Buffalo, NY – February 8, 2013 – On February 12, 2013,the 4th anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407, many members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’, will be in Washington, DC pressing for implementation of overdue provisions of the Airline Safety Act of 2010. At the Read more…
Buffalo, New York- February 6, 2013 – Just one week prior to the four year anniversary of the fatal 2009 regional airline crash, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ highlighted a recently-released Department of Transportation Inspector General report that was critical of FAA for not establishing final rules in critical areas of pilot qualifications and crewmember training as required by Congress in a 2010 landmark aviation safety law. With the initial Congressionally-mandated deadlines already missed and revised deadlines fast-approaching, the group called on President Obama and his team of Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, and Deputy Director of OMB Jeffrey Zients to step up and deliver on these safety reforms in 2013. “We don’t want to hear about how cumbersome the rulemaking process is,” stated Scott Maurer of Moore, South Carolina, who lost his thirty year-old daughter Lorin.
Buffalo, New York- February 4, 2013 – With the FAA fast approaching “revised” deadlines on already past-due final rules on pilot qualifications and crewmember training, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that they will be journeying to Washington next Tuesday, February 12th, to commemorate the four year anniversary of the crash. In addition to extensive outreach to the recently-seated 113th Congress, the group will be conducting a press conference and remembrance service with members of the Western New York congressional delegation. (more…)
Buffalo, New York- December 19, 2012 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ applauded a letter (see text below) from Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), the ranking member on the House Aviation Subcommittee, to FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta, calling on the agency to expeditiously issue the “strongest possible” final rule on entry level requirements for commercial airline first officers as an August 1, 2013 deadline fast approaches. With the issue drawing significant national attention of late due to an airline industry effort to weaken this critical safety initiative, the letter reiterates the importance of raising the bar for our nation’s regional airlines, as a means to achieve a true ‘One Level of Safety’ between the regional and mainline carriers.
Buffalo, New York- December 11, 2012 – In the face of a recent media campaign by the airline industry attempting to undermine the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) implementation of a unanimously-supported Congressional requirement to raise entry-level hiring qualifications for first officers at regional airlines, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ praised Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger’s recent letter to the editor (text is included below) of the Wall Street Journal in defense of the higher standards. With the FAA required to issue a finished product by next August, the family group continued its push for the FAA to finalize the rule and not give in to industry pressure to further weaken the proposed higher requirements.
Buffalo, New York- November 15, 2012 – In response to recent propaganda efforts by the airline industry to pressure the FAA into watering down a rulemaking on entry level pilot qualifications due by next August, the ‘Families of Continental (now United) Flight 3407’ strongly condemned characterizations by the regional airline industry that stronger experience requirements would create a drastic pilot shortage, and called on the Obama administration to stand firm with its previously-announced proposal. “It is our sincere hope that OMB (the White House Office of Management and Budget), DOT, and FAA will see through this smokescreen and do the right thing for the flying public when they finalize this new rule,” stated Scott Maurer of Moore, South Carolina, who lost his thirty-year-old daughter Lorin.
Buffalo, New York- October 30, 2012 – With the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation scheduled to issue two critical new safety regulations affecting pilot training and entry level pilot hiring qualifications in the next twelve months, the ‘Families of Continental (now United) Flight 3407’ called on President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney to achieve a true ‘One Level of Safety’ among the nation’s major and regional airlines if elected. Highlighting the $35 million spent by the airline industry on lobbying in this two year election cycle, with $3 million of that representing campaign contributions (www.opensecrets.org), the family group drew a sharp contrast between the resources available to safety advocates and the airlines themselves. (more…)
Buffalo, New York- August 2, 2012 – As Congress readies for its August recess, the ‘Families of Continental (now United) Flight 3407′ praised a joint House letter signed by 46 representatives to acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta calling on FAA to move up its target date for introducing a crucial final rule that would significantly modernize the curriculum for airlines’ crewmember training programs. Recognizing that the Airline Safety Act of 2010 mandated that this rule be completed in October 2011, the letter, which was led by Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY-27) and Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH-2), labeled the proposed target date of October 2013 ‘unacceptable’, and echoed the family group’s call to quickly complete the critical safety initiative in the interest of achieving a true ‘One Level of Safety’ for our nation’s regional airlines.
Buffalo, New York- August 1, 2012 – Two years to the day that President Obama signed the ‘Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010’ into law, after being unanimously passed by both Houses of Congress, the Families of Continental (now United) Flight 3407 issued the following statement recognizing both what has been already accomplished and also what key milestones still lie ahead. They called on the President, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, and acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to honor the memory of their loved ones lost, as well as to stand up for the safety of the flying public, by not giving in to an intensive lobbying effort by the airline industry to delay and water down the key safety measures remaining to be implemented. Of particular importance are key rulemakings in the areas of pilot training and minimum qualification requirements.
Buffalo, New York- July 31, 2012 – With the Senate’s Commerce Committee scheduled to hold an executive session on Tuesday afternoon to consider the nomination of Michael Huerta as FAA Administrator, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ called on Chairman John D. ‘Jay’ Rockefeller (D-WV), ranking member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), and their colleagues on the committee to approve the nomination of Huerta, and send his name to the entire Senate body for its approval. At the same time, the group underscored the importance of Huerta living up to his pledge to Chairman Rockefeller at his confirmation hearing to expedite a long-overdue rulemaking that would revamp airlines’ pilot training programs. And the group continues to press the FAA to withstand industry pressure and finalize a rulemaking that would significantly enhance the entry-level requirements for commercial airline first officers.