The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’, will join together in honor of their loved ones for a dedication ceremony of a memorial at the crash site on Saturday, June 2 at 1:30pm, Long Street, Clarence, NY. The ceremony will include the reading of each victim’s name and words from Karen Read more…
Buffalo, New York- May 22, 2012 – In response to recent media coverage of aviation safety-related issues, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407′ sought to keep focus on the FAA’s continuing efforts to fully implement the landmark aviation safety legislation signed into law in August 2010. The group reacted strongly to a May 8th Wall Street Journal report that detailed efforts by the major airlines and their lobbying arms to fight FAA safety initiatives. In particular, the families derided the airlines’ opposition to a safety fix on a fuel tank issue that dates back to a 1996 fatal crash, as well as recent efforts to derail FAA rulemakings that would institute higher standards for initial pilot hiring qualifications as well as initial and recurrent pilot training requirements.
Buffalo, New York- April 24, 2012 – With the House Aviation Subcommittee scheduled to hold an aviation safety oversight hearing on Wednesday, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ kept up the pressure on the government and industry to work towards higher safety standards, with a spotlight on raising the safety standards for the nation’s regional airlines. The group highlighted the recent statement by Pinnacle Airlines in its bankruptcy filing, where it blamed the airline industry’s ‘Race to the Bottom’, as regional carriers compete to shave operating expenses in a desire to provide the lowest bids to mainline carriers for their regional routes.
Buffalo, New York- March 21, 2012 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ issued the following statement in response to testimony by Thomas Hendricks of the Airlines for America (A4A), the high-powered lobbying organization representing the nation’s major air carriers, at Tuesday’s Senate Aviation hearing on ‘Commercial Airline Safety Oversight’: (more…)
Buffalo, New York- March 20, 2012 – With group members set to attend Tuesday’s Senate Aviation Subcommittee hearing on Commercial Airline Safety Oversight, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ renewed their push for the Federal Aviation Administration to follow through on the key remaining safety initiatives from the landmark aviation safety legislation passed in August 2010. This plea comes on the heels of continued industry pressure, from both major and regional carriers, to obstruct efforts related to raising standards in the areas of pilot training and entry level hiring qualifications, the creation of an electronic training records database, as well as gathering further information regarding the potentially dangerous practice of pilot commuting.
Buffalo, New York- February 28, 2012 – With the third anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407 operated by Colgan Air just weeks past, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ reacted positively to Monday’s release by the Federal Aviation Administration of a proposal to significantly upgrade the initial certification requirements for commercial airline pilots. However, in anticipation of a powerful behind-the-scenes campaign by regional airlines to weaken the resulting final rule, the group pressed the Obama administration to stand firm in the interests of achieving an elusive ‘One Level of Safety’ and forcing regional airlines to bring their commitment and investment in safety and training up to the level of the major airlines.
Group Pledges to Make Sure Public Never Forgets Responsible Parties Buffalo, New York- February 10, 2012 – Just two days prior to the third anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air, the “Families of Continental Flight 3407” denounced various industry members associated with the Read more…
Group Continues to Press for Timely Implementation of Aviation Safety Bill Buffalo, New York- February 1, 2012 – With the three year anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407 less than two weeks away, the “Families of Continental Flight 3407” announced that they would be heading to Washington Read more…
Buffalo, New York- January 6, 2012 – As the Christmas season officially comes to an end on the proverbial twelfth day, the sisters of Flight 3407 victim Mary Abraham recognized the progress made by the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration in 2011, and challenged Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to continue to step up and meet key deadlines on Congressionally-mandated aviation safety reforms in 2012. Many key milestones revolve around August 1, 2012, the two year anniversary of the date that President Obama signed the ‘Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010’ into law.
Buffalo, New York- January 3, 2012 – After missing their thirty-year old daughter for yet another holiday season, the parents of Flight 3407 victim Lorin Maurer challenged Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to issue strong new requirements for the Airline Transport Pilot rating, in accordance with a powerful Congressional mandate in landmark aviation safety legislation passed last year. With regional airlines stooping to lower and lower levels to hire their entry-level first officers, often right out of flight school, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ have made this FAA rulemaking effort their highest priority.