Press Releases

‘Pilot Shortage Cartel’ Continues Efforts to Undermine Safety Regulations

Buffalo, New York – April 7, 2017 – After attending Thursday’s Senate Aviation Subcommittee hearing as part of the FAA Reauthorization process, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ expressed serious concerns over a very one-sided panel of witnesses focused on rolling back critical regional airline safety measures enacted in the wake of the crash of Flight 3407 in February 2009 outside of Buffalo, New York. (more…)

Buffalo, New York – April 5, 2017 – As both houses continue to move forward with reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that group members would be present at Thursday’s hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee. The group continues to push back against industry pressure to roll back stronger entry-level first officer qualification requirements enacted as a result of the 2009 regional airline crash outside of Buffalo, New York. (more…)

Buffalo, New York – March 8, 2017 – With regional airlines and their lobbyists clamoring for Congress to roll back new pilot qualification and training requirements that were enacted in the wake of a needless and preventable regional airline crash outside Buffalo in 2009, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that group members would be present at Wednesday’s House Aviation Subcommittee hearing. (more…)

Look Forward to Working With Trump Administration

Buffalo, New York – February 12th, 2017 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ issued the following statement to mark today’s 8th anniversary of the crash.

“Eight years ago today, on a cold, snowy night outside Buffalo, our loved ones were mere minutes away from arriving in Buffalo ahead of Valentine’s Day weekend. Or, in the case of Doug Wielinski, it was a quiet night at home on Long Street in the company of his wife and daughter. Moments later, Continental Express Flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air, tragically and needlessly crashed into the Wielinski home. In that instant, the lives of so many of us were forever changed.

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Hearing to Be Focused on Reducing Regulatory Burdens

Buffalo, New York – February 1, 2017 – In conjunction with Wednesday’s trip to Washington to commemorate the 8 year anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407, the families and friends of those lost in the February 2009 crash announced that they would be in attendance at Wednesday morning’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing focused on reducing regulations.

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Call on Trump Administration, Congress to Continue to Emphasize ‘One Level of Safety’ for Regional Airlines

Buffalo, New York – January 30, 2017 – With the 8th anniversary of the crash of Continental Flight 3407 fast approaching on February 12th, members of ‘The Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that they would be journeying to Washington this Wednesday to continue their fervent advocacy for regional airline safety. Group members are planning on conducting outreach with both Houses in Congress and with the Federal Aviation Administration. (more…)

Seek to Put Entry Level Qualifications, Pilot Record Database on Nominee’s Radar

Buffalo, New York – January 10, 2017 – With Congress ready to begin another FAA Reauthorization cycle, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that group members would be in attendance for Wednesday’s Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing for Elaine Chao, President-Elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Transportation.

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Movie Contrasts Recent Reports of Airline Attempts to to Get Huerta, FAA to Cave In on Stronger Pilot Qualification Requirements

Buffalo, New York – September 9, 2016 – Amid rumors of regional airlines and their lobbying associates working the FAA and the media in an attempt to create momentum for watering down more stringent entry-level qualification standards for first officers, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ praised the premiere of the critically-acclaimed movie ‘Sully’ as a reminder of the importance of experience when it comes to piloting a commercial airliner. Recent reports in the media shed light on an airline-driven effort by an FAA-chartered working group to sway FAA Administrator Michael Huerta towards relaxing strong new hiring requirements that were unanimously enacted by Congress back in 2010. (more…)

Pledge to Continue to Fight to Protect Stronger First Officer Qualification Requirements

Buffalo, New York – July 14th, 2016 – The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ had a very measured response to Wednesday’s news that the Senate had followed the House in passing an FAA extension through September 2017. The family group applauded Congress for resisting pressure from regional airlines to water down strong new entry-level first officer qualification requirements enacted in 2013 as well as for taking other positive steps in the implementation of the 2010 Airline Safety Act. However the group also issued a stern warning to the regionals and their congressional allies that it would continue to carry on its impassioned fight for a true ‘One Level of Safety’ between the nation’s regional and mainline carriers into 2017 and the 115th Congress. (more…)

Group Remains Vigilant on Regional Airlines’ Attempts to Water Down Pilot Qualification Requirements

Buffalo, New York – June 14th, 2016 – With the current FAA Reauthorization set to expire in one month, The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ announced that they would be in attendance at Wednesday morning’s House Aviation Subcommittee hearing. The group continues to fight to preserve the stronger First Officer Qualification requirements that were unanimously enacted by Congress and implemented by FAA as a result of the 2010 Airline Safety Act, in the face of strong lobbying efforts by regional airlines to roll back those heightened standards. (more…)