00HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 65                                                                                           
01 Relating to proposed Federal Aviation Administration regulations establishing crew                                      
02 member flight time limitations.                                                                                         
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04  WHEREAS the Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to adopt regulations                                          
05 establishing limitations on crew member flight time that will have a negative effect on aviation                        
06 safety and Alaska businesses; and                                                                                       
07  WHEREAS air taxi operations provide a valuable and necessary service to Alaskans,                                      
08 often being the sole means of delivering goods and services to rural communities; and                                   
09  WHEREAS Alaska is unique in its geography, weather conditions, short summers, and                                      
10 long daylight hours and thus regulations and standards designed for the "Lower 48" states                               
11 must be applied flexibly in Alaska; and                                                                                 
12  WHEREAS the Alaska tourism industry creates seasonal employment opportunities                                          
13 that have allowed air taxi operators the opportunity to train experienced, dedicated, and                               
14 professional pilots; and                                                                                                

01  WHEREAS, under current regulations, air taxi operators have established businesses                                     
02 that allow professional crew members to earn a viable income in a safe manner; and                                      
03  WHEREAS Alaska's air taxi operators have provided a safe environment for their                                         
04 crew members and the public; and                                                                                        
05  WHEREAS the proposed regulations will reduce the availability of experienced pilots                                    
06 on air taxi flights within Alaska and compel air service operations to utilize less experienced                         
07 pilots which would affect aircraft maintenance rates, insurance rates, air fares, and accident                          
08 rates; and                                                                                                              
09  WHEREAS it is not in the public interest to disrupt the necessary and valuable service                                 
10 provided by air service operations in Alaska through the implementation of overly restrictive                           
11 regulation; and                                                                                                         
12  WHEREAS the National Air Transportation Association and the Alaska Air Carriers                                        
13 Association oppose the proposed regulations;                                                                            
14  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the Federal                                     
15 Aviation Administration to exempt Alaska from the application of the proposed regulations                               
16 establishing crew member flight time limitations (14 C.F.R. Part 135.269 and 135.271).                                  
17  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the                                
18 United States; the Honorable Federico F. Pena, Secretary of the U.S. Department of                                      
19 Transportation; the Honorable David R. Hinson, Administrator, U.S. Department of                                        
20 Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the                               
21 Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S.                                             
22 Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.