OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe's flap with the Federal Aviation Administration two years ago over his landing on a closed runway in Texas has led to an aviation bill now pending in Congress.
Oklahoma's senior senator says the incident helped open his eyes to the power the FAA has over pilots. His so-called Pilots' Bill of Rights has already unanimously cleared the Senate and House author, U.S. Representative Sam Graves, says he expects it will pass in the House next week.
The 77-year-old Inhofe has long been the only pilot in Oklahoma's current congressional delegation, and is often a go-to lawmaker for constituents who have problems with the FAA.
Among other things, the bill would require the FAA to notify pilots when they're the subject of an investigation.