Letter from 3407 families to Obama

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RELEASE) -  

September 13, 2011

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We write to you as the families and friends of those who were lost when Continental Flight 3407 crashed outside of Buffalo, New York on February 12, 2009. For the past thirty months we have fought diligently to achieve a true 'One Level of Safety' in our nation's aviation system, which was sadly denied to our loved ones when they boarded Flight 3407 operated by Colgan Air. Today we ask for your intervention as the Federal Aviation Administration struggles to issue a long-overdue final rule to update our nation's antiquated pilot flight and duty time regulations.

The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into Flight 3407 exposed a multitude of deficiencies, in particular shining a bright light on the issue of pilot fatigue. This critical issue has been at the top of the NTSB's Most Wanted List for twenty years, and multiple efforts to address it the past two decades have been repeatedly defeated by intense industry opposition. As a result of our persistent efforts on Capitol Hill, last Summer Congress unanimously passed H.R. 5900, 'The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010' (P.L. 111-216), which you signed into law on August 1, 2010. A cornerstone provision to this law was Congress mandating that the FAA issue new science-based fatigue regulations by August 1, 2011.

Despite being the stated top priority of Secretary LaHood and Administrator Babbitt, that deadline has come and passed, as the industry has once again mounted heavy pressure on the Office of Management and Budget in an attempt to stall this crucial safety initiative.

Mr. President, we hearken back to our meeting with you in Buffalo in May 2010. While you made no promises regarding Congress's efforts at the time to pass an FAA Reauthorization Bill with safety provisions included, you gave us your strongest assurances that within your domain of the executive branch, everything possible would be done to achieve this elusive 'One Level of Safety'.

As this historic safety reform now sits squarely between FAA, DOT, and OMB, we call on you to use your influence to push your executive agencies to get this done for the safety of the entire American flying public, as well as in honor of the memory of our loved ones.

Sincerely,

The Families of Continental Flight 3407