Lawmakers Unveil New Aviation Safety Caucus in Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C (Erie News Now) -- This week, lawmakers on Capitol Hill unveiled a new, bipartisan Aviation Safety Caucus. 

According to members of the caucus, it will aim to advance critical aviation safety policies that prioritize the long-term safety of American airspace, like the bipartisan Safer Skies Act. 

Congressman Nick Langworthy (R- NY), who introduced the Safer Skies Act, will chair the Aviation Safety Caucus. 

His bill would require the TSA to update its security screening requirements for Part 135 and Part 380 operators that offer individual seats in advance, provide publicly available schedules, and operate passenger seat configurations of more than nine seats. 

The bill would also ensure that these operators are held to the same security standards as any other scheduled commercial airline.  

Langworthy said the bill would close a loophole, which allows certain operators, like ticketed charter flights, to circumvent certain safety requirements that you might see on commercial airlines.  

“This loophole is egregious. It needs to be plugged as soon as possible. And that's why we're going to fight hard for this legislation,” said Langworthy.  

Lawmakers unveiled the Aviation Safety Caucus on the 23rd Anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. 

“There are thousands of these tickets sold every year, but it only takes one to create a tragedy,” said Langworthy. “That's why we chose 9/11 to have this press conference, because I think this should be on the front burner, not the back burner.” 

Aviation experts, industry leaders and pilots were also in attendance for today’s unveiling of new caucus.  

Congressman Jack Bergman (R- MI) will serve the caucus as co-chair. Bergman, a former commercial airlines pilot of 22 years and Lt. General in the United States Marine Corps, cited his decades of flying experience with military and civilian aircraft. 

“Worldwide, we set the standards in so many ways, and that's why the United States aviation is so highly regarded. We've got some legislation to pass and we're going to get it done because it means more security for our aviation passengers. We live in a world where we need to know who's who,” said Bergman.