Mon, Jun 18, 2012
Attempted To Bring Legislation To Senate Floor, Blocked By Rockefeller, Hutchinson
Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe (R) first introduced his Pilot's Bill of Rights, which would limit the authority of the FAA in some proceedings it takes against pilots, in 2011. He wrote the legislation to address what he says is the ability of the agency to pull a pilot's airman privileges "on a whim." The bill would give pilots access to evidence used by the FAA to revoke pilot certificates, and provide an appeals process should their certificates be lifted.
On Thursday, Senator Inhofe (pictured) asked for unanimous consent from the Senate to consider the bill. While he admitted in a floor speech that for many in the Senate, or watching on C-SPAN2, the legislation might have little meaning. "But it means a lot to the 400,000 members of the AOPA, who are watching us right now, and to the 175,000 general aviation pilots with the EAA — Experimental Aircraft Association — that they know that with the whim of just one bureaucrat they could just lose their license."
The Hill reports that the move was blocked by Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), respective the chair and ranking minority member of the Senate Commerce Committee which has jurisdiction over the FAA. Rockefeller said he based his objection on public safety considerations. "This bill would create a process, which would be new, that could result in the federal government [not] being able to pursue enforcement actions because of limited resources," Rockefeller said on the Senate floor. "This bill would stand the FAA's enforcement structure on its head, and as a result I object."
More News
Back-Taxi A term used by air traffic controllers to taxi an aircraft on the runway opposite to the traffic flow. The aircraft may be instructed to back-taxi to the beginning of the>[...]
“Our WAI members across the nation are grateful for the service and sacrifice of the formidable group of WASP who served so honorably during World War II. This group of brave>[...]
“Many aspiring pilots fall short of their goal due to the cost of flight training, so EAA working with the Ray Foundation helps relieve some of the financial pressure and mak>[...]
Blind Speed The rate of departure or closing of a target relative to the radar antenna at which cancellation of the primary radar target by moving target indicator (MTI) circuits i>[...]
Aero Linx: International Airline Medical Association (IAMA) The International Airline Medical Association, formerly known as the Airline Medical Directors Association (AMDA) was fo>[...]