Press Releases

The Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act Closes a Federal Safety Loophole

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Tim Kennedy (NY-26) and Nick Langworthy (NY-23) today introduced the Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act, bipartisan legislation designed to close a federal loophole that allows some airlines to operate scheduled passenger flights without meeting the same safety standards required of major commercial carriers. 

“This common-sense legislation puts the safety of passengers, crew members, and the public first,” said Congressman Tim Kennedy. “For Western New Yorkers, aviation safety is deeply personal, and our community has long led the fight to make our skies safer. Every American deserves the same high safety standards when they board a plane. We owe it to the families of Flight 3407, and to every traveler, to keep our skies safe and prevent future tragedies.”

“The safety of the flying public depends on ensuring every pilot in the cockpit is fully trained and prepared, which is why I was proud to lead the fight to uphold the 1,500-hour rule in the FAA Reauthorization – standards born from the lessons of the tragic Colgan Flight 3407 disaster,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “As Chairman of the Aviation Safety Caucus, I’m proud to introduce this legislation to build on that work by closing a loophole some carriers are using to sidestep these rigorous requirements. It reinforces a simple but critical principle that safety must always come first, and there can be no shortcuts for the airlines responsible for getting Americans to their destinations safely.”

“PL111-216, "The Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010", has proven to be a landmark aviation safety law that addressed the two levels of safety that existed when Continental/ Colgan Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence, New York on February 12th, 2009. Over the past 15 years Charter airlines found a loophole in current FAA regulations that has permitted them to resume a second/ lesser level of aviation safety operations. Thankfully Congressmen Kennedy and Langworthy are proposing legislation to address the FAA loophole. On the 17th anniversary of our tragic accident the Families of 3407 sincerely appreciate their leadership and commitment to aviation safety so that another accident like ours will hopefully be prevented.” – Families of Flight 3407

"ALPA is grateful to Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy for introducing the Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act, which will finally close the public charter loophole that has allowed certain airlines to operate regularly scheduled commercial flights under lesser safety standards. No airline operator should be able to exploit a regulatory gap to avoid the standards that govern scheduled commercial service. Yet today, some carriers are running what amount to scheduled airline flights that operate in the same airspace, serve the same passengers, and fly from largely the same airports without meeting the highest level of aviation safety standards. This bill ensures a level playing field and, more importantly, ensures that every passenger can board a flight with confidence that the same rigorous safety standards apply, no matter the carrier or the destination.” – Captain Jason Ambrosi, Air Line Pilots Association, International

“Charter carriers are exploiting loopholes to offer scheduled services with significantly lower safety standards, which is unacceptable. All scheduled commercial flights must meet the same rigorous safety requirements. The Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act is essential for closing this regulatory gap and ensuring passenger safety.” – Captain Jody Reven, President of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association 

“Within the aviation ecosystem, we are only as strong as our weakest link. Therefore, it is critically important that there is one level of safety when it comes to scheduled passenger aviation. The Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act aims to close a glaring loophole in the safety rules governing aviation. The traveling public deserves to know that, when they fly and no matter which airline they fly, each airline they board adheres to the same minimum federal safety standards,” - Captain Dave Hunt, Vice President, Safety and Security, Southwest Airlines.

“As professional pilots, we are concerned that memories of the 9/11 terrorist attacks have grown short, and we cannot allow charter operators to lose focus on security for the sake of profit. There should be no more aviation security loopholes, period.” – First Officer Nick Silva, President of the Allied Pilots Association

The Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act ensures that any airline offering scheduled passenger service using larger aircraft is held to the same federal safety and operational standards as major commercial airlines. Current law allows certain charter airlines to sell tickets for regularly scheduled flights while operating under less rigorous safety rules than traditional commercial airlines. This legislation closes that loophole and restores a clear and consistent safety baseline across the aviation system, ensuring passengers aren’t unknowingly exposed to different levels of risk. 

On February 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed while approaching Buffalo Niagara International Airport, killing all 49 passengers and crew on board and one resident on the ground. The tragedy forever changed Western New York and sparked national reforms aimed at strengthening aviation safety. Yet today, gaps remain in federal regulations that put passengers and flight crews at risk. The legislation builds on the legacy of families and advocates who turned unimaginable loss into lasting reform after Flight 3407, reaffirming a continued commitment to preventing future tragedies in Western New York and across the country.

###