R.H. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:59:07 GMT -5

I first want to express my sincere condolences to the family members, friends and loved ones of those lost in the crash of 3407. Like all accidents, they catch us all by surprise, then grief and ultimately anger. I don't blame anyone for being angry, nor do I think your efforts to improve safety in the airline industry are unfounded.
Unfortunately, we are dealing with political and economic realities both in industry and government. The FAA under it's charter is tasked with promote air commerce AND safety. This is because the reality is that the FAA must evaluate every proposed rule-making change from a cost vs. benefit standpoint. What this translates into is that there is a dollar value placed on human lives saved over the long run vs. how much it will cost the industry.
3407 was a tragic accident, and like all accidents there is a chain of events that led to it's occurance. At face value, it appears to be a heinous accident that should never have occurred and the causal factors rest squarely on the airline itself. I am not defending the company, because I work there, but I am going to say that in the history of airline accidents at both "regional" and "mainline" carriers. I can count many more than a handful that were a direct result of negligence, corruption and corporate greed. I am not going to even attempt to cite them all, but if you research airline accidents since 1960 when the jet age really took hold it wouldn't be difficult for me to assert what MANY pilots at a major will tell you. It is the same crap with these companies too.
I applaud your efforts to improve airline safety, but in echoing the sentiments of some other people who have posted here. This legislation isn't going to make the skies any safer. Much in same way that the TSA creates a false sense of security in preventing terrorism. A pilot with an ATP will also create a false sense of security about the competence of the crew.
We don't need another fatigue study to tell us that pilots are fatigued. It has been done numerous times with the same conclusions. Simply a waste of taxpayer dollars to conclude the obvious, 16-hour duty days, stand-up or continuous duty overnights are fatiguing. We will STILL have the usual players...Controlled Flight into Terrain, Runway Incursions, etc...
I hope that you don't think that I don't want to see change or that I am denying there was a problem at Colgan Air. WE that work there ALL recognize that, BUT as the saying goes...The more it changes, the more it stays the same. People will soon forget the memories of those lost on 3407 just as they did in Lexington, KY. It is you, the ones that lost your loved ones that have to wake-up to the reality that the flying public has a very short memory and politicians really only are attracted to the issues that put them in the limelight.
Lastly, irregardless of what happened in Buffalo. Some of the best pilots in the industry do fly at Colgan Air. Flying in demanding conditions, poor weather, ineffective and indifferent management and in the final analysis a pretty ungrateful flying public...
I pray that the souls of those lost rest in peace and that their loved ones find solace that WE that fly at CJC will NOT forget them.

Colgan Air SAAB 340 First Officer

avsafe Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:54:00 GMT -5

Does anyone know the status of this? Has anything changed?
In the wake of the Colgan Air Flight 3407 accident, US lawmakers are urging regulatory authorities to study the impact of long-distance commuting on pilot fatigue.

During a recent hearing of the Senate commerce, science and transportation committee, Senators pressed officials from the US FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to undertake a widespread study of airline pilots to establish what connection, if any, exists between commuting pilots and fatigue.

Findings of the NTSB investigation following the February 2009 accident of a Colgan Air Bombardier Q400 that crashed on approach to Buffalo concluded that inappropriate pilot response to a stick shaker stall warning was found to be the probable cause of the accident.

Additionally, the NTSB found that the crew was "likely fatigued" at the time of the accident after the captain spent the two of the three nights prior to the crash sleeping in the airline's crew lounge and the first officer was commuting from her home in Seattle the night prior.

"Unfortunately, in the aviation industry, fatigue-related decisions by operators and pilots - such as minimum crew hires, flight crew schedules and commuting - are decisions that too often reflect the economics of the industry, rather than the data and science of fatigue and human performance," says NTSB.

"It seems unlikely to me that this is the only circumstance and maybe this has become a practice and this has to stop," says Subcommttee Chairman Byron Dorgan (D-ND).

NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman explains the board esimated during its investigation that 70% of Colgan's pilots commuted to the airline's Newark Liberty International Airport base, and 20% were commuting from a distance of 1600km (1000 miles) or more.

"Until we know how widespread this is, we can't really fix the problem, and neither can the carriers" says Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC). "Just because the safety record is good, it doesn't mean the pilots are rested."

Peggy Gilligan, FAA's associate administrator for aviation safety, acknowledges that the relationship between commuting and pilot fatigue is of great interest to regulators, but cautions that any potential rulemaking regarding pilot commuting must take into account pilot concerns about forced relocation that could cause personal and economic hardship.

As part of its investigation, the NTSB recommended that the FAA require all scheduled and non-scheduled operators to "address fatigue risks associated with commuting, including identifying the number of pilots who commute, establishing policy and guidance to mitigate fatigue risks, using scheduling practices to minimize opportunities for fatigue, and develop or identifying rest facilities for commuting pilots.

G.C. Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:02:42 GMT -5

PS> I completely understand your grief. And I understand your desire to fix the system. I applaud that, in fact. I just feel that some of the measures in this bill do nothing to increase safety, but do a lot to harm the industry.

More could be done in the realm of fatigue management, safety management systems, and other programs within the airlines. Internal training standards could be tightened up, and that could go a long way to weeding out the bad apples.

Again, I appreciate your efforts to improve the industry I work in. I want it to be better, and I want it to be safe. So let's all work together to put forth measures that actually increase the safety of the operation, instead of those that don't.

G.C. Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:54:53 GMT -5

I know it is unpopular with this group, but the hour requirement will do nothing to increase safety, but it will put some airlines out of business in a couple of years. Quantity of hours are irrelevant. The quality of the hours is extremely important.

A pilot who learns to fly at a school dedicated to training professional pilots, who then gets tailored training specific to the airline environment is better suited at 250 or 300 hours to flying in the part 121 world than someone with 1500 or 2000 hours who flew pipeline patrol, or towed banners for a couple of summers in Orlando.

It is the equivalent of saying someone who drives on rural highways for 1500 hours would be a better driver in Manhattan than someone who learned to drive in Manhattan, but had only driven for 300 hours in Manhattan. I'll take the New York guy every time. And you would be smart to choose the 300 hour pilot who knows how to fly in the airline environment too.

Unfortunately, the new rules coming down are the result of appeals to emotion, not rational discussions on what is best for safety. Hopefully this will be fixed sometime soon by cooler heads.

Sincerely,

An Airline Pilot

Carol Bauda Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:10:12 GMT -5

I am in awe of the tenacity of the families of 3704. What they have accomplished is truly a tribute to their loved ones and a model for government change from the grassroots level. I know my friend Beverly (Eckert) is smiling from above, as her family takes inspiration from her short life, to accomplish great things here in her memory.

Ron H Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:53:00 GMT -5

Too bad the politicians are hijacking this worthwhile issue by tagging on handouts to labor unions re Fedex. So much garbage delays or gets passed by attaching to perfectly legit issues like this. What horrible opportunists these politicians who do this are.

Here's to success without the pork and unrelated tag-alongs, and to ever more healing from losing so much.

N.F. Hoffmann Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:53:43 GMT -5

From Canada with compassion for all the families torn by this tragedy may you all find peace and some form of healing from your scars within for whatever it is worth !
Godspeed

KK Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:58:07 GMT -5

Latest on legislation - looking at an August 1st deadline. Senate
Republicans and House Democrats not playing nice (typical DC) - you'll
Be seeing our group down there a lot between now and then.

KB Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:37:08 GMT -5

What is the update on the legislation efforts?

PB Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:27:46 GMT -5

Classy people flying for our regional airlines out there...sad.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/flyinglessons/archives/213723.asp

Abq. NM Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:09:28 GMT -5

Everytime I fly into Buffalo or anywhere, I think of flight 3407 and the families.

Mike Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:10:15 GMT -5

The fact that the names of the pilots were mentioned in this memorial speaks HIGHLY of those who created this website. God Bless

D Castor Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:46:41 GMT -5

The dirt that has been exposed in this accident absolutely blows me away. Number one I cannot believe the airlines allowed the cockpit experience levels and pilot performance records to slip to such low levels and two, how in the world do they think it is for one moment anything less than a criminal act to fight legislation to correct the issues. My hat is off to the families who in their time of sorrow have stepped up to the plate and put forth the effort to make air transportation safer for the rest of us. God bless you.

Jessie Givens Sun, 30 May 2010 14:44:37 GMT -5

This accident should be examined to the fullest to help prepare pilots and other flight crew to improve aviation safety. My deepest sympathy to all the families. I hope President Obama will be true to his word as he met with families in his visit to Buffalo, New York at the Airport in Cheektowaga, New York. May God Bless all of the families.

Hugh Boyle Fri, 21 May 2010 00:27:13 GMT -5

Met Scott Maurer on a flight from DC. Very nice man and I was most inpressed by the passion he had for this effort to improve commercial avaition safety. Keep up the very good work Scott and it was a pleasure speaking with you!

Martha Ternet Tue, 18 May 2010 14:18:34 GMT -5

As Butler season ticket holders, we were aware of this tragic accident. The newspaper reported that Kevin texted the Butler players: "play with passion" after the accident. To Kevin and all of Lorin's family, our deepest sympathy.

james vining Sun, 16 May 2010 23:51:43 GMT -5

god bless the victims of 3407

Tony Mon, 10 May 2010 11:31:33 GMT -5

I remember February 12, 2009 well. Living in Rochester only an hour to the east, I remember the weather being fairly poor but not impossible that night. I nearly went to bed but for some strange reason felt compelled to turn the tv on and that's when I saw the terrible news.

As a husband, father, brother, son, and frequent flyer, the news came crashing down on me with unbelieveable weight. This event has affected me forever and I hope that no one ever has to go through what you all have gone through in the past year+. I applaud your efforts to improve air safety and hope you keep fighting for what is right, no matter who gets offended or complains.

Frequent Flyer Thu, 06 May 2010 13:43:56 GMT -5

Thanks Frank. That link was posted earlier on the guestbook. It does in fact illustrate a very sad state the industry has found itself in. Of all the things I like to economize on, air transportation is not one of them on a very short list.

frank Tue, 04 May 2010 18:03:48 GMT -5

here is why 3407 went down

http://forums.jetcareers.com/general-topics/53768-expectations-how-save-5-airline-ticket.html

HR 3371 Tue, 04 May 2010 06:48:31 GMT -5

H.R. 3371, THE “AIRLINE SAFETY AND PILOT TRAINING IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2009”
Pilot Training, Qualifications, Screening and Professional Development
Air Carrier Safety and Pilot Training Task Force
􀂾
Establishes a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Task Force that will identify aviation industry best practices regarding: pilot training, pilot professional standards, and inter-carrier information sharing, mentoring and other safety-related practices.
􀂾
The Task Force shall report to Congress every 180 days on air carrier progress implementing best practices, and make recommendations for legislative and regulatory action.
Implementation of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Recommendations
􀂾
Requires FAA to ensure that pilots are trained on stall recovery, upset recovery, and that airlines provide remedial training.
􀂾
Mandates the FAA to convene a multidisciplinary panel on pilot training for stick pusher operations, and then take action to implement the recommendations of the panel.
􀂾 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to provide an annual report to Congress on what the
agency is doing to address each open NTSB recommendation pertaining to part 121 air carriers.
Pilot Qualifications, Screening, Mentoring & Professional Development:
􀂾
Requires airline pilots to hold an FAA Airline Transport Pilot license (1,500 minimum flight hours required).
􀂾
Establishes comprehensive pre-employment screening of prospective pilots including an assessment of a pilot’s skills, aptitudes, airmanship and suitability for functioning in the airline’s operational environment.
􀂾
Requires airlines to: establish pilot mentoring programs whereby highly experienced pilots will mentor junior pilots; create Pilot Professional Development Committees; modify training programs to accommodate new-hire pilots with different levels and types of flight experience; and provide leadership and command training to pilots in command (including complying with the “sterile cockpit rule”).
Airline Training Hour Requirements
􀂾
Studies the best methods and optimal time needed in airline training programs for pilots to master necessary aircraft systems, maneuvers, and procedures; the length of time between training events including recurrent training; and the best methods to reliably evaluate mastery of systems, maneuvers and procedures.
Pilot Records Database
􀂾
Creates a Pilot Records Database, within 90 days, to provide airlines with fast, electronic access to a pilot’s comprehensive record.
􀂾
Information included in the database will include pilot’s licenses, aircraft ratings, check rides, Notices of Disapproval and other flight proficiency tests.
􀂾
FAA will maintain the database and airlines will be able to access the database for hiring purposes only.
1
2
Fatigue
􀂾
Flight and Duty Time Rule: Directs the FAA to update and implement new pilot flight and duty time rules and fatigue risk management plans within one year to more adequately track scientific research in the field of fatigue.
􀂾
Fatigue Risk Management Systems: Requires air carriers, within 90 days, to create fatigue risk management systems approved by FAA to proactively mitigate pilot fatigue.
􀂾
Commuting Study: Studies the impact of pilot commuting on fatigue and provides preliminary results after four months to the FAA to be considered as part of the flight and duty time rulemaking.
Voluntary Safety Programs
􀂾
ASAP and FOQA: Directs the FAA to develop and implement a plan to facilitate the establishment of an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) and a Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) program by all commercial airlines and their unions.
􀂾
Report: Requires FAA to report on ASAP, FOQA, Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA), and Advanced Qualification Program (AQP), which will include: an analysis of which airlines are using the programs or if they are using something comparable that achieves similar safety goals; how FAA will expand the use of the programs; and how FAA is using data from the programs as safety analysis and oversight tools for aviation safety inspectors.
Flight Schools, Flight Education and Pilot Academic Training Study
􀂾
Directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study of: current pilot academic training requirements compared to flight education provided by accredited two- and four-year universities and foreign academic requirements; FAA’s oversight of flight schools, and student loan options available to student pilots.
Other
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FAA Safety Oversight by Inspectors: Requires the Department of Transportation Inspector General to study and report to Congress on if the number and experience level of safety inspectors assigned to regional airlines is commensurate with that of mainline airlines; and whether the various data sources that inspectors need to access to perform oversight of airlines can be streamlined into one data source.
􀂾
Truth in Advertising: Mandates that at the first page of an Internet website that sells airline tickets to disclose to the purchaser of each ticket the air carrier that operates each segment of the flight.
􀂾
Weather Event Training Panel: Requires the FAA to convene a multidisciplinary panel on pilot training for weather events including microburst, windshear and icing conditions.

High Flight Tue, 04 May 2010 06:46:37 GMT -5

High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr
We shall never forget them -God Speed

Kudos Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:37:04 GMT -5

Although fatigue has been the focus of many studies, there is a lack of available information regarding the effects of commuting and nutrition on Pilot and Flight Attendant Fatigue. This type of information could help us look at a deeper systemic problem. The economics of the industry and the transient locations of crew bases and locations at airports in costly major cities necessitate the ability for pilots, particularly those with less seniority, to commute from less expensive communities. The recent mergers only add to this. Although, it may not make sense to restrict commuting, it does make sense to give pilots the tools, resources, and education they need to succeed. Involuntary changes of crew bases are not accompanied with paid moves, home buy-out packages, etc. Many carriers do not have commuting policies to assist pilots. We cannot get to solutions until we start asking the questions.

Lori Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:49:15 GMT -5

I am designing a research project to look at the effects of commuting on pilot fatigue and other factors surrounding commuting. I am also a former commuting regional airline pilot. I will need a lot of support and funding for the project.

Jake Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:46:35 GMT -5

Those low time pilots who keep coming on here trying to defend the a position that experience (flight hours) has no correlation to safety are seriously deluded and should not hold a FAA medical certificate for that reason.

Go to the insurance underwriter actuaries who spend all their time determining risk. They balance risk factors/estimated losses against the ability to price a competitive policy in the market and make a profit. Tell them experience has no bearing on safety. They would laugh you off the top floor of the skyscraper where they work, except those guys don't laugh very often.