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Flight 3407 families celebrate announcement of new pilot training rules

WBFO News photos by Eileen Buckley

Families of Colgan Air Flight 3407 are celebrating the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement of new pilot training rules.  The FAA issued the final rules in Washington earlier Tuesday.

The crash of Flight 3407 killed 50 people in Clarence Center in 2009.  Families gathered late Tuesday afternoon at Clarence Town Hall.

Credit Eileen Buckley / WBFO News
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WBFO News
James and Mary Neill.

Karen Eckert of Amherst lost her sister Beverly in the crash. Eckert says the new rules provide a "specific requirement" for flight simulator training for stall avoidance.

“Especially when autopilot is on like what happened in flight 3407.There is also a specific requirement for stall upset and stall recovery training. It is not enough to train pilots to avoid a stall or recognize a stall, but they have to in those critical few seconds if they get themselves in a stall to be able to recover, something that didn’t happen for our loved ones in flight 3407,” said Eckert.

The FAA says new rules will significantly advance the way commercial air carriers provide pilot training. The new rule requires airline to track their pilot's performance. It also orders remedial training for pilots with deficient flying skills.

Credit Eileen Buckley / WBFO News
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WBFO News
Susan Bourque and sister Beverly Eckhert.

Susan Bourque is another sister of the flight 3407 victim Beverly Eckert. Bourque says the new rule will move training into the 21st century by utilizing new technologies.

“I said today was a good day, because we now not only have one, but we have three new rules that will go a very long way to ensure that all commercial airlines will be operating under that same high standards,” said Bourque.

Families say this is a huge step forward in addressing the failures and weaknesses of what caused the crash.

The FAA said air carriers will have five years to comply with the new pilot training rules.

Credit WBFO News photos by Eileen Buckley
Jennifer West & her daughter appear at Tuesday's news conference on new pilot training rules.

The FAA said the rules stem in part from the tragic crash in Clarence.