Senator Chuck Schumer: Safety Experts Must Have A Larger Voice At FAA

Intros Legislation To Mandate Safety Expert Be Included On FAA Advisory Board

June 4, 2009 --

Today, in an effort to ensure that safety is prioritized over all other industry concerns, US Senator Charles E. Schumer announced he will be introducing legislation to add a member to the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator’s Management Advisory Council (MAC) who represents that aviation safety sector.

The current Council consists of a Transportation Secretary designee, a Defense Secretary designee, and ten aviation industry representatives, none of whom come from the aviation safety sector. Examples of aviation safety organizations include the National Air Disaster Alliance/Foundation or the Flight Safety Foundation.

“I met with the families of the victims of flight 3407 and I was deeply moved by their strength and their dedication to make sure that this type of tragedy never happens again,” said Schumer. “Putting someone on the FAA MAC boards from the aviation safety sector is a critical step in trying to achieve that goal, as it will help to loosen the aviation industry’s stronghold of years’ past on the FAA.”

“The latest revelations about the dealings between Colgan Air and the FAA reinforce our suspicions that the foxes are guarding the FAA henhouse”, stated Paul Jonmaire of East Aurora, who lost his fiancée, Jean Srnecz in the accident. “Through this proposed legislation, Senator Schumer is sending a strong message to all in the aviation industry that it will no longer be business as usual at the FAA when it comes to the industry influence on safety. We never want anyone to have to suffer as we have due to an event that seemingly could have been prevented.”

Congress established the Management Advisory Council under the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act (FARA) of 1996. The Council provides advice and counsel to the FAA Administrator, acting as a sounding board and inner circle. They advise on matters critically important to all travelers, included safety recommendations, policy, spending, and regulatory matters under the jurisdiction of the FAA.

The Council consists of a designee of the Transportation Secretary, a designee of the Defense Secretary, and ten aviation industry representatives appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Schumer noted that the current council members are all industry CEOs or FAA representatives who may be influenced by the prospects of profit to prioritize industry gains over safety.

The MAC is the executive advisory board to the FAA Administrator, and is the final stop for the consideration of safety recommendations. Currently the council is completely dominated by CEOs, presidents and representatives of the aviation industry, a scenario which has the potential to lead to a greater focus on what is best for the airline industry versus what is safest for the passengers.

Schumer’s legislation comes after months of disturbing revelations, including: the slow adoption of National Transportation Safety Board recommendations for icing safety; Colgan Air’s use of incomplete – though FAA approved – training manuals; Inadequate training for the pilots of flight 3407 on the “Stick-Pusher” safety device; Low paid and inadequately rested pilots. Schumer said that it is clear the FAA needs to have a stronger voice from the air safety community on its board of advisors.

Schumer said that adding someone to the MAC council who specifically comes from aviation safety will help prevent the tragic loss of flight 3407 from being repreated.

He added, “The safety of our passengers must always be the airlines’ number one priority, no ifs, ands or buts. We have learned that there were many mistakes that led to the tragic crash of Flight 3407 but now we must learn from those mistakes so that we don’t ever have to say that we could have done something more. Adding a member to the MAC council without strong industry ties will help decrease that possibility.”

Source: Senator Charles E. Schumer