Association at Prefessinnal Flight Attendants

Of?ce tif the Natidnai President

April 25, 2019

Mr. Dan Elwell

FAA Acting Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
Department of Transportation
800 Independence Avenue, SW.
Washington, DC 20591

Dear Acting Administrator Elwell:

On October 3, 2018, Congress passed the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Bill. This legislation included
many provisions and changes that affect the work that we as Flight Attendants do every day in keeping
the ?ying public safe in our skies. Despite the clear timelines delineated in the legislation, the FAA has
already missed several deadlines for the implementation of the bill. With deadlines approaching for other
important provisions of the bill, I, on behalf of the 28,000 members of the Association of Professional
Flight Attendants, respectfully request an update on the progress in fully implementing the 2018
FAA Reauthorization Bill.

As a reminder, the FAA Reauthorization required that the Flight Attendant minimum rest FAR increase
from 8 to 10 hours. With the deadline missed and the government open, I am reminding the FAA that
their attention to this must be immediate. Flight Attendants are safety professionals who take care of
hundreds of thousands of passengers daily. They deserve to be prepared for long duty days and travelers
deserve Flight Attendants who are at their best should the worst occur.

Another matter of safety in the bill is the provision that required updated studies on seat pitch and aircraft
evacuation. With the steadily decreasing size of airplane seats, Flight Attendants have serious concerns
about how smaller seats affect air rage, passengers? ability to assume the brace position, and safe and
timely cabin evacuations. An updated and realistic study on this topic is sorely needed.

The FAA Reauthorization Bill also took several steps to address air quality in aircraft cabins. FAA has
been instructed to issue guidance to aviation professionals for reporting incidences of poor cabin air
quality such as fumes and smoke. The bill also directs the FAA to convene a commission dedicated to
research and reporting on this issue. Some small sample studies have been conducted on this topic, but
there has yet to be anything de?nitive. These actions, while overdue, will help secure vital protections for
some of aviation?s most important safety workers as well as the passengers that we protect daily.

[004 West Euiess - Euless, Texas 75040
7e1- [817 540-0108 - Fax.- - 

Mr. Dan Elwell, FAA Acting Administrator
April 25, 2019
Page 2

As a member of the aviation safety community, and as a leader of the world?s largest independent Flight
Attendant union, I am asking the FAA to update our membership on the progress that has been made in
fully implementing this critical piece of legislation. I look forward to hearing from you regarding what
steps are being taken to ensure these provisions are implemented in a timely fashion.

If there is any way that I can be of help to expedite any of these important studies and reports, please do
not hesitate to call on me.

Sincerely,

Lori L. Bassani
National President
Association of Professional Flight Attendants