House Passes Bill To Toughen Pilot Training Rules

The House has passed a bill to toughen regulations on pilot training, qualifications and work schedules in response to accidents involving regional airlines.

The bill approved Wednesday would require entry-level pilots to have more experience. A companion measure has been introduced in the Senate.

The impetus for the bill was the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 on Feb. 12 near Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. All 49 people aboard and one man in a house below were killed.

Testimony at a May hearing revealed that the flight's captain and first officer made a series of critical errors leading up to the crash. The flight was operated by regional carrier Colgan Air Inc. of Manassas, Va.