Twenty Four Senators Join Oklahoma Republican James Inhofe As
Co-Sponsors Of The Legislation
Among the 24 original co-sponsors of U.S. Sen. James Inhofe's
(R-OK) "Pilot's Bill of Rights are both of Alaska's Senators ...
Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, and Mark Begich, a Democrat.
Senator Murkowksi
“More than in any other state, Alaskans take to the air
for not just recreation or travel, but to overcome our lack of
roads and the vast distances we need to cover,” Senator
Murkowski said. “That’s why I’m proud to
co-sponsor a bill that the Alaska Air Carriers Association agrees
is an important step forward not just in getting our airmen safer
and better informed, but when it comes to their basic
rights.”
Senator Begich
“In Alaska, we understand the need to look out for the
best interests of general aviation pilots because aviation is such
a vital part of life for so many of our communities,” said
Senator Begich, who is co-chair of the Senate General Aviation
Caucus. “It’s important that general aviation pilots
receive fair treatment and up-to-date information from the FAA to
help keep food, medicine, and mail moving across our state and
arriving safely in the hands of the Alaskans who need
it.”
Senator Inhofe
“Today I am pleased to introduce the Pilot’s Bill of
Rights,” said Inhofe. “Over the course of my
years in Congress, I have helped an untold number of pilots facing
the pressure of dealing with the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA). This bill remedies many of the most serious deficiencies in
the relationship between general aviation and the FAA, and ensures
that pilots are treated in a fair and equitable manner. One of the
reasons I got into politics was to fight for the everyday citizen
facing an uphill battle with bureaucracy, and that’s why
I’m so pleased to introduce this legislation—it’s
a mixture of my love of flying and pilots and my job of legislating
for the people.”
A introduced by Senator Inhofe, the Pilots Bill of Rights:
- Requires that in an FAA enforcement action against a pilot, the
FAA must grant the pilot all relevant evidence 30 days prior to a
decision to proceed with an enforcement action. This is currently
not done and often leaves the pilot grossly uninformed of his
violation and recourse.
- Clarifies statutory deference as it relates to National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reviews of FAA actions. Too
often the NTSB rubber stamps a decision of the FAA, giving wide
latitude to the FAA and making the appeals process
meaningless.
- Allows for federal district court review of appeals from the
FAA, at the election of the appellant.
- Requires the FAA undertake a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
Improvement Program, requiring simplification and archival of
NOTAMs in a central location. The process by which NOTAMs are
provided by the FAA has long needed revision. This will ensure that
the most relevant information reaches the pilot. Currently, FAA
makes pilots responsible for knowledge of pre-flight conditions.
Non-profit general aviation groups will make up an advisory
panel.
- Makes flight service station communications available to all
airmen. Currently, the FAA contracts with Lockheed Martin to run
its flight service stations. If a request is made for flight
service station briefings or other flight service information under
FOIA, it is denied to the requestor because Lockheed Martin is not
the government, per se. However, they are performing an inherently
governmental function and this information should be available to
pilots who need it to defend themselves in an enforcement
proceeding.
- Requires a review of the FAA’s medical certification
process and forms, to provide greater clarity in the questions and
reduce the instances of misinterpretation that have, in the past,
lead to allegations of intentional falsification against pilots.
The FAA’s medical certification process has long been known
to present a multitude of problems for pilots seeking an airman
certificate. Non-profit general aviation groups will make up an
advisory panel.
In addition to Senators Inhofe, Murkowski and Begich, the
“Pilot’s Bill of Rights” is also being
co-sponsored by: Sens. Johanns (R-NE), John Cornyn (R-Texas),
Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Olympia Snowe
(R-Maine), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Susan Collins
(R-Maine), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Enzi
(R-Wyo.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Saxby
Chambliss (R-Ga.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Johnny
Isakson (R-Ga.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Roy
Blunt (R-Mo.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), James Risch (R-ID).