For Release: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE REVIEWS REGIONAL AIRLINE PILOT TRAINING, RELATIONSHIP WITH MAJORS AND INDUSTRY SAFETY

Costello: “We will pursue legislation”

Washington - The House Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing today to examine a variety of issues brought to the forefront by the February 12, 2009, crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 near Buffalo, New York. The ongoing National Transportation Safety Board investigation (NTSB), particularly the cockpit recordings, has raised new questions about regional airline pilot training and overall working conditions for pilots.

Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced he will be crafting legislation to address issues surrounding pilot training and safety. Costello expressed great concern that the industry is not living up to the “one level of safety” standard and that the economics of the aviation industry have led to regional airline contracts essentially going to the lowest bidder, and how this affects safety.

“I believe we need to take an industry-wide look at strengthening pilot training requirements. In theory, FAA- training programs certify that every airline, both regional and mainline, train its pilots to the same standard. I think the FAA regulations are too broad and the minimums are too low. We must find a solution to fix this so everyone is on the same level, not just in theory, but in practice,” said Costello in his opening statement.

“Approximately 90 percent of regional airline passengers travel on flights that are scheduled, processed, marketed, ticketed and handled by major airlines through code-share arrangements. To win the contract to fly for the major carriers, the regional airlines have gone to great lengths to provide their services at the lowest price,” continued Costello. “With today’s economic and outsourcing business practices, pilots with decades of experience are laid off from the major carriers, but cannot afford to work for one of the regional carriers because they are faced with starting over as a first officer making less than $25,000 per year. The economics and incentives to outsource to cheaper contractors must not outweigh the value of having experienced pilots in the cockpit.”

Concerns were also expressed about the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration to implement several recommendations of the NTSB, such as the need for mandatory remedial pilot training programs, and the role that fatigue plays on pilot performance. The Subcommittee heard from witnesses representing the NTSB, the FAA, The Department of Transportation’s Inspector General, Colgan Air (which was operating as Continental Connection), pilots, the major and regional airlines, the family members of those who died on Flight 3407 and flight safety experts.

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