FlyersRights.org

In 2015, FlyersRights.org drafted and filed a petition[8] to the U.S. Congress calling for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to set guidelines for the minimum distance between rows in planes and appoint a committee to help develop benchmarks. Tens of thousands[9] signed their names to the petition.

In February 2016, Congressman Steve Cohen, (D-TN), introduced an amendment to a FAA funding bill called the Seat Egress in Air Travel which mandated a certain amount of legroom to passengers for safety, health and comfort. It was defeated[10] in the House Transportation Committee.[11]

Two weeks later Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) also added an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Bill requiring the agency to set the seat-size guidelines. In April 2016, The Senate voted down the amendment on a 54-to-42 vote, with most Democrats supporting the amendment and most Republicans opposed.[12]

February 2020 - FlyersRights.org briefs Senate Commerce Committee and House Transportation Committee on helicopter safety following the fatal Kobe Bryant crash.[13]

February 2020 - In Flyersrights Education Fund vs. U.S. Department of Transportation, international change fees are upheld by appeal court.[14]

March 2020 - FlyersRights.org calls for consumer protections and much needed consumer relief be included as a condition of any government bailout to the airlines.[15]

May 2020 - Endorsed Airline ticket refund legislation sponsored by Congressman Steve Cohen, (D-TN).

May 2020 - FlyersRights.org endorses legislation by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) for nationwide rules to protect the health and safety of the flying public by requiring face masks and social distancing in air travel during Coronavirus pandemic.[16]

June 2020 - FlyersRights.org calls on Congress to protect aviation safety and restore public confidence in aviation safety following the crashes of flight JT610 and flight ET302.[17]

July 2020 - Endorsed Bill to ensure families can safely fly together, children can sit with parents at no additional cost, introduced by Senators Markey, Schumer and Klobuchar.

Flyers Rights partnered with Travelers United to file an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court on December 20, 2016 in support of an injured passenger's appeal in Von Schoenebeck v. KLM.[18][19]

FlyersRights.og has been critical of the FAA’s airplane certification process.

In May 2013, in the aftermath of the Boeing 787 grounding due to lithium ion battery fires, FlyersRights.org, with independent experts, challenged the FAA’s preliminary fix as inadequate to prevent future fires or to warn pilots or ground crews of overheating batteries.[20] FlyersRights.org proposed an ETOPS rating of 120 until the FAA could demonstrate the safety of the 787. In 2014, the NTSB would find that the FAA was too reliant on Boeing’s assertions of the battery’s safety. Meanwhile, Airbus announced it would avoid using Boeing’s lithium ion battery in its planes.[21]

When the FAA Flight Standardization Board recommended iPad training rather than simulator training for pilots of the grounded 737 MAX in April 2019,[22] FlyersRights.org lobbied to extend the public comment period and argued for simulator training.[23] Seven months later, Boeing announced that it would require simulator training for pilots.[24]

FlyersRights.org published a white paper on the 737 MAX’s design flaws and the problematic FAA certification process, including Boeing’s large role.[25] FlyersRights.org recommended

1. Release of technical details of fix to outside experts for evaluation
2. Suspension of Organization Designation Authorization (ODA)
3. Criminal and civil prosecution of Boeing and its employees who hid or misrepresented dangerous conditions
4. Simulator training for pilots
5. Increased funding of FAA certification and safety oversight
6. Oath of office requirement for industry personnel with delegated authority and whistleblower and other employment protections

In December 2019, FlyersRights.org sued the FAA for failure to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request for documents related to the FAA’s process for evaluating Boeing's proposed fixes to the 737 MAX.[26]

• Flight cancellation and delay

• Official website