Press Releases

Buffalo, New York- January 25, 2010 – PBS FRONTLINE will air a one hour special Tuesday, February 9th, at 9 p.m. ET entitled ‘Flying Cheap’ – a revealing look at the inner workings of the regional airline industry. The documentary will explore many of the issues brought to light by the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407 on February 12th, 2009, killing all forty nine aboard the plane as well as one person on the ground. In particular, it will feature telling interviews from former Colgan pilots and other industry insiders. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- January 19, 2010 – Continuing their push for passage of the FAA Reauthorization Bill, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that they would attend the Commerce Committee’s hearing on Aviation Security, to be held Wednesday, January 20th, at 2:30 pm in Room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The hearing topic has special significance for the family of passenger Beverly Eckert, who lost her husband Sean Rooney in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center and became a fierce advocate for homeland security reform. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- January 14, 2010 – As the Senate reconvenes next week and the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ continue their push for the passage of the FAA Reauthorization bill, the group praised The Buffalo News for its recent four-part series (http://www.buffalonews.com/specialreports/whos_flying_your_airplane/) on the state of pilot experience and training, particularly at our nation’s regional airlines. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- January 4, 2010 – As Americans across the country celebrated the holidays with family gatherings, religious observances, and gift giving, it was a different feeling for the families of victims of Continental Flight 3407. Nearing eleven months after the Continental Express flight operated by Colgan Air crashed into a home in Clarence Center, New York, taking the lives of forty nine passengers, an unborn baby, and a person on the ground, their families experienced their first December holiday season without their loved ones. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- December 17, 2009 – In response to last week’s Senate Aviation Subcommittee Hearing and a meeting with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration Adminstrator Randy Babbitt, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ issued the following statement. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- December 9, 2009 – Members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ strongly condemned the prepared statement of FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, to be delivered at Thursday’s Senate Aviation Subcommittee’s oversight hearing on the FAA’s Call to Action safety Initiatives, coming out against a Congressional initiative to mandate higher experience requirements for all commercial airline pilots. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- December 8, 2009 – Over 35 members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ will descend upon Capitol Hill this Thursday to attend a critical Senate Aviation Subcommittee hearing on the ‘Oversight of FAA Initiatives’, where FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt will testify. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- December 2, 2009 – In the wake of Tuesday’s Senate Aviation hearing on pilot fatigue, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ continued to push for a new approach to pilot commuting in the wake of last February’s tragedy that claimed fifty lives. (more…)

Group Continues to Push for Senate Action on FAA Reauthorization

Buffalo, New York- November 30, 2009 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that group members will attend the Senate Aviation Subcommittee’s Hearing on Pilot Fatigue, to be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2009, at 10:15 a.m. in Room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. (more…)

Buffalo, New York- October 29, 2009 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ continued their drive in the Senate for higher pilot qualification standards, attending a hearing held by the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, and meeting with a host of key players regarding the aviation safety provisions in the Senate’s Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act. (more…)