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House Aviation Bill a Major Step in Rebuilding Nation’s Air Transport System |
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Aviation unions say a bill passed by the U.S. House yesterday to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the next four years is a major step in strengthening and rebuilding the nation’s air traffic system.
The unions lauded several worker-related provisions in the bill, which passed on a 267-151 vote. One of those provisions calls on the FAA to go back to the bargaining table with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).
Last year, the FAA unilaterally imposed new work rules and pay cuts for new hires, driving both senior and new employees out of the control towers. There are some 1,100 fewer controllers—an 11-year low even as air traffic skyrockets—and the controller exodus is continuing. Says NATCA President Patrick Forrey:
A contract is the only way that veteran controllers will stay on the job, keeping the system running while training new hires to replace them. It is the only hope of preventing a further degradation of the margin of safety and all-out gridlock with worsening delays. You must have enough controllers to keep up with rising traffic volume, and so far the FAA is barely keeping up with the rate of attrition.
The House legislation also includes new worker protections for cabin crews. Patricia Friend, president of the Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), says the bill makes significant headway on worker safety and health and sets
a mandate that flight attendants deserve workplace safety and health requirements that protect those of us whose office is 30,000 feet in the air.
The bill also addresses the issue of pilot fatigue. John Prater, president of the Airline Pilots (ALPA), says:
Pilot fatigue is an increasingly serious issue for ALPA members.…[The legislation] directs the FAA to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on pilot fatigue, and then to consider the findings of the academy and update, where appropriate, its regulations with regard to flight-time limitations and rest requirements for pilots.
The Senate is expected to act on its version of the reauthorization legislation soon.
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