Press Releases

Airlines and Allies Muscle Recommendation Through Committee to Weaken Pilot Qualification Requirements

Buffalo, New York – September 15, 2017 – As an industry-dominated Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) rubber-stamped a regional airline proposal to eliminate or weaken critical new regional airline pilot qualification requirements on Thursday, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ strongly objected and called on the Federal Aviation Administration to stand its ground in the interest of the flying public. (more…)

Flight 3407 Families Raise Alarm on FAA Advisory Committee’s Backdoor Efforts to Weaken Pilot Qualification Requirements

Buffalo, New York – September 7, 2017 – In the midst of being fully engaged in the FAA Reauthorization process underway in both Houses of Congress, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ group was forced to take a detour amid reports that an industry-dominated Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) under the auspices of the FAA was in the process of finalizing a proposal that would include a recommendation to eliminate or water down critical new regional airline pilot qualification requirements unanimously enacted by Congress in the wake of the crash of Flight 3407 back in 2009. (more…)

Flight 3407 Captain Was Hired by Regional at 650 Hours; Unable to React When Auto-Pilot Disengaged

Buffalo, New York – September 5, 2017 – With the nation’s regional airlines and their lobbyists continuing to wage a disinformation campaign throughout Congress’s August recess against regional airline safety initiatives that were ‘paid for in blood’, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ persevered in their crusade to remind members on both sides of the Hill and both sides of the aisle of the importance of standing up for all members of the flying public, in resisting any efforts to water down these safety measures in the ongoing efforts to reauthorize the FAA. The historic package of regional airline safety reforms unanimously passed by Congress in 2010 has resulted in over eight years of no fatal commercial crashes on domestic carriers in the United States, the longest such period in our nation’s history by over three times. (more…)

Aviation Dean Sends Letter to Thune Just 1 Day After Mark-Up

Buffalo, New York – July 19, 2017 – After narrowly being approved during the Commerce Committee’s FAA mark-up by a 14-13 vote, the fight over Senator John Thune’s amendment to water down entry-level pilot qualification requirements for regional airline first officers took an interesting turn when Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University withdrew its support for the amendment in a letter dated June 30th from Dr. Alan Stolzer, Dean of the Aviation School, to Senator Thune. Just one day prior, Thune had trumpeted Embry-Riddle’s endorsement during the debate on the amendment. (more…)

Group Urges Full Senate to Block Consideration of FAA Bill with Dangerous Anti-Safety Language

Buffalo, New York – July 13, 2017 – With the FAA authorization set to expire at the end of September and regional airlines desperately attempting to water down critical safety initiatives which have resulted in eight years of no fatal commercial aviation crashes on US domestic carriers, the Families of Continental Flight 3407 vowed to continue their push to ensure that Congress does not cave in to pressure from regional airlines and their lobbyists.

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Committee Ignores Impassioned Pleas of Miracle on the Hudson Crew; Amendment Barely Passes on Straight Party Line Vote

Buffalo, New York – June 30, 2017 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ reacted strongly on Thursday to the narrow passage of an amendment to the Commerce Committee’s FAA Reauthorization Bill that would significantly weaken the stronger regional airline pilot experience requirements unanimously passed by Congress in 2010 and finalized by the FAA in 2013. The safety provision in question was part of a comprehensive package of safety reforms implemented by the FAA in the wake of the 2009 crash of Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo, New York, that have resulted in over eight consecutive years of zero fatalities on US commercial planes, the longest such period in U.S. aviation history by over three times. (more…)

Regional Airlines Pushing for Safety Rollbacks in FAA Bill

Buffalo, New York – June 28, 2017 – As amendments were filed on both sides of the Hill seeking to water down the hard-fought, stronger regional airline pilot qualification requirements won by safety advocates in the wake of the crash of Continental Flight 3407, over twenty-five members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407′ descended upon Washington to stand up for safety. The families’ charge was led by 10-year-old Summer West of Clarence, New York, who lost her father and Northrup Grumman defense contractor Ernie West in the crash when she was only two, who read a passionate letter to all members of Congress at the group’s press conference (Youtube link to her speech, starting at 1:50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d5TT2mPWGk&t=110s)

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Regional Airlines Pushing Commerce Committee to Roll Back Critical Safety Initiatives in FAA Bill

Buffalo, New York – June 20, 2017 – With the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ scheduled to head to Washington this week as rumors swirl of attempts by regional airline lobbyists to pressure Senate and House lawmakers to water down critical safety initiatives enacted in the wake of the fatal regional airline crash, the group reacted strongly when the office of Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, the chairman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, did not accommodate a meeting request for the Senator from a Missouri couple who lost their daughter in the crash. (more…)

Regional Airlines and Lobbyists Seeking to Undo 8 Years of Zero Fatal Crashes

Buffalo, New York – June 20, 2017 – With Senate and House committees expected to shortly release the text of their FAA Reauthorization Bills, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ sent a strong warning to members on both sides of the Hill who may be considering introducing legislative text to water down critical safety regulations enacted in the wake of the tragic crash of Flight 3407 outside Buffalo in February 2009.

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Transportation Secretary to Testify on FAA Reauthorization This Week Before Senate, House Committees

Buffalo, New York – June 6, 2017 – With new Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao scheduled to testify on FAA Reauthorization before Senate and House committees this week, members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ called on the Secretary to stand up for critical regional airline safety initiatives in the midst of an industry push to water down or eliminate them entirely. (more…)