Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, and her colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released Wednesday the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009. The bipartisan legislation stems from hearings and discussions that followed the tragic crash of Colgan Air flight 3407 in February of this year.

The legislation to be introduced would improve pilot screening procedures, enhance pilot training and establish a more streamlined records database on pilot training and safety. The bill also seeks to establish an Air Carrier Safety and Pilot Training Task Force to recommend best safety practices and monitor airline implementation.

“Many of these changes are long overdue,” says Capito. “It’s important that we hold our airlines accountable for safety, but we can also provide guidance and support to help improve standards across the board. If something is working for one airline, it can probably work for others. This bill tries to connect those dots and bring them together.”

Capito also added that recent accidents have made regional carriers a particular priority.

“West Virginia is served heavily by regional carriers,” says Capito. “And we want to make sure that they’re meeting the same safety and training standards as the national carriers.”

The ranking Republican on the full transportation committee echoed Capito’s perspective.

“In light of the recent accidents involving commuter airlines, it is important that we focus our efforts to improve safety where it is most needed and that is what the bill introduced today is intended to do,” says Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, the Republican Leader on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “Shelley’s voice has been critical in this process and I appreciate the attention she’s paid to improving airline safety, particularly for passengers served by our regional airlines.”

Another key component of the bill includes a new mandate that Internet-based ticketing agencies disclose the air carrier serving each segment of the flight. This follows concerns that passengers on Flight 3407 purchased tickets for a Continental Airlines flight, when the route was actually operated by Colgan Air.

Still other components include updated fatigue management rules and a provision calling for the complete implementation of National Transportation Safety Board recommendations for airline safety.

Earlier this year, the transportation committee held a hearing requested by Capito to examine regional air carriers and pilot safety training.

Sponsors of this legislation include Reps. Oberstar (D-Minnesota), Mica (R-Florida), Costello (D-Illinois) and Capito, among others.