Senators Warner and Beyer lead an aviation safety deliberation

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) hosted a roundtable discussion on aviation safety, focusing on finding solutions to prevent future air disasters. The discussion, held in response to the mid-air collision over Washington's Reagan Airport on January 29th that claimed the lives of 67 people, involved representatives from various sectors, including the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, pilots, flight attendants, and air traffic controllers from across the nation.

Tom Beatty, COO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, spoke about specific concerns related to DCA. The tragedy has brought attention to the gaps in America's aviation safety standards and has provided lawmakers with an opportunity to address ongoing aviation safety concerns.

Matthew Collins, representing the families of AA Flight 5342, spoke about his brother, Christopher, who was killed in the collision. Collins expressed a desire to prevent such tragedies from happening again and emphasized the family's commitment to change.

During the roundtable discussion, modernization of technology was suggested as a solution. Organizations and individuals including representatives from the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, the aviation industry, labor unions, and technology experts made proposals for modernizing technology, training, and policies for aviation safety.

Training and policy for all positions involved with air safety were also proposed as solutions. Senator Warner underscored the importance of investing in aviation safety, stating, "This is an area that we shouldn't skimp on." Representative Don Beyer underscored the trust passengers place in the air travel system, saying, "Every time we board a plane, we have to trust that we built a system that's going to get us there."

Additional support for those on the tarmac and in the air was mentioned as a potential solution. The roundtable discussion continued to focus on planning for the future of aviation safety, with Collins and other representatives emphasizing the need for change to prevent future tragedies.