November 19, 2002 Oberstar Promotes Recorders For Small Aircraft

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By Brenda Carol, Newswriter

The crash of Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone’s airplane is reason enough the FAA should require cockpit voice and data recorders be installed in smaller commercial aircraft, according to U.S. Representative James Oberstar (D-Minn.). Oberstar, the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told the Associated Press aircraft owners won't spend the money to install safety equipment if it is not a requirement. Oberstar pointed out that the Beechcraft King Air A-100 airplane carrying Wellstone lacked both a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder, which he says will make the investigation into the accident more difficult. The NTSB is still trying to figure out which pilot had control of the airplane when it crashed. Oberstar has been praised by AOPA for his work on behalf of GA.