Flight Attendants, Air Transport Association, Airports
Organization All Give Bill Boffo Reviews
The latest reaction to Monday's
vote in the U.S. Senate passing the FAA reauthorization bill is
from The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA),
representing 50,000 flight attendants at 22 airlines, and the Air
Transport Association, the airlines' trade association.
The AFA commended the Senate for taking action on this
long-delayed legislation. They say the Senate version of the bill
contains several key flight attendant provisions.
"The FAA Reauthorization includes several workplace safety and
health protections for flight attendants that have been ignored for
far too long. We are thankful to the Senate for recognizing their
importance and including these crucial measures in the bill," said
Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President.
Among the AFA-CWA-supported measures that were included in the
Senate's bill were: a follow-up on the results of a FAA flight
attendant fatigue study; OSHA workplace safety and health
protections; cabin air quality provisions that would identify the
equipment and technologies available to detect and filter highly
toxic contaminants in the air supply; English language standards
for flight attendants; and a "Return to the Cabin" program that
will allow flight attendants an opportunity for rehabilitation
after testing positive for drug or alcohol abuse.
"AFA-CWA is especially grateful to Senators Harry Reid, Kirsten
Gillibrand, Charles Schumer and Richard Durbin for their commitment
to the passage of this crucial bill and helping to protect flight
attendants across the country."
The Air Transport Association
pointed out some of the differences between the Senate and House
bills it feels are beneficial to the airline industry.
"We are pleased that the Senate passed legislation that
accomplishes many of the key priorities needed for a healthy and
competitive aviation industry. The bill is a vast improvement on
legislation passed by the House of Representatives," said ATA
President and CEO James C. May. "The Senate demonstrated much
appreciated leadership and bipartisanship by including language
authorizing the FAA to issue grants to help fund NextGen avionics
equipage -- a critical first step in ensuring that the benefits of
air traffic control modernization can be realized sooner rather
than later."
May added that he is extremely pleased the bill recognizes that
passengers and commercial air carriers already are bearing a
disproportionate tax burden by rejecting any increases in taxes and
fees.
ATA also noted that:
- Unlike the House bill, it does not include an unwarranted
increase in the Passenger Facility Charge to $7.
- It rejects the House approach to punitive measures on foreign
repair stations by establishing language that would not violate
current bilateral agreements.
- Unlike the House bill, it contains no provisions that are
detrimental to the carriers' ability to rely on antitrust immunity
granted by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
And The Alliance for Aviation
Across America, which is an airport advocacy
orgainzation, added their voice to those who are pleased with
the passage of the Senate bill.
"We commend the Senate for passing this critical piece of
legislation, which will continue the important process of
modernizing our air traffic control system to a Next Generation Air
Traffic Control, or 'NextGen,' system based on satellite
technology," the organization said in a statement. "In
passing this bill, Senate leaders recognize the need to invest in
the nation's aviation system, so that everyone ... including small
towns and rural areas ... benefit.
"Importantly, the bill raises the necessary funding for
modernization by building on the existing, pay-at-the-pump fuel
tax, which is simple, efficient and easy to use. The bill also
supports the Airport Improvement Program, which is crucially
important for small airports across the country, many of which do
not have commercial airline service, and which serve as a lifeline
for businesses, medical care providers, disaster relief workers,
law enforcement officials and a host of other important services
for small towns and communities across the country," the statement
said.