At the markup of the new FAA Reauthorization bill, this excerpt from the day-long debate shows the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voting to not ask the FAA to set minimum seat standards or examine aircraft emergency evacuation with 28-inch pitch that is now found on many aircraft. Amazingly, they seem to be putting campaign donations ahead of the health and safety of the American public. This was a sad day for airline passengers.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.