WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today released the following statement after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a final rule to strengthen pilot training, which was mandated by Congress in the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. 

“The FAA took longer to promulgate the new pilot training rules than we required in the 2010 Aviation Safety Act, but they are a major advancement in aviation safety. Nearly five years after the crash of Colgan Flight 3407, this rule is also a result of the families who dedicated themselves to making our aviation system better and safer. It is always my number one priority to keep passengers safe and today’s action builds on that promise.”

The Commerce Committee held several hearings on aviation safety in the wake of the crash of Colgan Flight 3407, including: 

• “Aviation Safety: The Relationship Between Network Airlines and Regional Airlines,” 
• “Aviation Safety: The Role and Responsibility of Commercial Air Carriers and Employees,” 
• “Aviation Safety: FAA’s Role in the Oversight of Air Carriers,” 
• “Aviation Safety: One Year After the Crash of Flight 3407,” and 
• “Aviation Safety: Pilot Fatigue.”

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