Press Releases

Call on Chao, Elwell to Provide Leadership in Rule Making Process on Critical Safety Initiative

Buffalo, New York – January 29, 2019 – With the 10 year anniversary of the tragic regional airline crash just weeks away, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ expressed their disappointment with repeated delays by DOT and FAA in the implementation process of the Pilot Records Database (PRD). This common-sense bipartisan reform, designed to ensure that air carriers have full access to a pilot’s complete training record when making a hiring decision, has the full support of the airline industry. Unfortunately, the target date for the release of this rule has pushed back four times since August 2017, and is now currently slated for this May.

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Congress Rebuffs Regional Airlines and Lobbyists’ Attempts to Water Down Safety Standards

Buffalo, New York – October 3, 2018 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ hailed today’s passage of a five-year FAA Reauthorization Bill by the Senate that left intact stronger entry-level experience requirements for regional airline first officers. This safety initiative was the cornerstone provision of landmark aviation safety legislation unanimously enacted by Congress in 2010, and had been the subject of an aggressive and well-financed lobbying campaign by the nation’s regional airlines and their lobbying arm that sought to relax its requirements. (more…)

Call on Congress, Trump Administration to Uphold Enhanced First Officer Qualification Requirements from 2010 Aviation Safety Bill

Buffalo, New York – September 24, 2018 – With the current Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization set to expire at the end of the month and a new reauthorization bill on the verge of being considered, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced a press conference to be held today, Monday, September 24th, at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The group called on Congress and the Trump Administration to hold the line on stronger entry-level experience requirements for regional airline first officers, mandated by a landmark aviation safety bill unanimously passed by Congress in 2010, despite an aggressive and well-financed lobbying campaign by the regional airlines and their lobbyists. (more…)

Group on Full Alert as Regional Airlines Continue to Push for Lower First Officer Experience Requirements

Buffalo, New York – September 11, 2018 – In response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s ‘2018 Aviation Workforce Symposium’ to be held this Thursday, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that group members would be in attendance and called on President Donald Trump, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, and acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell to continue to hold the line on regional airline safety standards in the face of continued pressure from the regional airlines and their lobbyists. The group also recognized the tragic losses of the Rooney and Eckert families, as Sean Rooney was lost in the World Trade Center bombing, and his wife and noted 9/11 activist Beverly Eckert subsequently perished on Flight 3407. (more…)

Group Opposes Lobbying Efforts to Water Down Pilot Qualification Requirements

Buffalo, New York – July 18, 2018 – With the current FAA authorization set to expire at the end of September and indications that the Senate will be taking up this issue shortly, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ called on Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Bill Nelson (D-FL), the chairman and ranking member of the Commerce Committee, to resist pressure from the regional airlines and their lobbyists to weaken entry-level pilot qualification standards. (more…)

Call on Transportation Secretary to Sit Down with Group Members

Buffalo, New York – June 8, 2018 – In light of comments made by Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao on Thursday that suggested that heightened experience requirements for entry-level regional airline first officers were creating a pilot shortage, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ reacted strongly in support of the rule that has resulted in over nine years of no fatalities on regional aircrafts, the longest such period in our nation’s history by over three times. The group members also called on Chao to meet with them and learn more about their loved ones who were lost in the crash, and the group’s subsequent quest to ensure that the mistakes that led to Flight 3407 are never allowed to be repeated. (more…)

Southwest Incident Once Again Highlights Importance of More, Not Less Experience in the Cockpit

Buffalo, New York – May 3, 2018 – With the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passing an FAA Reauthorization Bill that had no amendments brought forth to water down regional airline first officer experience requirements, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ commended the lower chamber and challenged the Senate to follow suit. It also called for regional airlines and their lobbyists to put an end to their quest to undercut the new rule and instead focus on initiatives geared towards attracting America’s youth to flying and making pilot training more attainable and affordable. (more…)

Group Offers Condolences to the Family and Friends of Jennifer Riordan

Buffalo, New York – April 25, 2018 – With the FAA Bill scheduled to head to the House floor today, members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ issued a call for renewed vigilance and emphasis on safety to the government and all stakeholders in the airline industry. The group highlighted the recent tragic passing of Jennifer Riordan on Southwest Flight 1380 as well as a 60 Minutes documentary on numerous safety issues with discount carrier Allegiant Air. (more…)

Unanimously-Passed 2010 Legislation Has Resulted in Safest Period in U.S. Commercial Aviation History by Far

Group Highlights the Emphatic Support of ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Flight Crew

Buffalo, New York – April 17, 2018 – With the House of Representatives scheduled to consider a five-year FAA Reauthorization Bill on the floor next week, members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ issued a strong warning against any amendments that would serve to weaken the experience and qualification requirements for new-hire regional airline first officers. These enhanced standards were a key component to Public Law 111-216, the ‘Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010,’ which was unanimously passed by both Houses of Congress in response to a series of regional airline crashes in the previous decade. (more…)

Continue Push Against Watering Down of Experience Requirements for Regional Airlines

Buffalo, New York – February 13, 2018 – With Congress continuing to trudge through the FAA Reauthorization process and with increased pressure from the nation’s regional airlines on the Trump Administration to relax safety standards enacted in the wake of the 2009 regional airline crash outside of Buffalo, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ will be traveling to Washington on Thursday in conjunction with the 9th anniversary of the crash. (more…)