BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Families of Flight 3407 crash victims attended a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as senators questioned Republic Airways CEO and FAA administrator nominee Bryan Bedford.
The families are concerned that Bedford could try to roll back the requirements they have fought so hard for following the crash in Clarence Center in February 2009.
“Now is not the time to water down safety standards, it's the complete opposite,” said Ron Aughtmon, who lost his Uncle John Fiore in the plane crash.
WATCH: Flight 3407 families concerned about FAA administrator nominee's pilot training rule position
Since then, he has fought tirelessly to ensure flight training standards are in place and are kept in place.
"With everything going on in the aviation industry right now, with the air traffic controllers, the infrastructure, Boeing, the recent crashes, near crashes,” Aughtmon said.
After listening to the confirmation process for the FAA administrator nominee, Aughtmon explained he and the other Flight 3407 families are not pleased with the pick.
"He has a history of trying to roll back the 1,500-hour flight time," Aughtmon said. "He's made numerous comments. He submitted a request for that when he was still the CEO of Republic Airlines.”
"I'm demanding that Secretary Duffy, who will be Bedford's boss, must meet with the families immediately and commit clearly and unequivocally to the protection of the 1500-hour rule," Senator Chuck Schumer said. "The safety of our skies depends on it."
Senator Schumer said Bedford's refusal to commit to protecting the 1,500-hour training rule raises a red flag.
"It's disturbing and it's an insult to 3407,” he shared.
Schumer said reducing the number of training hours for pilots in the air is dangerous and will cost lives.
"We need an FAA administrator who is unequivocally committed to keeping our skies safe, not one who puts profit over safety, not one who's willing to roll back the hours that our pilots need to train,” Sen. Schumer said.
According to Aughtmon, he does not believe Bedford does not care about safety standards; the families just hope that protocols will be enhanced by someone with extensive flying experience.
"People like Sully Sullenberger and Jeff Skiles who landed the plane on the Hudson — Senator Duckworth, who is a former pilot — those are the experts that know that real-time in-cockpit flying is the best training you can have,” Aughtmon explained.
The family members of Flight 3407 told me they hope to set a time this month to meet with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
