[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12705-S12706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   MAKING CLARIFICATION TO THE PILOT RECORDS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1996

  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2626, which was received 
in the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2626) to make clarifications to the Pilot 
     Records Improvement Act of 1996, and for other purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, last year, as part of the Federal 
Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 1996, we imposed a 
series of new requirements before an ``air carrier'' could hire a 
pilot. When the bill as originally crafted was being developed, we 
worked with the pilots' unions and with the Air Transport Association 
to develop a workable approach that is fair to pilots and airlines and 
advances aviation safety.
  H.R. 2626 clears up a number of technical problems, but continues the 
spirit of the original legislation--to make sure that pilots operating 
commercial aircraft are qualified. For many smaller carriers, such as 
on-demand carriers like Bankair in South Carolina, the new law created 
a number of logistical problems. I added a provision to the fiscal year 
1998 Transportation Appropriations law to ensure that the FAA, as 
holder of some pilot records, is able to supply those records 
expeditiously.
  H.R. 2626 will allow air carriers to hire, but not use, a pilot until 
his or her records had been checked. Smaller carriers operating non-
scheduled flights also are given additional flexibility. I support the 
changes, and urge the passage of H.R. 2626.
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I want to explain to my colleagues the need 
for H.R. 2626, a bill to make clarifications to the Pilot Records 
Improvement Act of 1996. Last year, we worked diligently with the 
airlines, ALPA and the Independent Pilots Association, to craft a bill 
that requires air carriers to share pilot records before a pilot could 
be employed. The change in law was necessitated by a safety 
recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
  H.R. 2626 modifies the law to let the air carriers hire a pilot prior 
to final check of the records, but the pilot can not operate a 
commercial flight until

[[Page S12706]]

the records are checked. Thus, the carriers can begin training new 
employees, and when the records are cleared, put the pilot to work. 
Because there have been problems in expeditiously providing records, 
the hiring process will not be impeded.
  For small aircraft that are not used in scheduled service, for 
example, an on-demand cargo charter aircraft with a maximum payload 
capacity of less than 7,500 pounds, a fully certified pilot can operate 
such aircraft for a limited period while the records are being 
reviewed. The requirement on the cargo operator is not changed--the 
records must be obtained and checked, but the pilot can fly for a 90-
day period. Finally, the bill provides a narrow good faith exception 
for a carrier seeking the records of a pilot from another carrier that 
has ceased to exist. All other requirements for the pilot--licenses, 
medical tests, for example--are unchanged.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
considered read the third time, and passed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be 
placed at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 2626) was considered read the third time, and passed.

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