Flight 3407 families enlist lawmakers to pressure Obama on pilot-fatigue rules

{mosads}”The airlines are pulling out all the stops, from hiring the President’s staff to waging public relations warfare, in an attempt to blur the real issues here,” Lorin continued. “But if the flying public is going to receive a true ‘One Level of Safety’, particularly in regards to our nation’s regional airlines, this twenty-year battle with the industry over these critical new scheduling guidelines must be won once and for all.”

Continental Connection flight 3407, which was operated for the airline
by regional carrier Colgan Air, crashed as it approached the airport in
Buffalo in February 2009. Pilot fatigue was cited as one of the causes
of the accident.

The 3407 families group said their letter about enacting tougher rules on pilot scheduling was signed by lawmakers from 33 states, including Reps. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio), Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), and Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.).

The group said high-ranking Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) had also signed the letter.

Costello said Friday that he was retiring at the end of his term in 2012.