Colgan Officials Testify at NTSB Hearings

With two vice presidents of Colgan Air testifying this morning, Clifford Law Offices observed several issues to come out of this morning's National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearings:

*Colgan is looking for ways to improve its pilot compliance with the company's fatigue policy since the Feb. 12 crash.

*Colgan is looking for ways to improve its background checks on pilots using the most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory from 15 months ago that suggests airlines ask pilots to sign privacy waivers authorizing FAA release of pilot records beyond the five-year period authorized by the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA).

*According to Mary Finnigan, Colgan Vice President of Administration, Captain Mark Renslow, pilot of Continental Connection Flight 3407, did not tell the truth on his application regarding the number of check rides (pilot proficiency checks) that he had failed prior to his being hired by Colgan.

*Kitty Higgins, NTSB Board Member, called it a "recipe for an accident" when you combine the low pay of commuter airline pilots with long commuting distances flown by pilots who live long distances from their base of operations.  It became apparent from the testimony that commuter pilots do not have enough money to afford the overnight lodging suggested by commuter airlines such as Colgan, so they often fly red-eye flights and try to sleep in crew rooms to make their flights while avoiding the expense of lodging.

*NTSB Acting Chairman Mark Rosenker said that the "winking and nodding" regarding adherence to and effectiveness of some of the fatigue, commuting, crew rest, and duty time policies of Colgan and in the airline industry in general cannot be tolerated if everyone is to work together to make the skies safer.

For further information, please contact Clifford Law Offices Communications Partner Pamela Menaker at 847-721-0909.