Lubbock Man Pushes For Airline Upgrades
By: Allison Morrison
Updated: June 18, 2009
The families of victims in February's plane crash near Buffalo, New York are asking Congress for air safety upgrades, including one Lubbock man who's daughter was killed in that crash.
For over 20 years, Mike Loftus was a commerical airline pilot.
Now retired, he's joined the 'Families of Flight 3407' to fight a difficult battle with lawmakers, in hopes of improving air safety.
Loftus' daughter, 24-year-old Maddy, was killed in that plane crash.
Loftus testified in front of Congress last week to raise awareness about pilot training, fatigue and qualifications.
He says regional airlines fly under much larger carriers, like Continental, but often have less sophisticated training and safety programs.
"For once I think my daughter would have wanted me to do it. I think that's kind of why, if anything can make me make sense out of this whole thing, it was kind of a given that I was going to end up testifying. The things that have come out of the testimony at the NTSB hearing have brought about glaring problems, that are problems systemic within the industry, not just Colgan Airlines or Continental Airlines. It's a much broader problem," Loftus says.
He says his testimony was well-received by Congress and airline authorities, but he stresses any improvements that are made need to be mandatory, not just voluntary.
