Chair Larsen Opening Statement at Aviation Subcommittee Hearing on the “State of Aviation Safety”

As Delivered

July 17, 2019

Good morning and thank you to today’s witnesses for joining the Subcommittee’s hearing today on the “State of Aviation Safety.”

Recent tragic aviation incidents at home and abroad have shed new light on what is required to ensure the safety of the traveling public.

In addition, the integration of new entrants, such as drones, into the national airspace now present new safety and security challenges.

Last Congress, this Committee passed the Federal Aviation Administration or the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, bipartisan legislation which set a solid foundation to improve the safety of the nation’s airports, pilots, crew and passengers.

Today’s hearing is an opportunity to get the public’s perspective on current risks and challenges facing our aviation system and necessary safety improvements.

The testimony will also help shape our priorities as we continue our investigation of the Boeing 737 MAX and the oversight of the FAA’s the implementation of last year’s FAA Reauthorization Bill.

For the sake of time, I am just going to speak first about panel two and then shift to the first panel.

So later this morning we are going to hear from the second panel, and this fall, the Committee will discuss the implementation of the FAA Reauthorization Act.

Later on during today’s hearing, the Subcommittee will hear from witnesses on the second panel, who are on the frontlines of aviation and are critical to ensuring the safety of U.S. aviation. Their testimony will help us prioritize issues for oversight on that legislation.

So from the NTSB when they testify about recommendations outlined in the NTSB Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements, I particularly want to her about Part 135 flight ops and ensuring the safe integration of new technologies.

As Congress works to improve the pipeline for the next generation of pilots, debate continues on the strong pilot training rules requiring 1,500 hours of flight time mandated after the Colgan crash.

Congress cannot undermine our safety rules simply to respond to market forces of supply and demand.

If there is a pilot shortage, I am interested in the ALPA’s thoughts on ways to address that without sacrificing safety.

Flight attendant fatigue is a pressing aviation issue. However, the FAA continues to delay the implementation of mandate requiring at least 10 consecutive hours of rest for flight attendants between duty periods.

So I want to hear more from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants about the immediate and long-term impacts of that inaction.

As evidenced by recent events, the FAA’s certification process is critical to aviation safety. So Professional Aviation Safety Specialists can shed more light about that role of safety inspectors and engineers in this process and improvements that are necessary to ensure the safety of U.S. aircraft.

Last week, Chair DeFazio, Vice Chair Davids, Congressmen Davis and Ferguson and I introduced the Fair and Open Skies Act, to prevent foreign air carriers from exploiting a “flag of convenience” to avoid the regulations of their home countries, or otherwise undermine labor standards.

So when we get to the panel I would appreciate Transportation Workers Union, as well as ALPA and APFA’s support of this bill and on behalf of the Committee would like to hear more about the importance of maintaining strong labor protections on safety.

I now want to turn to the first panel.

The issue of the 737 MAX is not just about stakeholders in the aviation industry.

This Committee is a public body and therefore has a responsibility to hear from those most impacted, which unfortunately includes at times of tragedy. 

On today’s first panel are Mr. Paul Njoroge and Mr. Michael Stumo, who both lost family in the Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 or ET302 crash, which itself claimed the lives of 157 people.

Chair DeFazio and I asked Mr. Njoroge to testify today on behalf of the ET302 families and to give a voice to the 157 victims of that tragic accident.

Mr. Njoroge and Mr. Stumo, I cannot begin to imagine the immeasurable grief you and your families are experiencing.

So on behalf of the entire Committee, for Members here today and those who cannot join us, I want to extend our sincerest condolences to both of you and your families and all of the families during this very difficult time.

We appreciate your willingness to come testify in front of our Committee.

Your testimony is a crucial reminder of the international role the U.S. aviation system operates within. 

These crashes occurred on U.S.-made, U.S. assembled and U.S. regulated airplanes.

The FAA’s actions and this Committee’s efforts clearly have implications for travel around the world.

A majority of the victims of the ET302 and Lion Air 610 were not Americans, and therefore it is only right to hear from someone who can better represent the global community impacted by these tragedies.

So, I want to thank you Mr. Njoroge for coming in from Canada last night.

Thank you for meeting with us with Ranking Member Graves and I last night as well. Mr. Stumo as well.

And I want to as well recognize Tor Stumo who is here, Michael’s son and Nadia’s son.

Tomra Vecere, is in the audience, and husband Charles, she lost her brother Matthew as well.

There of course many other family members who are not here but are certainly represented in our thoughts, our prayers and in today’s testimony. And, with that I want to turn to the Ranking Member, Garret Graves for opening comments.

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