Press Releases

Only 18 Days Until August 1st Deadline

Buffalo, New York- July 13, 2010 – Members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ continued to show their determination in getting Congress to pass the FAA Reauthorization Bill with recess-week trips to West Virginia and Minnesota, targeting the home states of Senator Jay Rockefeller and Congressman James Oberstar, the key players in the bill’s final negotiations. Meanwhile, the group also announced that members would be in attendance at this Wednesday’s House Aviation Subcommittee hearing, to be held at 2 p.m. in Room 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- July 5, 2010 – With the FAA Reauthorization Bill’s fate hanging in the balance for one more month after Congress passed a thirty-day extension last week, determined members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ are set to take their message on the road to the home turf of Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller and House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar during this week-long congressional recess. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- July 1, 2010 – In response to his home-state Senator Jim DeMint turning what should have been a routine thirty day FAA Extension into a slick political maneuver, Scott Maurer of Moore, South Carolina, who lost his thirty year old daughter Lorin in the crash of Continental Flight 3407, issued this statement on behalf of the members of he ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’: (more…)

Buffalo, New York- June 29, 2010 – As the July 3rd deadline for the current FAA extension quickly approaches, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407′ urged House and Senate Committee leadership to come to the table to work out the key differences between the two houses’ versions of the FAA Reauthorization Bill. The group also made a fervent plea for the strongest possible safety provisions to be adopted in the final bill, zeroing in on requiring all commercial pilots to possess an Airline Transport Pilot license prior to being hired and mandating that all commercial airlines invest in critical safety management programs. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- June 18, 2010 – At Wednesday’s House Aviation hearing that examined the proposed merger between United and Continental, members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ were sad witnesses to Continental Chief Executive Officer Jeff Smisek’s attempt to avoid responsibility for the training deficiencies that led to the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407 operated by Colgan Air in February 2009. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- June 15, 2010 – Continuing their fourteen month crusade for aviation safety reforms and the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Bill, members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that they would be in attendance at House and Senate Aviation Subcommittee hearings this week. The House Aviation Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Wednesday, June 16th at 9:30 a.m. in Room 2167 Rayburn House Office Building, while the Senate Aviation Subcommittee will hold its hearing on Thursday, June 17th at 10:00 a.m. in Room 253 Russell Senate Office Building. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- June 8, 2010 – As the Senate and House return from last week’s Memorial Day recess, members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ implored Senator Jay Rockefeller (WV), Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Congressman James Oberstar (MN), Chairman of the House’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to guide the FAA Reauthorization Bill to a final resolution prior to July 3rd when the current extension expires. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- May 25, 2010 – As the Senate and the House continue to work towards a final FAA Reauthorization Bill, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ urged the general public, and specifically all elected officials and their staffers responsible for aviation issues, to tune into PBS Frontline’s ‘FLYING CHEAP’. The one-hour documentary, to be shown tonight, Tuesday, May 25th (check local listings for air time), takes an inside look at some of the less-than-desirable practices that are employed by the regional airline industry. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- May 13, 2010 – Ten members representing the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ met privately with President Obama as part of his trip to Buffalo today, asking for the President’s assistance in getting the FAA Reauthorization Bill passed by Congress. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- May 10, 2010 – With President Obama set to visit Buffalo on Thursday, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ urged the President to weigh in on behalf of all passengers flying on regional airlines and push for the establishment of a true ‘One Level of Safety’ in the final version of the FAA Reauthorization bill. The plea comes as committee leadership in the House and Senate work towards merging the bills that each house has already passed. (more…)