Attempt to Counter Industry’s Lobbying Dollars and Pressure with Human Side of the Issue
Buffalo, New York- December 6, 2011 – In the wake of media reports that have cited assurances from Obama administration officials to New York congressional delegation members that critical new guidelines on pilot fatigue will be enacted prior to Christmas, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ have launched a holiday season outreach to highlight the loved ones they lost, as well as the numerous safety initiatives on the FAA’s docket.
“As we continue to struggle to ensure that the mistakes that contributed to Flight 3407 are not allowed to repeat themselves, what better way to do so than to use the theme of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’,” stated Susan Bourque of East Aurora, New York, who lost her sister and prominent 9/11 activist Beverly Eckert. “Nearly three years after this tragedy, our biggest fear is that the powers-that-be get swayed by strong-arm tactics and misleading statistics from all sectors of the industry, and forget the all-too-real human element that comes into play here. Passengers who often unknowingly board regional airlines deserve so much better from a training, minimum pilot qualifications, and pilot rest standpoint than what our loved ones received. Hopefully this administration can stand up to the industry pressure and do what is right for the traveling public in the interest of putting safety first. Either way, this campaign will serve as a strong reminder during this holiday season of the void in so many lives as a result of these safety deficiencies that allowed the preventable tragedy of Flight 3407 to occur.”