House OKs airline safety bill
By Jerry Zremski
NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF
Updated: October 14, 2009, 3:48 PM /
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WASHINGTON — The House today approved a sweeping airline safety bill that aims to correct the problems brought to light by the Feb. 12 crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in Clarence, which claimed 50 lives.
By a vote of 409 to 11, lawmakers approved legislation that — if eventually agreed to by the Senate — would dramatically boost the amount of flight time a pilot needs to get hired by a commercial airline. The bill also would make it far easier for airlines to see pilots' flight records before they are hired.
In addition, the bill imposes stringent training requirements to make sure pilots know how to operate stall recovery systems and forces airlines to develop fatigue risk management systems for pilots.
"This bill, when enacted into law, will be the most significant increase in raising the standards of pilot qualifications since 1958," when the Federal Aviation Administration was established, said Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The easy passage of the bill strengthens the hand of the families of Flight 3407, who have been fighting for such tough safety measures to be included in a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill later this year.
Most importantly, the House bill boosts the number of flight hours required for newly hired commercial pilots from 250 hours to 1,500 hours. That increase stems from revelations that the pilot of Flight 3407 reacted inappropriately to the plane's stall warning and that the co-pilot had never flown in icing conditions.
"Being a commercial airline pilot is not an entry-level position," said Rep. Chris Lee, R-Clarence.
At this point, the increase in required flight hours for pilots is not included in an FAA reauthorization bill that's expected to be up for a Senate floor vote later this year, although that bill includes other safety measures.
A House-Senate conference committee is expected to merge that Senate measure with an FAA bill the House approved earlier this year and the new House aviation safety legislation.
The Buffalo area's three House members all pushed for the aviation safety measure.
"The tragedy of Flight 3407 awakened Western New Yorkers to the lack of training and standards in the regional airline industry," said Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport. "Today I'm proud that the House is moving forward with legislation that I believe includes a strong new set of guidelines for improving passenger and crew safety."
The bill requires pilots to have an Airline Transport Pilot license -- and the 1,500 flight hours it requires -- before being hired at a commercial airline.
However, the bill is not quite as strong as it was when it emerged from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at the end of July.
Complaints from university aviation programs led committee leaders to add a new section of the bill that would allow the FAA to include university class time in that 1,500-hour flight time requirement if the class time is deemed to provide superior training than actual flying would.
"We are disappointed with the potential loophole in regards to pilot qualifications," said Kevin Kuwik, one of the leading family advocates. "But, on the whole, the bill contains many positive measures and we will continue to fight for the Airline Transport Pilot license requirement."
Lawmakers stressed, though, that the families had already done much to improve air safety.
"Out of tragedy comes promise for safer air travel for all passengers moving forward," said Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo. "This bittersweet legislative victory demonstrates the good that can come when a community and government join together to create positive change."
jzremski@buffnews.com
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