As FAA Fails to Meet Deadline, Rep. Doggett Urges Action on Aviation Safety
***Press Release***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2019 | Contact: Kate Stotesbery 202-225-4865 |
As FAA Fails to Meet Deadline, Rep. Doggett Urges Action on Aviation Safety
Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to comply with and implement Section 318 of the FAA Reauthorization that was finally signed into law on October 5, 2018. This law results from a Doggett amendment requiring medical certificates for commercial balloon pilots, which was adopted with strong bipartisan support. And yet, past the 180 day window for implementation, the FAA has failed to act.
"On July 30, 2016, a commercial balloon crash in my district tragically killed 15 passengers, becoming the largest balloon crash in our history and the Nation's worst aviation disaster since 2009," wrote Congressman Doggett. "In the days that followed, as people gathered around the Caldwell County Courthouse to mourn, it became clear just how preventable this tragedy was."
His communication is available here, in which he also noted, "Despite already having the authority to Act, FAA continued to delay despite the risk to further innocent lives…In the months that have passed, I expected FAA to follow the law and require medical certificates for commercial balloon pilots." He concluded: "Why has rulemaking not been initiated? When will rulemaking be initiated? Continued inaction by FAA risks condemning yet more unsuspecting families to death. I look forward to your immediate response regarding implementation of this long-overdue improvement to hot air balloon safety."
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