Delays worry air safety advocates

BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Moves by the U.S. Congress to improve airline safety are being delayed by the healthcare reform agenda, advocates say.

The Senate Finance Committee, which is to consider safety legislation in the wake of the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in Clarence Center, N.Y., also must tackle healthcare reform, which is coming first, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News reported Monday.

A committee staffer told the newspaper that safety advocates needn't worry, but friends of the victims of Flight 3407 say they are still concerned the healthcare debate has the potential to derail the airline legislation.

"It's important that this not just get pushed to the side, because this is very important safety legislation," said Kevin Kuwik, whose girlfriend, Lorin Maurer, was one of the 50 victims of the Feb. 12 Flight 3407 crash.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has acknowledged that the healthcare legislation was delaying work on the aviation bill, which calls in part for a study of scientific research on pilot fatigue and requires that the findings be included in new flight-time and duty-time rules for pilots, the News said.