Press Releases

Group Keeps Focus on Regional Airline Safety

Buffalo, New York – February 12th, 2015 – On a snowy night outside Buffalo six years ago today, Continental Connection Flight 3407, operated by regional carrier Colgan Air, crashed into a home on Long Street, taking the lives of all forty-nine and an unborn baby on board, as well as Douglas Wielinski who was sitting at his dining room table. Today, the family group remembers those lost, and challenges Congress, DOT, FAA, and everyone in the commercial airline industry to not forgot the painful lessons learned that evening.

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Family Group to Conduct Outreach in Washington on Wednesday

Buffalo, New York – February 2nd, 2015 – With the six-year anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407 fast approaching, Miracle on the Hudson pilot Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are scheduled to be in Buffalo today to join members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ in remembering those lost and also calling on congressional transportation leaders to hold the line against industry pressure to weaken regional airline safety measures that were unanimously passed by Congress in the aftermath of the crash. The family group will then follow this event with a Wednesday trip to Washington where they will continue their advocacy for a true ‘One Level of Safety’ on both sides of Capitol Hill.

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Challenge Regional Airlines to Continue to ‘Step Up to the Plate’

Buffalo, New York – January 7, 2015 – In light of this morning’s public release of a final rule requiring Safety Management Systems for all Part 121 carriers, The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407′ commended Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta for their agencies’ work in implementing another key provision of Public Law 111-216, the Airline Safety Act.

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Remain Vigilant to Ensure That Regional Airline Safety is Kept at Forefront

Buffalo, New York – November 18, 2014 – With Congress preparing to take up a new FAA Reauthorization effort in the next Congress, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced their intentions to be involved in the process as they continue their crusade to achieve a true ‘One Level of Safety’ between the nation’s major and regional carriers. They will kick off their efforts by attending Tuesday’s House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s hearing entitled, ‘FAA Reauthorization: Issues in Modernizing and Operating the Nation’s Airspace’.

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Call on Airline Industry to Focus More on Solutions, Less on Complaining Buffalo, New York – August 28, 2014 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ expressed their support for a recently-announced flight training partnership initiative between Metropolitan State University and Colorado Northwestern Community College (see link below), and called Read more…

Industry Continues to Shift Blame to Regulations as Culprit for Regional Airlines’ Inability to Find Pilots to Work for Food Stamp-Level Wages

Buffalo, New York – April 29, 2014 – In a show of support for new federal aviation safety guidelines geared at avoiding a repeat of the tragic and avoidable crash of Continental (now United) Flight 3407, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ will attend Wednesday morning’s House Aviation Subcommittee hearing. The hearing, to be held at 10 a.m. in Room 2167 of the Rayburn House Office Building, will focus on air service to small communities, at airports served almost exclusively by regional airlines. The family group will also make rounds on both sides of Capitol Hill to highlight a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on Pilot Supply that exposed the myth being propagated by the airlines that there are not enough ATP-licensed pilots to fill their cockpits.

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Large Pool of Potential Pilots Exist; Airlines Need to Step Up to Make Profession More Attractive

Buffalo, New York – February 28, 2014 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ reacted strongly to today’s Buffalo News article (http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/pilot-shortage-tied-to-low-wages-gao-report-finds-20140227) detailing a Government Accountability Office report on pilot supply as a counter to recent airline claims that new regional airline safety rules were to blame for an alleged ‘pilot shortage’. In particular, the group highlighted the report’s finding that ‘Data indicate that a large pool of qualified pilots exists relative to projected demand, but whether such pilots are willing or available to work at wages being offered is unknown.’

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House Aviation Subcommittee Hearing Raises Serious Concerns About Some Members’ Commitment to Safety

Buffalo, New York – February 12, 2014 – As the members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ prepare to gather tonight to remember their loved ones tragically lost five years ago when Continental Flight 3407 operated by regional carrier crashed into a home on Long Street in Clarence Center, New York, group members had a strong message for some in the airline industry and Congress who have seemingly already forgotten the painful lessons learned on that February evening in 2009. Recent quotes in newspaper articles and comments made by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members at last Wednesday’s hearing raised serious concerns about their commitment to ensuring that passengers flying on the nation’s regional airlines receive a true ‘One Level of Safety’ compared to those flying on the mainline carriers.

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The Families of Continental Flight 3407 will gather to remember their loved ones at a memorial service at the Zion Lutheran Church, February 12, 2014, 8pm, followed by candle light procession to mark the exact time of the tragedy’s occurrence five years ago.

The memorial service, open to the public, marks the five-year anniversary of the senseless crash of Continental Flight 3407 in Clarence, NY. The service will include reflections from members of the community that came to their aid in the aftermath of the crash along with expressions of appreciation from the 3407 Families. A sentimental slideshow of the victims lost will be shown along with live music and the laying of carnations representing each of the 51 people who died as a result of the crash of Flight 3407. There will be a gathering in the Church Hall immediately following the ceremony. (more…)

Oppose Exemptions; Declare Commercial Aviation System is Only as Strong as the Weakest Link

Buffalo, New York – January 23, 2014 – Less than three weeks from the five year anniversary of the tragic and preventable crash of Continental (now United Airlines) Flight 3407 operated by regional carrier Colgan Air (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Airlines), the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ railed at recent complaints by aviation industry stakeholders and their supporters attacking new safety rules designed to ensure a TRUE ‘One Level of Safety’ for passengers traveling on both major and regional carriers.

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