Lori Bassani, national president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), recently sent a letter to Dan Elwell, acting Federal Aviation Administration administrator, urging the agency to implement key safety provisions from the FAA Reauthorization Bill.
Congress passed the bill on Oct. 3, and the FAA has missed several implementation deadlines.
“We are now past the sixth month anniversary of the bill’s passage and it appears little has been done by the FAA to move forward on numerous key safety provisions vital to our members and this country’s Flight Attendants,” Bassani said.
The bill requires the increase of the minimum rest required for flight attendants from eight hours to 10.
The bill also requires updated studies on seat pitch and aircraft evacuation. Flight attendants are concerned that as seats in aircraft decrease in size passengers might not be able to assume brace position or safely evacuate.
Finally, the bill requires the FAA convene a commission to study cabin air quality issues.
These are health and safety issues for both flight attendants and passengers, Bassani said.
Bassani asked Elwell to update APFA on the progress the FAA has made toward implementation and to call the union if it can be of assistance.