WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate today passed a
funding extension for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that contained
several key safety provisions to make air travel safer. These safety provisions
were negotiated by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on
the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Commerce Committee
Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and
others. The previous extension was set
to expire on August 1, 2010. The new
extension will expire at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2010.
“While I am pleased to see the approval of these strong
aviation safety provisions, I am disappointed that the House and Senate have
not yet agreed on a full comprehensive reauthorization of the FAA,” said
Senator Hutchison. “The safety
provisions included in this bill represent a strong commitment to improving
aviation safety in our country. The
legislation includes recommendations from the National Transportation Safety
Board to boost pilot training skills, and would direct the FAA to address pilot
fatigue. It is vital that Congress pass
a full FAA reauthorization bill in the coming months, instead of another
extension. This would allow the agency to implement its Next Generation air
traffic control system which will increase efficiency and expand capacity in
our nation’s airways, while providing critical safety enhancements that are
long overdue.”
Hutchison also expressed gratitude and appreciation to the
‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ for their continued support and diligence
in passing the much needed safety measures. “Their constant presence and
support during the FAA Reauthorization process has inspired us all,” Senator
Hutchison said.
The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation
Administration Extension Act of 2010 specifically:
- Requires the Secretary of
the Department of Transportation (DOT) to report annually on the status of
the agency’s adoption of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
recommendations, including an explanation for any deadline that has not
been met; - Requires the FAA to create
and maintain a comprehensive pilot record database for air carriers to
track and review pilot work histories; - Requires the DOT Inspector
General (IG) to conduct a review of aviation safety inspectors and
operational research analysts that includes an assessment of the FAA’s
oversight of commercial air carriers, the level of aviation inspector and
operational research analyst staffing and experience, and the surveillance
responsibilities of aviation safety inspectors; - Requires FAA rulemakings
to ensure commercial air carriers provide pilots with a) stall, upset
recognition, and recovery training, and b) remedial training. This
provision also requires the FAA to convene a multidisciplinary panel to
study and report on methods to improve pilots’ familiarity with stick
pusher systems, icing conditions, and microburst and wind shear events; - Requires any ticket agent,
air carrier, or other person selling tickets for air transportation to
disclose the actual air carrier providing the air transportation; - Requires the FAA to
perform random, unannounced, onsite inspections of regional air carriers
not less than once each year; - Requires the Administrator
to issue regulations on flight time and rest requirements based on the
latest scientific evidence to address pilot fatigue. The provision
also requires the National Academy of Sciences to study the effect of
commuting on pilot fatigue, and requires the Administrator to update
regulations based on the study’s findings if appropriate; and - Requires the FAA to
complete a rulemaking to revise commercial pilot requirements and mandates
all commercial pilots to have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight
experience (up from 250 hours).
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