Flight 3407 Families, Jeff Skiles, Western NY Delegation to Hold Tuesday Press Conference in DC on FAA Reauthorization

Buffalo, NY – January 29, 2016

The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ will hold a press conference with ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ First Officer Jeff Skiles and members of the Western New York congressional delegation on Tuesday, February 2nd in advance of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s expected introduction of the FAA Reauthorization Bill.  The group is making the trip to Washington one week in advance of the 7th anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo, New York, which took the lives of all forty-nine on board as well as one man on the ground.  In addition to commemorating their loved ones who were lost in the crash, the group is expected to emphasize the importance of resisting Regional Airline Association efforts to water down stronger safety standards enacted in the wake of the tragedy.

A prepared statement will be available after the 10:00 a.m. Washington press conference and members of the group will be made available for comment. Please contact group media representative Takla Boujaoude via  takla.3407@gmail.com or 716-907-2425.

WHO:            The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’

WHAT:          Press Conference on FAA Reauthorization

WHEN:          10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016

WHERE:        Room SVC-209-08, Capitol Visitor Center

Tags: Blog by Jillian Gustafson
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Flight 3407 Families Call Out FAA on IG Report; Blast Airlines for Taking Shortcuts on Pilot Records

Further Proof That Voluntary Compliance Doesn’t Work

Buffalo, New York – August 25th, 2015

Responding to an audit released by the Department of Transportation Inspector General’s office detailing the progress of the Federal Aviation Administration in implementing an electronic pilot record database, mandated by the Airline Safety Act of 2010, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ had harsh words for both the FAA and commercial airlines, which were found to not be taking the appropriate interim steps to compliance.

“No matter how full of a plate FAA feels that it may have, we can never let anyone forget what happens when slippage is allowed to occur or when the ball is dropped when it comes to staying on top of every phase of the safety process” stated Karen Eckert of Williamsville, New York, who lost her sister Beverly Eckert, a prominent 9/11 widow and activist.  “No one ever suggested that rule making was easy, but hopefully this IG report will create the pressure from Congress and the traveling public that FAA needs to get this project on the right track.  FAA’s 2023 target date is absolutely unacceptable.  Just as disappointing, however, is FAA’s failure to take the appropriate interim steps to ensure that airlines are maintaining the proper records in the meantime and requesting all available pilot records in the hiring process.  We are counting on Administrator Huerta and his staff to take immediate and decisive corrective actions on this report’s recommendations.”

The group also zeroed in on findings in the report that cast doubt on whether the nation’s commercial airlines were living up to their end of the deal on the FAA’s 2009 Call to Action, the Agency’s initial response to addressing some of the gaps in regional airline safety exposed by the NTSB’s investigation into the crash of Flight 3407.  At the time, the airlines pledged to request a pilot’s complete record in the hiring process, as opposed to the more cursory requirements of the Pilot Records Information Act (PRIA), which led to Colgan Air hiring the captain of Flight 3407 without knowledge of all his prior training deficiencies.

“Obviously FAA needs to step up its game, but we certainly can’t let the airlines continue to hide behind the FAA as they love to do either,” stated Scott Maurer of Palmetto, Florida, who lost his thirty year old daughter Lorin in the crash of Flight 3407 in February 2009.  “Once again, we have convincing proof that voluntary compliance is nothing more than lip service; if FAA doesn’t require something by rule, then you can bet your bottom dollar that some of the bottom feeders in the airline industry will allow critical safety responsibilities to slip through the cracks.  Meanwhile, these are the same airlines working behind the scenes with their lobbyists and senior safety officials on the FAA Reauthorization Bill and FAA Advisory Committees trying to get already-enacted critical safety measures watered down.  This cannot be allowed to happen, and six and a half years later, we remain as committed and vigilant as ever to ensuring that the mistakes that led to the needless tragedy of Flight 3407 are never allowed to repeat themselves.”

Contact:      Takla Boujaoude                       takla.3407@gmail.com         716-907-2425

Tags: Blog by Jillian Gustafson
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Flight 3407 Families Trumpet Credentials of ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Pilot

Buffalo, New York – April 27th, 2015

With the expiration of the most recent FAA Reauthorization fast approaching, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ applauded the inclusion of Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger at safety hearings to be held by the Senate and House Aviation Subcommittees this week.  The family group also announced that it will be in attendance at both hearings, the Senate’s to be held on Tuesday at 2:30 pm, and the House’s to be held Thursday at 2:00 pm.

“As Senator Thune, Congressman Shuster, and the rest of their committee and subcommittee leadership consider this FAA Reauthorization Bill, it is absolutely critical that safety be put first above all else, especially in regards to industry pressure regarding our country’s increased qualification requirements for regional airline first officers” declared Scott Maurer of Brandon, Florida, who lost his thirty year old daughter Lorin.  “We are very pleased that Captain Sullenberger has been included in these very important safety discussions, as his decades of experience and perspective on the airline industry uniquely qualify him to shine a light on the importance of not rolling back or watering down any of the significant progress that has been made in regional airline safety since the very preventable tragedy of Flight 3407.  There is no substitute for experience, and the teamwork of Captain Sullenberger and First Officer Skiles in accomplishing the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ speak to that in the strongest way possible.”

Tuesday’s Senate hearing, which is entitled “FAA Reauthorization: Aviation Safety and General Aviation” and will be held in Room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building, is part of a recent series of hearings focused on the FAA Reauthorization.  In addition to Sullenberger, it will feature witnesses from the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and Regional Airline Association.  On Thursday, the House’s Aviation Subcommittee will include Sullenberger on a safety roundtable, which will be held at 2:00 pm in Room 2167 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

“In the aftermath of Flight 3407, we are now going on six-plus years with no fatal crashes of U.S. domestic carriers, by far and away the safest such period in our nation’s aviation history.” stated Karen Eckert of Williamsville, New York, who lost her sister Beverly Eckert, a prominent 9/11 widow and activist. “This has been made possible by the unanimous Congressional passage and implementation of the Airline Safety Act of 2010, and the collective increased scrutiny and efforts of Congress, government agencies like FAA, DOT, and the NTSB, the airlines, pilots, and safety groups like ourselves.  To totally reverse course in this FAA Reauthorization and bend to lobbying pressure with concessions to the airlines would be completely irresponsible and send the wrong message to the industry that the old status quo of code share contracts and the ‘race to the bottom’ are once again acceptable.  And there can be no more well-qualified person to make this case than Captain Sullenberger; we look forward to being there with him as he stands up for ‘One Level of Safety'”

Contact:      Takla Boujaoude                       takla.3407@gmail.com         716-907-2425

Tags: Blog by Jillian Gustafson
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Buffalo, NY – February 3, 2015

The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ will hold a press conference with members of the Western New York congressional delegation, Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in Room SVC-209-08 of the Capitol Visitors Center as they kick off their advocacy efforts geared towards the upcoming FAA Reauthorization Bill.  The group is making the trip to Washington one week in advance of the 6th anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo, New York, which took the lives of all forty-nine on board as well as one man on the ground.

A prepared statement will be available after the 11:30 a.m. Washington press conference and members of the group will be made available for comment.

Group media representative Takla Boujaoude,    takla.3407@gmail.com

WHO:            The ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’

WHAT:          Press Conference on FAA Reauthorization

WHEN:          11:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 4th, 2015

WHERE:        Room SVC-209-08, Capitol Visitor Center

Tags: Blog by Jillian Gustafson
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Family Group to Conduct Outreach in Washington, DC on Wednesday

Buffalo, New York – February 2, 2015

With the six-year anniversary of the tragic crash of Continental Flight 3407 fast approaching, Miracle on the Hudson pilot Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are scheduled to be in Buffalo today to join members of the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ in remembering those lost and also calling on congressional transportation leaders to hold the line against industry pressure to weaken regional airline safety measures that were unanimously passed by Congress in the aftermath of the crash.  The family group will then follow this event with a Wednesday trip to Washington where they will continue their advocacy for a true ‘One Level of Safety’ on both sides of Capitol Hill.

“Today’s event should send a strong message to all in Washington and in the commercial airline industry of our unwavering resolve to ensure that every passenger boarding a flight on a regional airline receives a commitment to safety that is on par with the likes of Southwest and Delta, something that our loved ones sadly did not receive,” stated Karen Eckert of Williamsville, New York, who lost her sister Beverly Eckert, a noted 9/11 widow and activist.   “Captain Sullenberger’s presence serves as the strongest possible example that there is no substitute for experience in the cockpit, particularly when it comes to manual flying skills, and of course, Senator Schumer has been absolutely relentless in fighting for our cause every step of the way.  And with the six year anniversary coming up next week, everyone in Washington can expect to see a strong red-clad presence from our group on Wednesday, as we continue to remind the powers-that-be that we are as determined as ever to achieve this elusive ‘One Level of Safety’ between our nation’s regional and mainline carriers.”

Contact:      Takla Boujaoude                       takla.3407@gmail.com         716-907-2425

Today’s event in Buffalo is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., and will be held at the Flight 3407 Memorial Site at 6038 Long Street, where Continental Connection Flight 3407 operated by Colgan Air crashed into the Wielinski family home.  The family group will be in Washington on Wednesday, where they are planning to conduct numerous advocacy meetings as well as a press conference with the Western New York congressional delegation.  Details will be forthcoming.

Tags: Blog by Jillian Gustafson
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