[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 85 (Thursday, May 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             AIRLINE FLIGHT CREW TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 19, 2008

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 2744, the Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act. I want to 
thank my friend and colleague from New York, Representative Tim Bishop, 
for his strong leadership on this issue.
  This bill corrects an oversight in the current version of the Family 
and Medical Leave Act, which did not take into account the unique 
circumstances of employment as a flight attendant or pilot. To qualify 
for leave under FMLA now, all employees must work a minimum of 1,250 
hours per year, or 60 percent of what is considered a full-time work 
schedule in most industries.
  For flight attendants and pilots, however, there is a different 
standard for full-time employment. Their hours are calculated purely on 
the basis of ``in-flight'' time, which does not include any time in 
between flights, time spent preparing for a flight, or periods when 
they are on ``reserve'' status in the event that someone cannot fly 
their scheduled flight. An average full-time flight attendant works 960 
hours per year. Additionally, pilots are prohibited by the FAA from 
working more than 1,000 hours per year, which automatically 
disqualifies them from leave under FMLA.
  The Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act will amend FMLA to 
reduce the hours-of-service requirement for flight crews, so that they 
will be eligible if they work 60 percent of a full-time schedule in 
their industry.
  Airline flight crews have difficult jobs, and the number of ``in-
flight'' hours that they work does not accurately measure all that they 
do. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2744, to give flight 
attendants a benefit that so many other American workers already have.

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