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[0] HEARING OF THE AVIATION OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SENATE COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SUBJECT: AVIATION SAFETY: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NETWORK AIRLINES AND REGIONAL AIRLINES AVIATION OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND SECURITY WITNESSES: CAPTAIN STEPHEN DICKSON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS, DELTA AIR LINES, INC.; CAPTAIN DON GUNTHER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR... (Part 9).

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HEARING OF THE AVIATION OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SENATE COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SUBJECT: AVIATION SAFETY: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NETWORK AIRLINES AND REGIONAL AIRLINES AVIATION OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND SECURITY WITNESSES: CAPTAIN STEPHEN DICKSON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS, DELTA AIR LINES, INC.; CAPTAIN DON GUNTHER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR SAFETY, CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.; PETER BOWLER, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES; PHILIP TRENARY, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PINNACLE AIRLINES CORP. CHAIRED BY: SENATOR BYRON DORGAN (D-ND) LOCATION: 253 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C. TIME: 10:02 A.M. EDT DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2009(Part 9)

SEN. DORGAN: Mr. Bowler?

By the way, have you read the "crash pad" piece that was written?

MR. BOWLER: Yes, sir.

SEN. DORGAN: Okay.

MR. BOWLER: Fatigue is a serious issue. We are confident that -- I'm very confident that our pilots take that responsible -- their responsibility to show up for work rested seriously. I believe we have a good program for making sure they have the ability to remove themselves without a punitive response.

Having said that, I am very supportive, and I'm very proud of the fact that Eagle's vice president of flight is a member of the ARC that's reviewing time and duty rest. And we're looking forward to the outcome of that rulemaking process, and we will, of course, adopt that as promptly as it comes forward.

In response to, "should pilots have the flexibility to commute," I believe that they should, because I think it's very difficult to say it's okay in this circumstance, and not in this circumstance.

I'd also add that we operate at airports all around the country -- as I mentioned in my comments, in expensive cities, in inexpensive, remote, smaller communities, and we have employees in all those communities. We have employees in New...

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