Nominee to head FAA vows renewed look at air safety : Home: The Buffalo News
WASHINGTON — President Obama's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration today vowed to take a renewed look at airline safety in wake of the Feb. 12 crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in Clarence.
J. Randolph Babbitt, who is expected to win easy confirmation as Obama's FAA chief, told senators at his nomination hearing that he will work to implement the safety lessons of the crash once the National Transportation Safety Board issues its report on the tragedy, which claimed 50 lives.
"We need to ensure that the world's safest skies become even safer and that we are recognized as the world leader of aviation safety," Babbitt told the Senate Commerce Committee.
Babbitt faced questioning from senators of both parties who were clearly furious in wake of revelations about the crash at safety board hearings last week.
Noting that the co-pilot in the crash, Rebecca L. Shaw, earned about $16,000 a year and commuted from Seattle to the east coast to catch the flight to Buffalo, Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said: "I was really staggered trying to understand all that."
Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., also said he was gravely concerned about the Buffalo-area crash.
"I think the families deserve an explanation so something like that doesn't happen again," Isakson said.
The committee is expected to approve Babbitt's nomination tomorrow, with full Senate confirmation to follow.
Babbitt, a former head of the Air Line Pilots Association, is expected to bring a much less industry-friendly approach to aviation regulation than his predecessors under President George W. Bush.
Once again, we can only hope there's some change out there...
-MJ