04/03/1996 02:22 PM House TRA

 HJR 65 - OPPOSING PROPOSED FAA REGULATIONS                                  
                                                                               
 Number 1524                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS announced that the next item on the agenda was            
 HJR 65, relating to proposed Federal Aviation Administration                  
 regulations establishing crew member flight time limitations.  He             
 said this issue was brought to his attention by several people and            
 read the sponsor statement into the record, "The Federal Aviation             
 Administration (FAA) is proposing to implement regulations which              
 would limit the number of hours air taxi pilots would be allowed to           
 fly in a month.                                                               
                                                                               
 Research indicates that most air taxi operators in Alaska utilize             
 their pilots in excess of this proposed limit on a regular basis.             
 As can be seen in the whereas clauses of the resolution, these                
 regulations will have a drastic impact on air taxi operations in              
 Alaska.                                                                       
                                                                               
 These businesses are operating safely and this requirement would be           
 over restrictive and costly.  In essence, these regulations will be           
 detrimental to the livelihood of Alaska pilots and air taxi                   
 business owners alike."                                                       
                                                                               
 Number 1573                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS said the proposed regulations are included in             
 the committee packet and the amount of hours would be restricted to           
 100 hours in a calendar month.  He said currently pilots are flying           
 in excess of this amount, with some pilots flying 180 to 200 hours            
 a month.  He said this limitation is being proposed as a safety               
 measure, but other places in the nation do not have the same summer           
 season with the long daylight hours and the excess volume of                  
 seasonal business.                                                            
                                                                               
 Number 1626                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE asked if there was a current limitation on           
 how many hours someone can fly.  A discussion ensued about this               
 question.                                                                     
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS said pilots, currently, were acting within the            
 law.  He said this issue is being fought at the national level by             
 Senator Stevens who is trying to make an exception with the state             
 of Alaska.                                                                    
                                                                               
 Number 1754                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BRICE asked if it was appropriate to name specific             
 private, non-profit associations within HJR 65.  He said he would             
 not hold up this resolution to get that addressed as it can be                
 addressed before the floor.                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS said upon checking with the legal department,             
 the did not have a problem with the inclusion of those specific               
 organizations.  He said he would verify that question again before            
 it came up to the floor.                                                      
                                                                               
 Number 1831                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BRICE said he might want to add language which would           
 depict the uniqueness of Alaskan geography.  He made a motion to              
 move HJR 65 with individual recommendations.  Hearing no objections           
 HJR was moved from the House Standing Committee on Transportation.