Res Communis

S. 1284: A bill to require the implementation of certain recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board, to require the establishment of national standards with respect to flight requirements for pilots, to require the development of fatigue management plans, and for other purposes

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

S. 1284: A bill to require the implementation of certain recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board, to require the establishment of national standards with respect to flight requirements for pilots, to require the development of fatigue management plans, and for other purposes was introduced on June 17, 2009 by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME). The text is not yet available.

H.R. 2788: Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

H.R. 2788: Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act was introduced on June 10, 2009 by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA44):

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2788

To designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 10, 2009

Mr. CALVERT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act’.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS NATIONAL MEMORIAL IN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:

(1) The most reliable statistics regarding the number of members of the Armed Forces who have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross indicate that 126,318 members of the Armed Forces received the medal during World War II, approximately 21,000 members received the medal during the Korean conflict, and 21,647 members received the medal during the Vietnam War. Since the end of the Vietnam War, more than 203 Armed Forces members have received the medal in times of conflict.

(2) The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, burned down in 1973, and thus many more recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross may be undocumented. Currently, the Department of Defense continues to locate and identify members of the Armed Forces who have received the medal and are undocumented.

(3) The United States currently lacks a national memorial dedicated to the bravery and sacrifice of those members of the Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves by heroic deeds performed in aerial flight.

(4) An appropriate memorial to current and former members of the Armed Forces is under construction at March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.

(5) This memorial will honor all those members of the Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves in aerial flight, whether documentation of such members who earned the Distinguished Flying Cross exists or not.

(b) Designation- The memorial to members of the Armed Forces who have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross that is under construction at March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California, is hereby designated as the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial.

(c) Effect of Designation- The national memorial designated by this section is not a unit of the National Park System, and the designation of the national memorial shall not be construed to require or permit Federal funds to be expended for any purpose related to the national memorial.

Hearing Summary: Aviation Safety: FAA’s Role In The Oversight Of Air Carriers

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

For Immediate Release
06/11/09
Contact: Jena Longo – Democratic Deputy Communications Director 202.224.7824

Hearing Summary: Aviation Safety: FAA’s Role In The Oversight Of Air Carriers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a subcommittee hearing yesterday on Aviation Safety: FAA’S Role in the Oversight of Air Carriers.

***The Committee will hold a second hearing on Aviation Safety:
The Role and Responsibility of Commercial Air Carriers and Employees on Wednesday, June 17, 2009***

Witness List:

The Honorable J. Randolph Babbitt, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration

The Honorable Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Transportation

The Honorable Mark V. Rosenker, Acting Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board

Mr. John O’Brien, Board Member, The Flight Safety Foundation

Key Quotes:

“America has always had the premier aviation system in the world and it is vital to the economic future of our nation that we maintain our proud reputation. Preserving the public trust in the system means that safety must always be the paramount goal of all aviation professionals.”
Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV

“In this country, we have a remarkably safe air system. And it’s not my intention here to scare anyone considering taking a flight on a regional carrier. But I do think we have a responsibility to examine crashes when they occur and ensure that we do all we can to prevent further accidents.”
Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Chairman of U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security

“While aviation has incorporated many technologies over the years to prevent accidents by addressing findings from NTSB accident investigations, human factors remain a source of risk. Improving human performance is a central element to improving safety. Thus, the FAA proposal is aimed at using best practices and tools to help pilots, flight attendants, and dispatchers (1) avoid the mistake and (2) respond better if there is a mistake made.”
The Honorable J. Randolph Babbitt, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration

“Safety is a shared responsibility among FAA, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and airports. Together, all four form a series of overlapping controls to keep the system safe. The past several years have been one of the safest periods in history for the aviation industry. This is largely due to the dedicated efforts of the professionals within FAA and throughout the industry as well as significant advances in aviation technology.”
The Honorable Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Transportation

“Human fatigue is another issue that has been on the Most Wanted List since it was created 19 years ago. In 1995, the FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that addressed many of the issues identified by the NTSB. That NPRM was controversial and encountered considerable opposition. The FAA later withdrew the NPRM and has not proposed any further revisions to existing flight and duty time regulations.”
The Honorable Mark V. Rosenker, Acting Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board

“I’m encouraged when I consider all the progress that the aviation industry, in working with the FAA and other safety professionals, has made over the past decades. While we have achieved great levels of safety, the FAA needs to continue to work with the industry in encouraging the latest efforts to improve safety.”
Mr. John O’Brien, Board Member, The Flight Safety Foundation