To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve the training requirements for and require the certification of cabin crew members, and for other purposes.

April 30, 2003

Mrs. BOXER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve the training requirements for and require the certification of cabin crew members, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Flight Attendant Certification Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) The Federal Aviation Administration requires cabin crew on board all transport category aircraft (20 seats or more) to handle aircraft evacuations and other emergency procedures.

(2) Cabin crew are in-flight first responders trained to handle medical emergencies, fires, and security threats.

(3) As safety-sensitive employees, cabin crew are tested for drug and alcohol use.

(4) Federal regulations limit cabin crew duty time and stipulate mandatory rest periods.

(5) A wide disparity in quality and content of training exists from air carrier to air carrier.

(6) The Federal Aviation Administration certifies other groups with safety responsibilities under its jurisdiction, including pilots, mechanics, repairmen, dispatchers, and parachute packers.

(7) Certification of cabin crew will make the Federal Aviation Administration responsible for ensuring that cabin crew are qualified to perform their safety and security duties.

SEC. 3. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR CABIN CREW.

Section 44935 of chapter 449 of part A of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(g) TRAINING STANDARDS FOR CABIN CREW-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Administrator shall prescribe standards for cabin crew training and certification. The standards shall include the following:

`(A) MANDATORY CERTIFICATION- All new and existing cabin crew members shall be certified by the Administrator after successful completion of an air carrier's training program, which consists of--

`(i) initial and emergency training;

`(ii) air carrier specific training related to aircraft types and operator's certificate; and

`(iii) submission by the air carrier to the Administrator confirming such completion.

`(B) STANDARDIZED TRAINING- The Administrator shall be prohibited from granting an air carrier a waiver of cabin crew training requirements or an exemption from any part of such requirements.

`(C) QUALIFICATIONS-

`(i) IN GENERAL- To be qualified to receive a cabin crew certificate, a cabin crew member shall--

`(I) successfully complete the training requirements established by the Administrator, including all initial, air-carrier specific training, emergency, transition, differences, recurrent, and requalification training as described in the applicable regulations;

`(II) successfully complete the cabin security and self-defense training requirements established by the Transportation Security Administrator; and

`(III) successfully perform the assigned duties of a cabin crew member and complete the approved proficiency check, under the supervision of a certified instructor or supervisor, for not less than 5 hours of initial operating experience.'.

END