The FAA has refused to certify the Airbus request to increase the separation between emergency exits from a maximum of 60' to 74'. Passengers who sit in emergency exit row seats should be denied alcoholic beverages. The extended period of time for recovery, accident investigation, and litigation, is unique to families of air disasters, and the friendship, love and support we offer each other truly help people survive years of grief and hardship. We believe that technical recommendations arrived at through scientific crash investigation should be listed more specifically. Also, if the FAA has acted on a NTSB recommendation, but has allowed 3 to 5 years of delay time, the request should still be on the list.
Safety delayed is still safety denied.
NTSB Board is in the process of reviewing a revised United 585 Final Report. The Alaska 261 Public Hearings should be held on the west coast to give the family members access to the investigation information, and access to a preliminary briefing in compliance with the Family Assistance Act of 1996. Considering the increase in NTSB time spent on fatal accident investigations it is time to have all NTSB records subject to Freedom of Information. The complete report should be public record as soon as possible. The public should have representation equal to the industry.