Senators back limit on tarmac strandings

[babylonsister]

'Bout time! :thumbsup:

Senators back limit on tarmac strandings

By JOAN LOWY
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Airline passengers could be stranded on tarmacs no longer than three hours under legislation introduced Tuesday in the Senate.

The protection for stranded passengers is part of larger bill that provides a blueprint for Federal Aviation Administration programs for the next two years, including an acceleration of the agency's timetable for modernizing the nation's air traffic control system.

The bill was introduced by Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate's commerce committee, and Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., chairman of the aviation subcommittee.

Congress has been trying unsuccessfully for more than two years to reauthorize FAA programs and has had to pass temporary funding extensions.

The tarmac provision would require planes delayed more than three hours to return to a gate to give passengers the opportunity to get off. The proposal has been championed by passenger rights advocates but opposed by the airline industry and airports.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SENATE_FAA?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Auggie]

1. Partial (or more) thanks goes to this woman:

portfolio.com (Conde Nast)

The Ralph Nader of the Skies
by Joe Sharkey Sep 18 2007

Kate Hanni’s persistence, paired with public outrage over air-travel horror stories, got a Passengers’ Bill of Rights to Congress.

Early last spring, software specialist Mark Mogel emailed Kate Hanni to volunteer for her fledgling grassroots organization, which represents thousands of passengers who have been stranded for long hours aboard airplanes idled on tarmacs by bad weather or delays.

<snip>

Until the end of last year, Hanni, 47, was a real estate agent in California specializing in relocations. But that thriving business (Hanni says she sold $40 million in property in 2005) went on indefinite hold on December 29, the day she and other passengers were stuck on a tarmac in Austin for more than nine hours. Hers was one of dozens of American Airlines planes stranded at various airports after bad weather diverted flights from Dallas.

Infuriated by the conditions on the plane and by what she regarded as airline indifference to affected passengers, Hanni quit her job and began a protest movement. Since January, her group has been pressing Congress for federal legislation that would require airlines to let passengers off stranded planes after three hours and to provide adequate food, water, and sanitation while passengers remain on board.

LINK: http://www.portfolio.com/business-travel/features/2007/09/18/Kate-Hanni-Profile

[babylonsister]

2. Thanks for that; I knew nothing about her. Great to hear that at times

activism works!

[Auggie]

3. She has been incredibly committed