How to Improve Airline Safety and Pilot Training

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On February 12, 2009, a Colgan Airlines flight operating as Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed two miles from the runway in Buffalo, New York, killing all fifty people aboard.. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation that followed stunned the American public and identified the need to closely examine the regulations governing pilot training and pilot rest requirements, with a strong focus on regional airlines (Berard, 2010, 2). Currently, the United States government has passed HR 5900, which was titled the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 and is now called Public Law 111-216 (Public Law 111-126, 2010, 3). The bill targets five focal points that will force the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to run an even safer operation. These focal points include creating a pilot record database, implementation of NTSB flight crewmember training recommendations, FAA rule making on training programs, pilot fatigue, and flight crewmember screening and qualifications (Berard, 2010, 4).

Creation of Pilot Record Data Base

Prior to this bill, airlines would hire pilots without checking their aviation background, simply because there was no way to do this. The bill requires the FAA to initiate the creation of a pilot records data base within 90 days of the signing of the bill. The data base will enable airlines seeking to hire a prospective pilot’s history immediately, via electronic access.

The bill requires the FAA to maintain a records data base only for hiring purposes. Information in the data base should include the pilot’s license, medical certificates, aircraft ratings, check rides, notices of disapproval, and other flight proficiency tests, and state motor veh...

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...February 2). NTSB – Aircraft Accident

Investigation. Retrieved October 3, 2010 from

http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2010/AAR1001.pdf

Public Law 111-126 (2010, August 1). Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration

Extension Act of 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2010, from

http://frwwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111

Schumer Urges FAA Nominee to Reevaluate Criteria for Airline Training Manuals and

Examine Safety Concerns Related to Pilot Training, Compensation, and Rest.

(2009, May 19). Targeted News Service (2-4). Retrieved October 3, 2010 from

Research Library. (Document ID: 1723733931).

Subcommittee Looks at Pilot Fatigue: New flight duty and rest rule reviewed at hearing.

2010, September). Congressional Documents and Publications (3-4). Retrieved

October 3, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2139967201)

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