SCHUMER, STANDING WITH FLIGHT 3407 FAMILIES DIRECTLY AFTER MEETING WITH TRUMP’S TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY, SLAMS ADMINISTRATION’S FAILURE TO FULLY COMMIT TO PROTECTING AIR SAFETY REGULATIONS & 1,500-HOUR RULE THE SENATOR & FAMILIES FOUGHT TOGETHER TO ENACT INTO LAW
Trump’s FAA Nominee Earlier This Month Repeatedly Refused To Commit To Protecting Aviation Safety Reforms Created By 3407 Families; Schumer Pushed For 3407 Families To Meet With Secretary Duffy – Like Every Transportation Secretary Before Him –To Discuss Importance Of Air Safety Regulations
Advocates & Pilots Fear Trump Admin Will Roll Back Critical Flight Safety Regulations, Including Requirement That Pilots Log 1,500 Flight Hours In Order To Receive Certificate And Pilot Record Database, Risking Safety
Schumer: Keeping Our Skies Safe Means Protecting 1,500-Hour Rule
Standing with Flight 3407 families after their meeting with Transportation Secretary Duffy, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer slammed the Trump administration’s repeated failure to commit to protecting the 1,500-hour rule and other aviation safety regulations created in the aftermath of the 2009 tragedy in Western NY to prevent an accident like it from ever happening again. Amid growing fears about air safety, and following the Trump’s FAA nominee’s callous disregard to respect these rules, Schumer and the Flight 3407 families are demanding that the FAA not roll back these basic air safety standards, which would weaken the training for our pilots risking air travel safety and lives.
“Working with the families of Flight 3407 to create the 1,500-hour rule and set a new standard for aviation safety has been one of the most inspirational things I’ve done in Congress. They represent the best of America, turning their grief into action to prevent a tragedy like this from occurring ever again. At this critical moment for aviation safety, after we just experienced a tragic crash here in DC, we need well-trained pilots who are prepared to make last second decisions,” said Senator Schumer. “Weakening the 1,500-hour rule and reducing the number of hours pilots train in the air is dangerous and could cost lives. If the Trump administration thinks we’ll let them turn back the clock on aviation safety, they are in for a rude awakening. We fought for years to create these basic safety reforms and we will not rest until we know they will remain untouched.”
Earlier today, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted 15-13 to advance Bryan Bedford’s nomination to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with all Senate Democrats opposing. At his nomination hearing earlier this month, Bedford multiple times refused to commit to protecting the 1,500-hour rule and basic aviation safety standards. Schumer said it is concerning that Republicans voted to advance Bedford to lead the very agency tasked with enforcing air safety regulations.
Amid growing concerns for aviation safety earlier this year, Schumer called for U.S. Transportation Sean Duffy to meet with the families of Flight 3407 and commit to them clearly and unequivocally that he will not roll back the aviation safety law and pilot training standard, including the 1,500 rule, that they fought together to create.
Schumer has been a long-time, relentless advocate for air safety standards following the tragic crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407. In February 2009, the tragic crash of Flight 3407 near Buffalo, New York claimed 50 lives and alerted the nation to the shortfalls in our aviation safety system, particularly at the regional airline level. In the wake of the tragedy, Schumer worked with the families who lost loved ones in the crash, to pass the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. This landmark aviation safety legislation addressed many of the factors contributing to the increasing safety gap between regional and mainline carriers by requiring the FAA to develop regulations to improve safety, including enhanced entry-level pilot training and qualification standards, pilot fatigue rules, airline pilot training and safety management programs, and the creation of an electronic Pilot Record Database.
Notably, the legislation included a mandate that first officers – also known as co-pilots – hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which requires that the pilot log 1,500 flight hours, and the advocacy of the families has led to many other laws including regulations to combat pilot fatigue, the establishment of the electronic Pilot Records Database, and more.
Schumer has previously raised concerns about the Trump administration’s commitment to upholding air safety standards. Earlier this month, Schumer expressed worry about the nomination of Bryan Bedford, Trump’s nominee for the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, due to his history of trying to repeal the 1,500-rule and continued refusal to commit to protecting the 1,500-hour rule and other aviation safety reforms created by the Flight 3407 during the confirmation process. With the Senate moving forward with Bedford’s nomination today, Schumer said it is important for the Trump administration to be firm in its commitment to maintaining air safety standards.
As early as 2014, less than a year after the 1500-hour rulemaking process took effect, Mr. Bedford – serving as Republic Airways CEO – sought to reduce the number of hours required to serve as a pilot-in-command of a commercial airline. Again in 2022, the Bedford-led Republic Airways sought to circumvent flight-safety regulations by requesting an exemption from the 1500-hour rule. The FAA eventually denied this request, following strong advocacy from me and the families against Bedford’s attempt to roll back safety standards. Schumer said that, if confirmed as administrator, Bedford would have the authority to effectively erode the 1,500 rule which the Senator vowed to stand against.
###