Capito Op-Ed In Charleston Daily Mail- Anniversary Of Crash Demands Action
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We've all seen the pictures. A "Breaking News" alert flashes across cable news and we see video of a terrible accident.
One year ago today, those pictures came from Colgan Air Flight 3407, which fell from the sky outside Buffalo, New York and claimed the lives of 49 passengers and crew, along with one victim on the ground.
Like many of us, Albert Stephenson - of Wheeling - looked on that evening as television news documented the crash, and his heart went out to the families of the victims.
What he didn't know at the time, however, was that two of his sisters, his brother-in-law and his nephew were on that plane. They had left their home in New Jersey, where they lived with and cared for Albert's mother Marietta Reid, to visit family in Canada.
At the same time in Columbus, Ohio, another man - Kevin Kuwik - learned that his fiancé was also on the plane.
None of us can imagine what they've gone through in the wake of such a terrible tragedy, but all of us can join with Albert and Kevin in rallying behind a goal that makes our airways safer.
After an exhaustive investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found pilot error to be the cause of the crash, but also cited a weakness in the overall safety of regional air carriers.
Our nation's aviation system is a model for the world, and is statistically very safe. But, the Colgan Air tragedy confirms a need for continued improvements.
These improvements must focus on the regional, or commuter airlines, that connect smaller airports to commercial hubs and are so vital to rural states like West Virginia.
As we learned from the Colgan tragedy, even though regional carriers make up half the nation's aviation traffic, they are generally smaller companies that employ younger, less experienced crew members.
These crew members often make considerable less than their partners at major carriers, and regularly face fatigue-enducing cross-country commutes to work.
Unfortunately, the impact of inexperience and fatigue on regional pilots is well-documented. Of the last six fatal aviation accidents in the U.S., all have involved regional carriers.
Like many West Virginians, I fly - and will continue to fly - regional airlines regularly to and from Charleston. The flight crews I've encountered are both capable and professional.
However, the Colgan tragedy has awakened the public's call for improvements in aviation safety.
That's why last year, after meeting with family members of Flight 3407 like Kevin and Albert, I joined my colleagues on the House Subcommittee on Aviation and sponsored a bipartisan bill to make our skies safer.
Put simply, our legislation - the Airline Safety and Pilot Improvement Act of 2009 - is a critical step forward that bridges the safety gap between regional and major carriers.
The bill focuses on improving pilot development and training. It increases the number of flight hours required to become a commercial pilot and enhances overall safety instruction protocols for pilots.
Our bill - H.R. 3371 - provides regional pilots the opportunity to learn and work with experienced pilots through information sharing and mentoring programs, cementing the relationship between regional and major carriers while affording younger pilots access to meaningful professional development.
As we all saw during the "Miracle on the Hudson," there is no replacement for an experienced pilot. The heroism and professionalism displayed by Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and his crew saved lives.
I was pleased to see our legislation pass with overwhelming bipartisan support in a House vote last fall. And on the one-year anniversary of this tragic accident, I urge my Senate colleagues to take up the call of these families and act on this legislation.
We can't change the past, but we can work for a better future. We owe it to Albert, to Kevin and to those who lost their lives on Flight 3407 to send a bill to the President's desk that will truly improve the safety of our skies.
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