Published: June 26, 2009 10:55 pm      

Other View: Rules must be enforced

It's terrible that it took the deaths of 50 people aboard a regional airline that crashed near Buffalo to bring about proposed changes in federal safety regulations that apply to the smaller carriers. The changes proposed now are either voluntary or require new rules that could take years to adopt. The Federal Aviation Administration needs to find ways for tough enforcement.

Using frank language, new FAA chief Randy Babbitt said ... safety among smaller airlines is not always equal to the major carriers. He called for immediate changes regarding the hours pilots are allowed to work -- and the ways pilot training and flying records are reviewed. Regional airlines, which often operate under contract to major carriers, fly half of all flights and carry about 20 percent of passengers, according to USA Today. ...

Babbitt promised the FAA will pressure carriers to make the changes.

Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal