Administrator

Experience Does Matter; Entry-Level Pilots Need More – Not Less – Hand Flying Prior to Being Hired by Regional Airlines

Buffalo, New York – January 21st, 2016 – Responding to a Department of Transportation Inspector General report that raised concerns about the increased reliance on automation in the cockpit and its potential effect on the manual flying skills of our nation’s commercial airline pilots, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ reminded Congress of the importance of preserving recently-enacted requirements that call for young pilots to attain higher levels of experience prior to being hired by regional airlines. (more…)

RAA Conveniently Forgets That Flight 3407 Pilot Was Initially Hired by Regional Airline with Only 600 Hours of Flight Time

Buffalo, New York – December 3rd, 2015 – Responding to a Regional Airline Association media campaign to pressure the FAA to roll back a safety rule that has been in effect for barely two years, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ rallied to the defense of a landmark aviation safety law that has resulted in our nation’s safest period of travel on regional carriers. (more…)

Maintain Laser Focus on Pilot Qualifications, Records Database; Challenge Congress Not to Cave to Airline Pressure

Buffalo, New York – September 30th, 2015 – Responding to the House and Senate passing a six month extension prior to a September 30th deadline for the Federal Aviation Administration to be reauthorized, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ renewed their call for Congress to take a strong stance in support of safety in its next proposed FAA Reauthorization Bill. First and foremost, the group reminded congressional leaders of its staunch opposition to any attempts by the Regional Airline Association to water down FAA’s recently-implemented higher pilot qualification standards for regional airline first officers.

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Further Proof That Voluntary Compliance Doesn’t Work

Buffalo, New York – August 25th, 2015 – Responding to an audit released by the Department of Transportation Inspector General’s office detailing the progress of the Federal Aviation Administration in implementing an electronic pilot record database, mandated by the Airline Safety Act of 2010, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ had harsh words for both the FAA and commercial airlines, which were found to not be taking the appropriate interim steps to compliance.

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Huerta, Dorgan, Smisek to Appear as Key Witnesses

Buffalo, New York – May 18th, 2015 – Continuing their efforts to stand up to airline industry pressure to water down key regional airline safety reforms, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that group members will be in attendance at Tuesday’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing focused on air traffic control and the upcoming FAA Reauthorization Bill. The group highlighted FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, former Senator Byron Dorgan, and United Airlines CEO Jeffrey Smisek, who are all part of the panel of witnesses for the hearing.

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Call for Commerce and T&I to Stand Firm on Pilot Qualifications as Committees Approach Mark-Ups

Buffalo, New York – May 6th, 2015 – After strong statements from Miracle on the Hudson pilot, Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, at Aviation Safety hearings in both the Senate and House last week, calling on committee leadership to continue to promote strong entry-level first officer requirements and to not cave in to airline industry pressure, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ singled out Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia for his questioning of both Sullenberger and Regional Airline Association President Faye Malarkey Black at last Tuesday’s Senate hearing.

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Call for Congress to Hold the Line on ‘Quality AND Quantity’ Approach to Pilot Qualifications

Buffalo, New York – April 30th, 2015 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ cheered the powerful message conveyed by aviation safety expert and Miracle on the Hudson pilot, Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, at Tuesday’s Senate Aviation Subcommittee hearing, continuing their strong push to ensure that Congress does not cave in to industry pressure to relax regional airline safety standards in the upcoming FAA Reauthorization Bill. They also kept their focus on this afternoon’s House Aviation Subcommittee safety roundtable, which will once again feature Captain Sullenberger and representation from the Regional Airline Association.

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Flight 3407 Families Trumpet Credentials of ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Pilot

Buffalo, New York – April 27th, 2015 – With the expiration of the most recent FAA Reauthorization fast approaching, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ applauded the inclusion of Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger at safety hearings to be held by the Senate and House Aviation Subcommittees this week. The family group also announced that it will be in attendance at both hearings, the Senate’s to be held on Tuesday at 2:30 pm, and the House’s to be held Thursday at 2:00 pm.

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In Light of Germanwings Tragedy, Group Calls for Expedited Efforts on Pilot Record Database, Screening

Buffalo, New York – April 13th, 2015 – In conjunction with Tuesday morning’s full committee hearing of the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation featuring FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and the topic of the upcoming FAA Reauthorization, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ issued a call for committee leadership and members to probe the agency’s slow pace of implementation of the crucial pilot record database, as well to examine the overall process of screening pilots here in the United States. The group also applauded the committee leadership for positioning regional airline safety as a key component of the upcoming hearings that will instruct the committee’s efforts to draft an FAA Reauthorization Bill.

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Schumer, Gillibrand Lead Charge on First Officer Qualifications, Pilot Record Database

Buffalo, New York – March 4th, 2015 – In another show of support for the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’, a group of ten senators sent a letter (text included below) to Chairman John Thune and Ranking Member Bill Nelson of the Senate Commerce Committee as the committee begins its work on the next FAA Reauthorization Bill. The group – led by Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, and including Senators Robert Menendez (NJ), Robert Casey (PA), Sherrod Brown (OH), Patrick Leahy (VT), Elizabeth Warren (MA), Christopher Murphy (CT), Barbara Boxer (CA), and Jeff Merkley (OR) – reinforced the importance of preserving recently-implemented pilot qualification requirements for regional airline entry-level first officers and called on the FAA to step up its efforts on a comprehensive electronic pilot records database to be available to airlines in the screening and hiring process.

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