Click here to see the Scott Foose Presentation

(Source:  MITRE- Online News)
How regional airlines build safer skies    2/23/11 12:00 AM

MITRE Aviation Safety Town Hall speaker Scott Foose -- flanked by CAASD Aviation Safety Town Hall Series coordinators Wally Feerrar (left) and Hassan Shahidi – noted that regional airlines provide the only scheduled service to 74 percent of the communities in North America with commercial service.

(Photo by Alan Zimberg)
 
Regional airlines are carrying a growing number of America’s air passengers each year – and, as Scott Foose told a MITRE Aviation Safety Town Hall Series audience, they are also putting into place many of the steps envisioned for making it safer to fly.

Watch the Regional Horizons video interview with Dr. Hans Van Dongen detailing how an RAA endorsed, new study will close the gap in available fatigue science, and how airlines can benefit from the research and best practices this three-phase study is identifying.


Click read more to access all 4 interviews!

RAA Comments Submitted on Flightcrew Member Duty & Rest Requirements NPRM

Read RAA Press Release on FDT NPRM
Based on its primary objective of improving aviation safety, the Regional Airline Association today filed comments supporting FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt’s aim to combat crew fatigue, while recommending science-based revisions that will ensure airline flight crews are rested and safe.
RAA representatives and member airlines actively participated in the Flight and Duty Time Limitations and Rest Requirements Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) chartered by the Administrator last summer.   RAA earlier had launched its own Strategic Safety Initiative (SSI) which specifically called for a study of pilot commuting and research on identifying pilot fatigue in airline operations. Many of the elements in the SSI have been incorporated into the FAA proposed rulemaking.

Click here to view Roger Cohen's Presentation from the NTSB Airline Code-Sharing Symposium.
Download the RAA Press Release here.

All NTSB Panelists presentations can be found here.

The development of the US code-sharing system between major and regional carriers during the past two decades has provided a safe, professional and reliable system for the traveling public, RAA President Roger Cohen underlined during his presentation today at the NTSB Code-Sharing Symposium in Washington, DC.  “As passengers expect, regional airlines fly under the same gold standards as the majors:  there is one level of safety," said Roger Cohen, underlining that on a voluntary basis, regional carriers have incorporated and advanced numerous safety programs such as ASAP, FOQA and others.

"Everyone on board did their job, The passengers stayed calm. There were no injuries when we landed. If they had panicked, the outcome could have been much different."

Atlantic Southeast Airlines veteran pilot, Jack Conroyd says he was just doing his job.  This article features comments from Captain Conroyd as well as a summary of the criticism of regional airline pilot experience since CO3407.  Click here to read the full article from AOL News.

Download the RAA Press Release

Click here to read the full comments submitted by RAA.

The Regional Airline Association (RAA) today filed comments in response to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing the adoption of additional regulations that intend to improve passenger protections in air travel.

“Providing an outstanding travel experience for our valued customers is a goal RAA shares with its member airlines, the Department of Transportation, and other aviation stakeholders,” said RAA Vice President-Legislative Affairs Faye Malarkey Black.  Black continued: “We urge DOT to reconsider its proposed rule, however, to reduce the possibility of causing unintended confusion or inconvenience to the traveling public, particularly those passengers traveling to or from the 75 percent of our nation’s airports that rely on regional airlines, exclusively, for scheduled air service.” 

RAA statement in response to Fatigue Aviation Rulemaking Committee announcement.
“RAA and its member airlines have been active leaders in the Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) since it began, and support the approach that would allow pilots more rest and give airlines the flexibility to integrate fatigue science into their scheduling practices. In fact, RAA’s pro-active Strategic Safety Initiative launched in June, 2009 has studied and recommended many actions responding to these challenges.
RAA’s member airlines, which provide more than half the nation’s scheduled passenger flights, look forward to continuing these critical efforts with the FAA and all stakeholders throughout the rulemaking process.”

Click here to read the Proposed Rule in the Federal Register- September 14, 2010.

“Safety has been and always will be the single highest priority for RAA. Regional airlines have voluntarily adopted and have long benefitted from these safety programs, the legislation incorporates many elements urged by RAA’s Strategic Safety Initiative, and our member regional airlines look forward to continuing our efforts with the FAA and all stakeholders to further build upon commercial aviation’s outstanding safety record.” Roger Cohen, RAA President

Vice President Scott Foose outlined RAA's effort to fill the fatigue science gap during a panel discussion at FAA's June 7-10, 2010 Global Safety Management conference in New Orleans. RAA's multi-phase research on pilot fatigue and education focuses on multi-segment flight operations by US domestic airlines.  Click here for Scott's presentation,  and for more general information about the FAA event click here bit.ly/capKPN

NTSB Chair Deborah Hersman told RAA Convention attendees that "regional airlines are the major leagues. At any given moment, there are nearly 5,000 flights in the national airspace." 
Read her entire remarks here.  Follow the jump to view videos of her speech. 

Regional Horizons reports on NTSB Chair Deborah Hersman's keynote speech at the Milwaukee Convention. Click here.

Read the full RAA press release.

Tuesday, March 9: Former RAA Board Member,  Bryan Bedford (President and CEO, Republic Airways) will be a panelist  on "Will recovery in aviation lead to a transformed industry?"

Wednesday, March 10: RAA President Roger Cohen will be a panelist on New Decade.......Dawn or Dusk for Regional Carriers?

View Roger Cohen's Presentation-here.

*NEW* Roger Cohen Presentation with annotations- download here

For a full agenda, click here.

RAA sent the following letter to Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica prior to today's hearing "Update: The Federal Aviation Administration's Call to Action on Airline Safety and Pilot Training".  Click here to view the letter.

The Regional Airline Association (RAA) today welcomed the release of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) report, “Answering the Call to Action on Airline Safety and Pilot Training.” The report describes the progress made in response to FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s June 2009 Call to Action on airline safety.

Read the USA Today Editorial

Read the RAA Opposing View- Opposing view: Code-sharing benefits fliers

Conde Nast Traveler and the Wall Street Journal  each posted stories about the regional airline industry recently. The RAA wrote the editors following the stories being published in order to reemphasize our commitment to safety and outline our own Strategic Safety Initiative which is at the forefront of aviation research.

Read the RAA response to Conde Nast's Traveler magazine article
Read  the RAA response to the Wall Street Journal article