NTSB -- NTSB ACTING CHAIRMAN DISCUSSES FAA's ROLE IN THE OVERSIGHT OF COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIERS IN CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY

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NTSB ADVISORY

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

June 10, 2009

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NTSB ACTING CHAIRMAN DISCUSSES FAA's ROLE IN THE OVERSIGHT

OF COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIERS IN CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY

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WASHINGTON, DC - National Transportation Safety Board Acting

Chairman Mark V. Rosenker today testified before Congress

about the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) role in

the Oversight of Commercial Air Carriers and the relevance

to Safety Board recommendations.

Testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation's Subcommittee on Aviation

Operations, Safety and Security, Rosenker said that the

recent public hearing on the Colgan Air flight 3407 accident

investigation produced vital information and the

investigation is continuing to explore numerous safety

issues in significant detail.

Rosenker made it clear however, that these issues are not

relevant to regional airlines alone. "They are pertinent to

every airline operation, major air carriers as well as

regional air carriers," he said.

The NTSB has previously issued recommendations on stall

training, stick pusher training, pilot records, remedial

training for pilots, sterile cockpit, situational awareness,

pilot monitoring skills, low airspeed alerting systems,

pilot professionalism and fatigue, and aircraft icing.

Rosenker noted that on January 12, 2009, the FAA published a

notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The notice proposes

to amend the regulations for flight and cabin crewmembers

and dispatcher training programs in domestic, flag, and

supplemental operations.

The Safety Board provided comments to the NPRM on May 7,

2009. While the NTSB generally supports the proposed rule

changes, the Board suggested additional requirements,

including substantive changes that improve or enhance crew

and dispatcher procedures, qualifications, and training and

the replacement of advisory circulars and other recommended

guidance with regulatory changes requiring compliance.

"We will continue to highlight and follow-up in these areas

because the Board believes they will significantly enhance

the safety of the nation's transportation system," Rosenker

stated.

Rosenker is to testify on the same subject tomorrow before

the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Aviation.

A copy of Acting Chairman Rosenker's testimony may be found

on the Safety Board's web site at

http://www.ntsb.gov/speeches/rosenker/mvr090610.html.

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Media Contact: Keith Holloway, (202) 314-6100

hollow@xxxxxxxx

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