Airline safety bill passes

Posted: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:06 PM by firstread
Filed Under: Congress, Luke Russert

from NBC's Luke Russert
Today the House of Representatives passed the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009, 409 to 11.

The bill requires that commercial airline pilots have an FAA airline transport license, which is given to pilots who have mastered flight training and have 1500 hours of in flight time. The bill also requires that the FAA teach pilots safety maneuvers in the event of a stalling. Also, airlines will now have to disclose on a passenger's ticket whether they will be traveling on a separate commuter jet company that is contracted by the larger commercial airline company.

Passed with huge bipartisan support, the bill was brought on by the terrible crash of Continental Connections Flight 3407 that occurred in February over Clarence Center, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. The crash of Flight 3407 is now believed to have been a case of pilot error, specifically brought on by the inexperience of pilots hired by Colgan Air, an airline that was contracted by Continental for the short flight from Newark, NJ to Buffalo, NY.

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY), who represent the Congressional districts that cover Western New York, passionately pushed for the bill's passage on the floor of the House. Both representatives will hold a press conference today with family members of some of the fifty people lost in the crash.

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Comments

Who where the 11 goofballs that voted against this bill? Wouldn't want to vote for airline safety, losers.

greg chicago (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:16 PM)

>>The bill requires that commercial airline pilots have an FAA airline transport license, which is given to pilots who have mastered flight training and have 1500 hours of in flight time. The bill also requires that the FAA teach pilots safety maneuvers in the event of a stalling. <<<

Interesting. That was the law before the House voted on it. It doesn't change a thing. I guess no one told them.

Fly Guy (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:19 PM)

Did anyone watch Jon Stewart last night? Perhaps the tabs in the Emergency Manual should have been addressed, too!! Stewart's interview with Chesley Sullenberger!!

Whatever IDIOT decided to take the tabs out of the Emergency Manuals on these flights to "save money" should be fired, NOW!!

Here it is!!

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-october-13-2009/chesley-sullenberger

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:21 PM)

FR: The crash of Flight 3407 is now believed to have been a case of pilot error, specifically brought on by the inexperience of pilots hired by Colgan Air, an airline that was contracted by Continental for the short flight from Newark, NJ to Buffalo, NY.

The pilot in question had all the necessary training defined in this particular House bill. The 11 congress men/woman that voted against the bill probably knew that. More evidence of our congress doing unnecessary and redundant work.

Laws You Can't Use (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:21 PM)

How about PAYING pilots???

Does the bill require airlines to pay their pilots a respectable salary?

incognito (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:22 PM)

Things sure have changed. Now Obama borrows trillions from Chinese and buys votes.

Lester A., New Orleans (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 3:45 PM)
________________

Lester,

Let's not forget WHO opened the Chinese Visa account!
Hint: IT wasn't President Obama!

On buying votes... if that's what gets you through the day... then run with it ;0)

Dang! You guys are aren't any 'fun' lately... you're making this TOO EASY!

Can we get us some competition around here??

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:24 PM)

->>> Also, airlines will now have to disclose on a passenger's ticket whether they will be traveling on a separate commuter jet company that is contracted by the larger commercial airline company.

Landmark stuff here. How does our Congress find the time, you know, while they are slaving away for 2.5 days every week.

Senja R., New Mexico (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:24 PM)

In unimportant news:

Russia's foreign minister told Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that Russia was not ready to impose tougher sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. Shockingly, Clinton reportedly agreed new sanctions were premature!!! Premature? Iran has been violating UN resolutions for years and is planning to get nukes and promises to use them. What would be the right time to get tougher -- when we see a mushroom cloud?

MK Cloud, KC (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:27 PM)

How about PAYING pilots???

Does the bill require airlines to pay their pilots a respectable salary?
incognito

Sitting in the right seat and making $19000/yr isn't enough? Think of it this way, your office has a window with a view - that counts for something.

Coggs (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:28 PM)

Does the bill require airlines to pay their pilots a respectable salary?
incognito (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:22 PM)

That was addressed in last night's interview by Jon Stewart, too. According to Sullenberger, after 9/11, the pilots have taken pay cut after pay cut!! While many of us, including me, are feeling the pains of this horrible economy, pilots have been feeling it for eight years!!

I agree with you!!

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:28 PM)

Russia and the United States have tentatively agreed to a weapons inspection program that would allow Russians to visit nuclear sites in America to count missiles and warheads.

The plan, which Fox News has learned was agreed to in principle during negotiations, would constitute the most intrusive weapons inspection program the U.S. has ever accepted.

-----------------

And what did the US get in return for this great concession to the Russians? Nothing!

Nelson Bennett (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:29 PM)

DOW above 10,000. HCR moving along. GOP splintering. Stimulus working. Levi posing for playgirl. Rush back on the pills. It's a bad day to be a republifacist.

Lefty (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:30 PM)

DOW above 10,000. HCR moving along. GOP splintering. Stimulus working. Levi posing for playgirl. Rush back on the pills. It's a bad day to be a republifacist.

Lefty (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:30 PM)

Pilots flying aircraft with less than x paying passengers didn't need an ATP before this. Don't remember what x was... Are current pilots grandfathered in?

Bill Smith (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:30 PM)

Well, to liberals he is, but because liberals don't believe in religion, that is, the worship of God, they believe instead in worshipping their favorite leaders, like Barack Obama. And if you have good, Obama, then you must have a counterpoint evil, that would be Bush..
Steven Boyd, Akron OH (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:13 PM
===================

You better hurry up! You’re late for you’re Bible Bangers meeting and it’s starting without you!

Bible Bangers Anonymous for $500 Please Alex! (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:31 PM)

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:34 PM)

FR--Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY), who represent the Congressional districts that cover Western New York, passionately pushed for the bill's passage on the floor of the House. Both representatives will hold a press conference today with family members of some of the fifty people lost in the crash.
------------------

This is great...it's sad that lives had to be lost along with an act of Congress to get Airlines to "practice safety". Is there anything that the Bush Administration did that was on behalf of the citizens of the United States...other than rob us?

I had to step out for a while--I see that the usual dopes of nope are posting the usual BS lies.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:34 PM)

Barack, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more!

David Axelrod (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:35 PM)

DOW above 10,000. HCR moving along. GOP splintering. Stimulus working. Levi posing for playgirl. Rush back on the pills. It's a bad day to be a republifacist.
Lefty

Some people know how to work the Submit button, you push just once. Others, not so much. A little remedial training is required I guess.

Teachers Pet (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:37 PM)

I trust the Obama. I trust the Obama.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:38 PM)

Hey, the DOW just closed over 10,000 which makes me wax nostalgic for Bob Smith or whatever his name was that used to hang out here and report how the sky was falling and it was the end of the world as we knew it,...do you guys remember him?
Clara Kansas City, MO

We were just hoping you'd wax your pits, and legs, and whatever that is under your nose.

Thomas Waxx (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:39 PM)

Lester,

Let's not forget WHO opened the Chinese Visa account!
Hint: IT wasn't President Obama!

On buying votes... if that's what gets you through the day... then run with it ;0)

Dang! You guys are aren't any 'fun' lately... you're making this TOO EASY!

Can we get us some competition around here??
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Ehh, that would have been JE Carter. Is there anyone on the Left around here with a greater then Romper Room IQ level?

Tadds (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:41 PM)

Whatever IDIOT decided to take the tabs out of the Emergency Manuals on these flights to "save money" should be fired, NOW!! -
Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:21 PM)
____________
Pam: for cirminy sakes, it's not about safety in this country, it's about $$$$$. Geez, what are you , some kind of Commmie or something??

Good, Bible-Believing Righties Everywhere (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:44 PM)

Both the pilot and co-pilot were trained but neither had much experience, and if I recall, there was an issue about the lack of experience for both in flying that particular type aircraft. Good to see bi-partisanship for the safety of people. Thoughts and prayers to the families.

Not to make light of that airline tragedy because one life lost is too many especially when there is evidence that this could have been prevented. But I find myself wondering if republicans and blue dog dems would argue less and move faster to enact health care legislation if the 122 people dying everyday for lack of it, were in one place. Nearly 45,000 every year--that's a disaster of huge proportions but because it happens in 50 states and slowly over 365 days, it appears to be more tolerable and acceptable to some.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:44 PM)

Wait for it, Wait for it, the repuke cowards are coming. They are either paid or being manipulated. But, they can never approve of anything a liberal congress passed. The cowards should start crying and whining in 3,2,1. Republican whine line open, cowards welcomed. It must suck to be a republican because they base all arguements on lies and misinformation. It must suck to be republican because you hate your fellow americans and president. It must suck to republican ,so filled with fear, hate, and ignorance. It must suck to be a republican, because you attack the messenger instead of the message due to lack of facts and cowardice. It must suck to be a republican, because there are no patriots allowed in the republican party.
It does not suck to be republican if you are an ignorant redneck, because you are the smartest one in a room full of republicans.

bobf (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:45 PM)

That was addressed in last night's interview by Jon Stewart, too.

Pam, San Pedro, California

Stewart? Now we know where you get your dense-ness.

Read A Magazine or Something (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:45 PM)

I had to step out for a while--I see that the usual dopes of nope are posting the usual BS lies.
Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:34 PM)

And if their comments were not so misguided, they would be comical; sadly, they actually believe their BS!!

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:46 PM)

FR: Passed with huge bipartisan support, the bill was brought on by the terrible crash of Continental Connections Flight 3407 that occurred in February over Clarence Center, New York, a suburb of Buffalo.
--------------------------------------------------

But I thought the free market was supposed to take care of problems like this. I guess some "big government" interference doesn't look so bad even to Republicans, who have to fly on airplanes.

Houston (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:48 PM)

Almost any critism of Obama's handling of the economy is constantly met with a respons of, "Bush was worse." Bush and Republican rule was absolutely terrible, and we are paying the price and will for years. Obama thinks that his only way to win in 2012 is to re-inflate the bubble. People won't stand for their house price to drop 60-80%, which it needs to do.
Bush may have been the worst president in modern times. Obama is shaping up to be worse.

Andrew, Denver, CO (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:49 PM)

Pilots flying aircraft with less than x paying passengers didn't need an ATP before this. Don't remember what x was... Are current pilots grandfathered in?
Bill Smith

You can be a private pilot and have paying passengers. They can pay for the fuel and the other related costs, but not your salary. Being an ATP has no lower limits on the number of passangers you can fly.

H Mills (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:49 PM)

bobf: Wait for it, Wait for it, the repuke cowards are coming. They are either paid or being manipulated.

You work for the White House? You whine just like them.

C. Wallace (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:50 PM)

Good, God fearing, "real" teabagger...I mean...Americans. (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:50 PM)

How about PAYING pilots???

Does the bill require airlines to pay their pilots a respectable salary?
incognito

I guess we'll have to get Obama working on it. We'll have to rework his teleprompter speech a little, but it could be done in a week or so.

Talli Band (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:54 PM)

DOW CLOSES ABOVE 10K!

And the country lost another 20,000 jobs. All in one day!!

Way To Go B-Man (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:54 PM)

Iran. Typical, the right says Obama failed. Wrong, this is typical of Russia, they are struggling to regain some sense of super power so they must appear tough and will not immediately agree to everything the US asks. It seems that the last 8 years of Bush/Cheney, people have forgotten that diplomacy takes time. This is Putin playing hardball just because he wants to remind everyone that he's still there despite Medvedev. Russia did say that Iran should be given the opportunity to allow inspectors to do their job before further increasing sanctions. If only George Bush would have allowed the inspectors to finish, they would have proven there were no WMDs, we wouldn't have spent billions and lost thousands of lives. What if.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:55 PM)

Big Gov (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:57 PM)

Whatever IDIOT decided to take the tabs out of the Emergency Manuals on these flights to "save money" should be fired, NOW!! -
Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:21 PM)

You think you have time to read a manual when this happens. How cute. Ever hear of 'memorization"? Probably not.

Is It Live (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:59 PM)

DOW CLOSES ABOVE 10K!
Quick!! Mis-Direct attention!! Say something like;
Obama uses a teleprompter!!
Oh God!! Bill Ayres!!! Bill Clinton 'Got Some"
Olympics! Peace Prizes!! Yabber...Yabber...Yabber...
Good, God fearing, "real" teabagger...I mean...Americans.

Too bad you hippies never invested in the market. Instead you bought some hemp fields in Haiti. How's that working out for you?

Palmer Q (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:00 PM)

Talk to yourself much? (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:01 PM)

I trust the Obama. I trust the Obama.
Anita, Birmingham, Alabama
--------------------------
I trust him more than that stupid asshat that was in office for eight years.

Pam, San Pedro, California:
Right you are!

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:02 PM)

FR Tunnes (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:03 PM)

Stewart? Now we know where you get your dense-ness.

Read A Magazine or Something (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:45 PM)

And are you calling a pilot that safely landed an airplane in the Hudson dense? He saved hundreds of lives; it was that pilot that made the statement!! Boy are you dense!!

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:04 PM)

My! People come and go so quickly here!

BHO (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:04 PM)

Lester A., New Orleans: '...Things sure have changed. Now Obama borrows trillions from Chinese and buys votes...'

Lester (if that's REALLY your name) your little President, George W Bush DOUBLED the national Debt
Everything, every debt we'd accumulated from 1776 to January 2001 WAS DOUBLED BY BUSH !!

That's RIGHT, Bush and his Republican Congress, using 'Reconciliation' passed a TAX CUT for the RICH while we were in TWO WARS and he was Expanding Medicare Drug benefits

Who do you think lent him that money ??
(Starts with a 'C',,, Ends with an 'A')
You cn do it Lester !!!

The 11 who vote against Air Safety probably didn't want a 'Government Takeover' of Airline Safety

LET HE FREE MARKET DECIDE !!

I remember in the 80's Continental firing their 'Experienced mechanics' and hiring scab mechanics
Doesn't surprise me that their planes )or their contractor's planes) are falling out of the skies

MSierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:05 PM)

Talk to yourself much?:

You see! so paranoid that you don't know the difference. Hell Cheney worked your ass over, didn't he!

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:05 PM)

Jody, Iowa: Iran. Typical, the right says Obama failed.

But he tried, so very, very hard.

Ahh, lefties, just go back to the old standby and blame Bush.

Jori Evens, CA (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:07 PM)

Yabber...Yabber...Yabber...

-----------------

Quit quoting Barney Frank without his permission.

Sammie (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:09 PM)

Stewart? Now we know where you get your dense-ness.
Read A Magazine or Something
---------------------------
Peeshhh! A nerve! You listen to and follow instructions from Limmy Limp.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:10 PM)

Ehh, that would have been JE Carter. Is there anyone on the Left around here with a greater then Romper Room IQ level?
Tadds (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:41 PM)

It sure isn't you!! Bush Borrowed More Money Than 42 Presidents Combined!!

Go back to Romper Room!!

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:11 PM)

Axi X (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:11 PM)

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