It's been almost a year since Colgan Air Flight 3407 went down on an icy February night in Buffalo, New York.
On Thursday victims' families appeared before Congress in a hearing they hoped would bring comfort and changes to the nation's flight safety.
What they heard likely didn't go as far as many had hoped.
While the Senate subcommittee questioned the FAA chief on pilot fatigue and lack of experience like that believed to have played a role in downing Flight 3407, Director Randy Babbitt indicated they would not mandate the 1500 hours of pilot training some were looking for.
"The most chilling was the conversation between the pilot and the first officer in which the first officer told the pilot I've never seen icing conditions, I've never de-iced, I've never experienced any of that," Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar complained after the testimony.
Director Babbitt said he will would likely enact a new enhanced commercial-pilot license for beginning co-pilots.
As for pilot fatigue, Babbitt said the FAA is unlikely to limit pilot commutes when it unveils new proposals early next year.
"There's just so many ways somebody could show up fatigued," he explained. "We don't have a way to monitor the quality of rest you got."
As for pilot distraction, the FAA chief said laptops and anything else that can distract pilots should be banned from the cockpit.
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