Flight 3407 families express concern

CLARENCE, N.Y. (WIVB) - Family members who lost loved ones, like Robin Tolsma are concerned that some members of Congress are doing a push back on beefing up aviation safety.

"We are scared, scared for the American flying public that anything under 1,500 hours would be a detriment to anybody who buys a ticket and gets on an aircraft."

Following the february crash in Clarence Center, the families have been to Washington for hearings, making a case to Congress.

Their goal is to improve airline safety for all.

One provision would require all flight crew members to receive a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time.

Senator Charles Schumer said "There's some attempt by some of the airlines, the commuter airlines to push that back. They're wrong. We have to be safe. We learned a difficult and brutal lesson of Flight 3407 and don't want it to happen again."

49 people on board the Colgan air flight and one man on the ground died when the plane crashed into a house.

Robin Tolsma lost her husband Darren.

"I just don't understand why it's hitting these obstacles along the way. That's what's frustrating to us. Because how many flights take off just from the Buffalo Airport in a day? And I'm in the flight path. I hear those every day and I think, oh please let those pilots be trained well enough and let them land those passengers safely," she said.

Late Thursday, Congressman Chris Lee of Clarence said that there appears to be bi partisan support in a key house committee for the 1,500 hour minimum.

"They came together. They're still working through the details. As far as I understand it, 1,500 hours is locked in. It is a major improvement in terms of airline safety and pilot training," explained Lee.

In addition to the quantity of hours, other key provisions of the bill would require a measure to combat pilot fatigue, improve training and establish an electronic database for pilot records.