Press Releases

One Level of Safety Demands Same Commitment To and Investment in Safety by Regional Carriers

Buffalo, New York – January 15, 2014 – With the five year anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407 less than one monthaway, the ‘Families of ContinentalFlight 3407’ reacted to today’s five year anniversary of the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’, US Airways Flight 1549, by contrasting the two flights and the factors that contributed to their diametrically opposed outcomes.

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Call on Regional Airlines to Quickly Comply with New Guidelines

Buffalo, New York – November 5, 2013 – In response to this afternoon’s joint press conference held by the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration announcing the release of new pilot training requirements for the nation’s Part 121 air carriers, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ issued the following statement:

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Target Date for Huerta, Foxx on New Pilot Training Rule is Fast Approaching

Buffalo, New York – November 1, 2013 – Responding to a statement made by National Transportation Safety Board member Earl Weener at a recent safety conference noting that the airline industry still has much room for improvement in the area of stall prevention and recovery, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ renewed their call for Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta to finalize a critical new pilot training rule by next Wednesday, November 6th. Both Foxx and Huerta had issued pledges to the group to have the rule completed by October 21st, and the revised date allows for the sixteen days that FAA, DOT, and White House Office of Management and Budget were on furlough during the government shutdown.

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In Wake of 16-Day Government Shutdown, Call on Huerta, Foxx to Deliver by November 6th

Buffalo, New York – October 22, 2013 – In the wake of this month’s government shutdown, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ called for a new deadline of Wednesday, November 6th for a critical pilot training rule as the October 21st target previously offered by Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta came and went on Monday. FAA officials had previously notified the families that the 16 day shutdown had resulted in employees at FAA, the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) who were responsible for the rule being placed on furlough.

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Group to Attend Wednesday Meeting with OMB on Rule That Is Two Years Past Congressional Deadline

Buffalo, New York – September 17, 2013 – With the five year anniversary of the tragic crash looming on the horizon, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ will continue their push for a true ‘One Level of Safety’ between the nation’s major and regional air carriers with a Wednesday trip to Washington. At stake is a congressional mandate calling on the Federal Aviation Administration to revamp airline pilot training protocols in the wake of numerous training deficiencies at regional carrier Colgan Air that contributed to the February 2009 crash. The FAA’s October 2011 deadline established by Congress in the landmark 2010 Aviation Safety Act has come and gone, and both Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta have stated their commitment to complete the final rule by October 21st of this year.

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October Deadline for Training Rule, One Level of Safety for Regional Airlines Remain the Focus

Buffalo, New York- July 29, 2013 – Fresh off the recent announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration of stricter entry-level qualification requirements for first officers at the regional airline level, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that they would be in Washington this Wednesday, July 31st, to sit down with new Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. In their continuing quest to achieve a true ‘One Level of Safety’ between the nation’s regional and mainline carriers, the group is aiming to highlight to the Secretary some of the remaining provisions to be implemented from the 2010 Airline Safety Act.

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Keep Sights Set on October Date for Stricter Crewmember Training Standards

Buffalo, New York- July 10, 2013 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407′ issued the following statement in response to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta’s Wednesday release of tougher pilot qualification and certification standards for all future commercial airline first officers. The rulemaking was directed by the landmark 2010 “Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act’ which was unanimously passed by both houses of Congress.

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Buffalo, New York- July 3, 2013 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ praised a letter sent Wednesday from House Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA-2) to newly-installed Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, calling on Foxx to shepherd two critical aviation safety rules to completion. (more…)

Pilot Qualification Rule Due in Next Month; Training Revamp Due by October

Buffalo, New York- June 27, 2013 – Within minutes of Anthony Foxx being confirmed by the Senate to be the next Transportation Secretary, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ called on Ray LaHood’s successor to follow through on an invitation to sit down with the group, as well as to deliver on two critical new safety regulations.

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Airline Lobbyists Were First to Meet with White House Office of Management and Budget

Buffalo, New York- July 1, 2013 – With a key deadline in the landmark Airline Safety Act of 2010 looming just one month away, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ challenged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to stand up to airline lobbying efforts aimed at watering down a critical entry-level pilot qualifications final rule.

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