S.S. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:45:05 GMT -5

I used to work as a Colgan Airways dispatcher. Keep in mind I want to keep my name secret. 4 on and 3 off, $14.5/hour, and a slaughter house makes it seem like you are working 7 days a week, 16 hours for minimum wage. The bosses preach and emphasize to the schedulers, mx, and dispatch personal safety like white on rice then the bosses go against what they preach. Knowing that I got let go of 4 weeks before the crash made me so thankful that my name was not on that 3407 dispatch release. Now imagine going to work everyday knowing you see the memorial of the 3407 flight you dispatched. This would make going to work 100 times worse. I remember dispatching these Colgan flights in training knowing I was not able to sign releases. Knowing I was not there this is so fresh to me and now I have a big huge scar from all this. Even though I was out before that crash, I feel I have experienced this first hand. Thank you Lord God for looking out for me and taking me out of there. Many prayers for those people who have lost the loved ones.

JOHN STACK Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:11:30 GMT -5

CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR ALL FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ACQUAINTENCES OF ALL THE VICTIMS..THEY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN...

Mary Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:54:42 GMT -5

Many people are watching your tremendous and courageous efforts to fight for change and cheering you on in our hearts. Because of your deep love and strength you will win victory for sake of protecting lives in the future. Your beloved is sent prayers each and every day. They live on and leave a legacy you are bravely fulfilling in their name.

JOE, DEBBIE AND DEVAN SKRIDLA Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:48:04 GMT -5

WE WILL MISS YOU ALWAYS

Lou Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:48:06 GMT -5

Blessings to all

Dylan Pash Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:19:03 GMT -5

Love you Pettys Famly

Giselle and Michael Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:47:04 GMT -5

In honor of the 51 souls lost on flight 3407, we will be walking to complete their journey for them on February 12. May they all rest in peace. May their loved ones find solace in memories. May God Bless them all.

Eileen barlow Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:19:18 GMT -5

lost my only brother brad green on flight 3407. he is forever loved and always in my heart and never forgotton.

. Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:27:23 GMT -5

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

Laura Ludwick Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:37:25 GMT -5

I can't believe it's been this long. I feel like it was just yesterday. I miss Elly a lot and daily think about all she taught me in those years and years of friendship. I will leave July 1 to do mission work in Haiti, the DR and 9 other countries for a year in honor of Elly and the others that lost their lives that day! It's an honor to go help so many in need around the world and remember all those times Elly helped me. If you want to keep updated with my story while overseas check out- http://LauraLudwick.TheWorldRace.org
Families, you are not forgotten!

Amie Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:23:20 GMT -5

Its been almost a year since the crash, and everytime I hear any news about it, it still makes me cry each time. Maybe because, as a Buffalonian, it hits close to home, but its mostly because losing anyone is heartbraking, but losing 50 people at once is unimaginable. Every person who lost someone that night is in my thoughts and I hope that you can all at least find some comfort in eachother and in doing some good in the forms of scholarships, charities and law reforms.

Jen Panfil Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:21:51 GMT -5

Not a day goes by that I don't think about this tragedy and how we made national news that day, in the worst way. I woke up, watched the news, and cried on my entire ride to work. I'm a teacher and it's all my students wanted to talk about.

My condolences and thoughts are with the family members. I have the highest respect for you in all the battles you're fighting. The memorial walk is an enchanting idea. May they rest in peace.

Jim Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:38:25 GMT -5

This was a tragic incident - not an accident. Incidents are predictable and totally preventable. Referring to this as an accident implies that the industry had no control and the tragedy was unpreventable. Continuing to operate the industry under a checkbook mentality and failing to address the root causes and nothing will change. Regarding the need for change, obviously, the primary focus needs to be on the entire airline industry. The airline industry leaders that drive the unsafe culture and unsafe behavior must be held accountable and must be forced to change. The poor crew was a product of the industry.

Diane Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:53:19 GMT -5

I am a Buffalonian and this tragedy hit home for me. I lost my husband and three other members of his family just over 7 years ago in another aircraft accident. My family & I found great comfort in a group called ACCESS (Aircaft Casualty Emotional Support Services). This support system is all people who have lost loved ones in an aircraft accident. There is no other group like it. The grieving process is a long and difficult road. Keep on believing. I will be wearing RED on Feb 12th.

Mike Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:53:49 GMT -5

Umpa, you wouldn't be saying that if you had the slightest clue. You don't. Your loved ones are not dead. Not too long ago no one got hired without a significant amount of experience. That changed drastically in the mid 2000s as the airlines sourced the cheapest labor they could find to fill the flight deck.

a commercial pilot flying part 121 should have 4 things:

(1) Aptitude
(2) Training
(3) Experience
(4) Proven performance record.

The ATP requirement addresses part of the problem, not all of it but at least it is a start.

Until recently ( the last decade ) the above four items were carefully evaluated by the airlines before a job offer was made. The airlines selected the best from a big pool of highly qualified applicants. Much of that changed as they moved to a system of seeking out the lowest cost labor available that met the MINIMUM legal requirements. The results speak for themselves.

Umpa Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:09:14 GMT -5

The flight training requirements the families are fighting for are unreal. It was not the pilots training but fatigue that caused the problems. Fight for that instead of targeting flight hours. Besides if you don't like the travel arrangemets in the sky, just stay on the ground. Everyone knows the risks they are getting into when they fly, geeze.

Matt Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:21:14 GMT -5

I have been flying as a career pilot since 1976. I have witness a dramatic reduction in credentials and skill set required to pass. The bar has been dramatically lowered in aptitude and ability at the airline level in an effort to save money by allowing the job to be out sourced to the lowest bidder (pilot) the regionals can find. Some people had been driving cars for over 5500 hours yet they are unsafe on the road. And yes starviego that is exactly what he did.

starviego Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:56:06 GMT -5

A pilot with over 5500 hours does not respond to a stall warning by pulling back on the yoke. Something else happened aboard that aircraft.

Tom Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:40:57 GMT -5

Looks like the commuter airlines will get their way and continue to hire low time pilots all in the name of saving a couple bucks per ticket vs putting safety first. Today was a big setback. How many more of these preventable accidents will it take?

Chris Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:15:29 GMT -5

My deepest condolences for the loved ones you have lost and sincere gratitude for your efforts on behalf our loved ones on future flights, whether they be passengers, pilots or crew.

I will be sure to write my representatives to support your legislation and any legislation that will improve air travel safety and the quality of life for the skilled and talented pilots and crew who work so very hard. It is disappointing to think that highly-trained pilots, crew and controllers earn less than some marketing executive or bean counter back in the corporate office. This should change.

Regional Pilot Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:04:12 GMT -5

First, I applaud everyone's effort to affect change in the airline industry. I too have been writing Congress, the FAA and the NTSB. I hope they hear my concerns.

Since the tragedy of Flight 3407, the industry has not changed. As a regional airline pilot I have seen our schedules become longer with even less rest over the past several months. Imagine flying 6 trips during a 14 hour duty day and flying your last trip into a mountainous airport at midnight in the middle of winter. This is an accident waiting to happen, but the ATA and RAA will continue to say it's legal. Unfortunately it's about greed and money, and until the airlines take ownership of their problems, things will only get worse.

CJ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:05:35 GMT -5

The link posted below is well worth the time to read and fully supports the efforts the families have taken to shore up air transportation safety. I commend those who are taking the effort in the name of their fallen loved ones to make the airlines clean up their act in terms of pilot background and qualifications.

Mike Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:56:16 GMT -5

My heart goes out to all the family and friends who lost loved ones in this tragedy.

Sadly this accident was predicted by those in aviation who saw the trend building long before 3407 was lost. I do not want to post a very long winded explanation on this board but for those who want to dig deeper into what was going on in the industry leading up to 3407 a very good overview can be found here:

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

Liz Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:19:30 GMT -5

Even months later, it's still such a sad, emotional, heart-breaking, dumbfounding, incomprehensible feeling. You all are in my prayers. I know that the pain will never EVER go away...but life will go on and my prayer is that with each day, you find that grief and pain lessens in some way and you find peace in your hearts.

Mark Weber Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:41:24 GMT -5

I wrote a song called 3407 about the tragedy; as someone living so close to where the plane went down, I wanted to put into words and song the feelings I felt, and I know these feelings will be felt by those who hear the song, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_uxWZWQmHk is where I have a rough draft of the song posted right now. Sincerely, Mark Weber