Senator Boxer: Senators Introduce Bill to Bolster Aviation Safety Rules

Boxer and Snowe craft legislation on NTSB recommendations, greater FAA oversight for flight safety following Buffalo commuter plane crash

June 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) today announced the One Level of Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to restore confidence in America’s commercial aviation industry by addressing a number of the issues that came to light during the recent National Transportation Safety Board hearings on the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo, New York.

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Senator Boxer said, “We must make sure that FAA does its job to protect the flying public. The tragic crash of Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo exposed several safety and training issues at regional airlines. I am pleased to join with Senator Snowe to introduce this bill, which builds on recent steps taken by the Administration and requires the FAA to address outstanding NTSB recommendations, improve training requirements, and perform random on-site inspections of regional airlines and flight schools.”

“While the aggressive actions taken this week by FAA Administrator Babbit and Transportation Secretary LaHood are a good first step, the aviation industry must make good on its pledge to resolve safety gaps and enforce stronger standards,” said Senator Snowe, a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the legislation. “This legislation will hold their feet to fire, implementing several critical NTSB recommendations that have been languishing for decades and putting in place a more robust inspection process to ensure these new safety standards are being followed.”

The legislation, being introduced today and developed in conjunction with the NTSB and representatives of the Families of Flight 3407, incorporates a number of past NTSB recommendations, including continuing education training for pilots and new de-icing requirements, as well as placing strict timelines on rulemakings already underway at the FAA regarding new minimum training standards and fatigue management plans – both cited as potential causes of several fatal crashes over the past two decades, including the Buffalo accident. It will also allow carriers immediate access to a pilot’s records, including failed flight checks, for the duration of their career. Currently, a carrier can only review an applicant’s record for the past five years. Lastly, their bill requires FAA to perform random inspections at flight schools and regional airlines to ensure that training and safety standards are being enforced.

Source: Senator Barbara Boxer