Flight 3407 families push Senate on FAA Re-Authorization Bill

By Eileen Buckley

Buffalo, NY – Some of the Flight 3407 families are back in Washington this week demanding the U.S. Senate pass the FAA Re-Authorization Bill. WBFO'S Eileen Buckley talked to two Flight 3407 widows about their effort and how they will target a Tennessee lawmaker.

Click the audio player above to hear Eileen Buckley's full story now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.

Jennifer West and Robin Tolsma will begin visiting all 100 U.S. Senators today at the Capital. The women are joining other family members who lost loved ones in the deadly Colgan Air crash in Clarence last year.

They will beg lawmakers to take a vote on the FAA reauthorization Bill. But Tennessee Senator Bob Corker has placed a hold on the bill. He want assurances that a labor provision involving Memphis-based Federal Express is dropped from the final legislation. Tolsma says he is their biggest challenge.

Tolsma and West drove to Washington together. West lost her husband Ernie in the crash. She was extremely disappointed to learn of Corker's attempt to hold up the bill.

Since last May, 3407 families have been passionately campaigning for flight safety changes in regional airlines like Colgan. They say they never want this type of tragedy to happen again.

The Reauthorization bill has many of the safety provisions they want, such as improved pilot training, changes to fatigue rules and mandatory flying hours.

Tolsma says she guarantees, when she meets with Senator Corker later today, he will never forget her husband Darren's name.

The families were hoping to see the bill hit the Senate floor by tomorrow, but the
hold could delay full consideration until next week