinguished Service Award from the Flight Safety Foundation.