Congressman Salazar fights for air medical safety improvements and small community airports

“To honor the remarkable sacrifices of those who have given their lives while trying to save others”

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Congressman John Salazar announced that provisions he introduced will be included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009. The FAA Reauthorization Act reauthorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012 for airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning programs; air navigation facilities and equipment; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations; and FAA research, engineering, and development. It authorizes additional appropriations from the general fund of the Treasury for aviation programs through FY2012. The FAA Reauthorization Act passed in the House of Representatives today and will now go to the Senate for consideration

Congressman Salazar, who is himself a small aircraft pilot, included language in the FAA Reauthorization Act that will improve air safety for medical providers. In 2008, the American air medical services community saw its largest number of line-of-service medical helicopter deaths—29 in 13 separate accidents. In an effort to prevent future tragedies, Congressman Salazar introduced HR 1201 earlier this year. Much of the language from that bill is now included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009.

On the inclusion of his language, Congressman John Salazar offered the following comments:

“As a pilot I know the pressures that can come with flying and I know those pressures are only amplified in an emergency situation. With the inclusion of this language in the FAA Reauthorization Act we hope to add an additional layer of safety for our caregivers and to honor the remarkable sacrifices of those who have given their lives while trying to save others.”

If signed into law, the language provided by Congressman Salazar will:

• Require the pilot of a helicopter providing emergency medical services to comply with federal crewmember flight time and duty period and rest requirements whenever there is a medical crew on board, without regard to whether there are patients on board.

• Require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to initiate a rulemaking to: (1) require pilots of helicopters providing emergency medical service to use a standardized checklist of risk evaluation factors to determine whether a mission should be accepted; (2) establish performance based flight dispatch procedures for such pilots; and (3) require, after a certain feasibility study is done, flight data and cockpit voice recorders on board such aircraft.

Essential Air Service Airports:

In addition to improved air access, Congressman Salazar worked to assist Essential Air Service (EAS) airports in Colorado and across the nation. EAS airports serve small communities nationwide, including three in Colorado all located within the Third Congressional District in Alamosa, Pueblo, and Cortez.

The EAS language secured in the FAA reauthorization:

• Repeals a provision in the 2002 FAA reauthorization requiring a community to pay a portion of the cost for its limited commercial air service.

• Requires the Secretary of Transportation to notify EAS communities at risk of termination 45 days before issuing a final decision and establishes procedures to avoid termination.

• Establishes an Office of Rural Aviation within the Office of the Secretary of Transportation.

• Permits the department to increase compensation under the EAS program if it is determined that air carriers are experiencing significantly higher aviation fuel costs. This creates an incentive for airlines to participate and stay in the EAS program.

• Requires the GAO to examine how the $200-per-passenger cap on subsidies has affected the EAS program.

On the inclusion of the Essential Air Service language in the FAA reauthorization Congressman Salazar offered the following comment:

“This is a great win for Colorado and the nation as a whole. I am proud of an FAA Reauthorization that will benefit Colorado’s rural communities and mountain airports. This bill assures our EAS airports in Alamosa, Cortez, and Pueblo of the funding required to remain operational.”

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	For immediate release: May 21, 2009
	Contact: (202) 225-4761 Eric Wortman, Communications Director Contact: (202) 536-6190 Edward Stern, Deputy Press Secretary
	Congressman Salazar fights for air medical safety improvements and small community airports
	“To honor the remarkable sacrifices of those who have given their lives while trying to save others” WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Congressman John Salazar announced that provisions he introduced will be included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009. The FAA Reauthorization Act reauthorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012 for airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning programs; air navigation facilities and equipment; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations; and FAA research, engineering, and development. It authorizes additional appropriations from the general fund of the Treasury for aviation programs through FY2012. The FAA Reauthorization Act passed in the House of Representatives today and will now go to the Senate for consideration Congressman Salazar, who is himself a small aircraft pilot, included language in the FAA Reauthorization Act that will improve air safety for medical providers. In 2008, the American air medical services community saw its largest number of line-of-service medical helicopter deaths—29 in 13 separate accidents. In an effort to prevent future tragedies, Congressman Salazar introduced HR 1201 earlier this year. Much of the language from that bill is now included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009. On the inclusion of his language, Congressman John Salazar offered the following comments: “As a pilot I know the pressures that can come with flying and I know those pressures are only amplified in an emergency situation. With the inclusion of this language in the FAA Reauthorization Act we hope to add an additional layer of safety for our caregivers and to honor the remarkable sacrifices of those who have given their lives while trying to save others.” If signed into law, the language provided by Congressman Salazar will: • Require the pilot of a helicopter providing emergency medical services to comply with federal crewmember flight time and duty period and rest requirements whenever there is a medical crew on board, without regard to whether there are patients on board. • Require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to initiate a rulemaking to: (1) require pilots of helicopters providing emergency medical service to use a standardized checklist of risk evaluation factors to determine whether a mission should be accepted; (2) establish performance based flight dispatch procedures for such pilots; and (3) require, after a certain feasibility study is done, flight data and cockpit voice recorders on board such aircraft. Essential Air Service Airports: In addition to improved air access, Congressman Salazar worked to assist Essential Air Service (EAS) airports in Colorado and across the nation. EAS airports serve small communities nationwide, including three in Colorado all located within the Third Congressional District in Alamosa, Pueblo, and Cortez. The EAS language secured in the FAA reauthorization: • Repeals a provision in the 2002 FAA reauthorization requiring a community to pay a portion of the cost for its limited commercial air service. • Requires the Secretary of Transportation to notify EAS communities at risk of termination 45 days before issuing a final decision and establishes procedures to avoid termination. • Establishes an Office of Rural Aviation within the Office of the Secretary of Transportation. • Permits the department to increase compensation under the EAS program if it is determined that air carriers are experiencing significantly higher aviation fuel costs. This creates an incentive for airlines to participate and stay in the EAS program. • Requires the GAO to examine how the $200-per-passenger cap on subsidies has affected the EAS program. On the inclusion of the Essential Air Service language in the FAA reauthorization Congressman Salazar offered the following comment: “This is a great win for Colorado and the nation as a whole. I am proud of an FAA Reauthorization that will benefit Colorado’s rural communities and mountain airports. This bill assures our EAS airports in Alamosa, Cortez, and Pueblo of the funding required to remain operational.”
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