Letter to Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation - On Anniversary Of Flight 3407, Senator Gillibrand, Representatives Higgins And Jacobs Call For Finalization Of Pilot Records Database Rule

Letter

Dear Secretary Buttigieg,

Today marks the 12th anniversary of the horrific crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 near Clarence Center, New York, which resulted in the tragic deaths of all on board and one person on the ground.

In the years since the crash, we have worked closely with the families of those who were killed to enact the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-216), which required the Department of Transportation to implement a number of rulemakings to establish the goal of "one level of safety" for all passengers and crews. Due to the tenacious and effective advocacy of the families, we have accomplished many of the goals we set out to achieve. However, there remains one unfinished rulemaking required by P.L. 111-216, to finalize the establishment of a pilot record database.

The pilot record database is necessary so that airlines have a centralized electronic database that will allow them to access shared records containing relevant background data on pilots, including regarding training, qualifications, and disciplinary actions. The captain of Flight 3407 failed three practical tests known as "check rides" but only disclosed one to the regional airline that hired him. Access to these records is critical to ensuring that airlines have as much information as possible about a pilot's qualifications and safety records prior to making a hiring decision.

The completion of this rulemaking is overdue. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on March 30, 2020, however, a final rule has not yet been issued. We urge you to prioritize aviation safety by directing the FAA to finalize this important safety rule without any further delay.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter, and please do not hesitate to contact our relevant staff members should you wish to discuss this matter in greater detail.

Sincerely,

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