Committee Members Express "Disappointment" In A Letter

Four members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressing "concern and disappointment" that he has not yet issued an NPRM for flight duty time limits.

"We have received repeated assurances, including testimony from ... FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, that the FAA would complete the rule by the end of 2009," the Congressmen wrote, "which slipped to this spring, and still nothing has been produced."

The letter, which is dated June 9th and signed by Committee Chair James Oberstar (D), Senior Committee Republican John Mica, and subcommittee leaders Jerry Costello (D) and Thomas Petri (R) says that rules governing pilot fatigue have been on the NTSB "Most Wanted" list for 20 years, and continues to be identified as a contributing factor in many accidents.

An aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) formulated flight and duty time revisions for the DOT a year ago. "Now it is time for DOT to fulfill its obligations and put forward new regulations," the letter says. "The safety of the traveling public is paramount, and we urge DOT to follow through on its commitment."

FMI: http://transportation.house.gov