Stranded air passengers get more protections

[John225]

Stranded air passengers get more protections
Under bill, airlines must have plans to better deal with congestion, delays


Updated: 2:07 p.m. CT Sept 20, 2007
WASHINGTON - U.S. airlines and airports would have to come up with plans to provide passengers stranded by long delays with food, water and other basic amenities under an aviation bill approved by the House of Representatives Thursday.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20892236/

[Ned]

This is a far reaching bill which tries to do a whole lost more than just give protections to stranded air passengers, but in my opinion, unless Congress gets the FAA to change many of their rules regarding:

• Suspended Flight Service, and
• Flight Crew Duty Time Limits

these protections for stranded air passengers will be not worthless, but a far cry from what could be accomplished for passengers, without financially hurting the airlines, nor compromising safety.

Furthermore, in my opinion, we need to see major changes in

• Flight Queue Rules.

Changing these rules could substantially reduce passenger wait times for takeoff while in the plane, and save a substantial amount of fuel costs for the airlines.

Here's a list of the major points of the Aviation Bill which passed the House of Representatives today.

• U.S. airlines and airports would have to come up with plans to provide passengers stranded by long delays with food, water and other basic amenities. Specifically, the bill specifies that air carriers, and large and medium hub airports must file emergency contingency plans detailing food, water, restroom facilities, cabin ventilation and medical treatment for passengers aboard aircraft. The water must meet standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
• Plans must be drawn up to allow passengers to deplane following excessive delays (excessive delays are apparently very loosely defined).
• The Transportation Department is empowered to levy civil penalties against a carrier or airport that doesn't adhere to contingency arrangements.
• The bill includes $68 billion to finance Federal Aviation Administration operations and invest in airport improvements over the next four years.
• The jet fuel tax for noncommercial planes is raised from 21.8 cents per gallon to 30.7 cents per gallon.
• The aviation gasoline tax is raised from 19.3 cents to 24.1 cents per gallon.
• The cap on fees airports can charge passengers for capital improvements was raised from $4.50 to $7 per flight.
• In an effort to at least party addresses noise and congestion issues, the commits $13 billion, $1 billion more than the Bush request, for air traffic control improvements, and the satellite-based Next Generation Air Transportation System.
• The bill requires the FAA to begin schedule reduction meetings if aircraft operations exceed hourly maximum arrival and departure rules, and sets up a pilot program at five airports to develop and test new air traffic flow management technologies.
• Allows pilots who now must retire at age 60 to fly until age 65 under certain conditions.
• Requires all civil subsonic jets under 75,000 pounds to meet tougher noise level standards within five years. Larger jets already have to meet tough noise standards.
• Increases the number of aviation safety and runway inspectors.
• Tightens security at overseas repair stations.

The bill is a decent start, but without other pieces of the puzzle being implemented by the FAA the system will continue to be grossly inefficient without putting the passengers (taxpayers) first.

Originally Posted by John225

Stranded air passengers get more protections
Under bill, airlines must have plans to better deal with congestion, delays


Updated: 2:07 p.m. CT Sept 20, 2007
WASHINGTON - U.S. airlines and airports would have to come up with plans to provide passengers stranded by long delays with food, water and other basic amenities under an aviation bill approved by the House of Representatives Thursday.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20892236/

[conversationist]

The bill was made worthless when it was written by the airlines and would not allow passengers to get off the plane after sitting on the tarmac for hours. They can still keep you on the plane forever, but now they just need to give you water. Great!