Press Releases

Article Reiterates Regional Airlines’ “Race to the Bottom”, Need for Safety Rules to Be Finalized

Buffalo, New York- June 3, 2013 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ reacted strongly to a Sunday article in the Buffalo News (http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130601/CITYANDREGION/130609870/1010&template=printart) where Dan Morgan, former Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Compliance for Colgan Air, acknowledged that a senior FAA official shared “very serious concerns about the safety culture at Colgan Air”, in a meeting with company officials just six months prior to the fatal crash of Flight 3407. Family members also took offense with the revelation that Colgan was able to avoid FAA disciplinary action through the implementation of a safety Powerpoint presentation for its employees.

(more…)

Families Call on Obama Administration to Stand Up to Airlines’ Pressure to Water Down Regional Airline Safety Reforms

Buffalo, New York- May 21, 2013 – With the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in a sprint to finish one key regional airline safety measure by August 1st, and a second by mid-October, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that they would be present at Wednesday’s Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing for Mayor Anthony Foxx. (more…)

April 22nd Deadline for DOT to Send Pilot Qualifications Rule to OMB is Next

Buffalo, New York- April 17, 2013 – In conjunction with an aviation safety oversight hearing on Tuesday, the Senate Commerce Committee and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made it very clear on multiple occasions that they expected FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and his counterparts at the Department of Transportation and White House Office of Management and Budget to complete two overdue aviation safety rulemaking proceedings in the upcoming months. The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407,’ who were on the Hill on Tuesday for the hearing as well as to weigh in with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, lauded the senators for demanding timely action. (more…)

Final Rule is Due August 1st

Buffalo, New York- April 15, 2013 – With two deadlines for critical safety rules fast-approaching, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that they will be in attendance at Tuesday’s hearing to be held by the Senate Commerce Committee on “Aviation Safety: FAA’s Progress on Key Safety Initiatives.”

(more…)

Pilot Training Final Rule Due Mid-October

Buffalo, New York- March 19, 2013 – With two deadlines for critical safety rules fast-approaching, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that they will be in attendance at Wednesday’s hearing to be held by the Senate Commerce Committee on “Aviation Safety: FAA’s Progress on Key Safety Initiatives.”

(more…)

After Miscommunication, FAA Chief Leans Forward and Promises to Deliver Oft-Delayed Rule Dating Back to 1999

Buffalo, New York- February 15, 2013 – After a roller coaster 4th Anniversary trip to Washington which saw Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) deliver seemingly good news that a critical final rule on pilot training was on track to be completed by October, only to be followed hours later by an FAA briefing which pointed to a delay until June 2014, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ were elated to receive news of a letter from Huerta to Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) assuring that FAA and DOT would deliver by the originally-promised October date. (more…)

Tuesday Events to Feature Over 50 Group Members, Western New York Congressional Delegation

Buffalo, NY – February 8, 2013 – Continuing their push for a true ‘One Level of Safety’ between the nation’s regional and mainline air carriers, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ will be in Washington on Tuesday, February 12th to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the fatal crash outside of Buffalo, New York in 2009. In conjunction with the visit, the families will hold a noon press conference in the Senate Visitors Center as well at a Remembrance Service at 5:30 pm in the Longworth House Office Building.

(more…)

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…

Pilot Qualifications, Training Are Front and Center as Families Head to DC for 4th Anniversary of Crash

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.

(more…)

Group to Mark February 12th with Press Conference, Remembrance Service, Door-to-Door Congressional Outreach

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…)