HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 701

BYRepresentatives Patrick, Gallagher, Brough, Baugher, Schmidt, S. Wilson, Fisch, Dellwo and Walk

Requiring survival kits on aircraft.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:     Do pass with amendments.  (29)

     Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Brough, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Dellwo, Doty, Fisch, Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Kremen, Meyers, Patrick, Prince, Schmidt, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Spanel, Todd, Vekich, J. Williams, K. Wilson, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Louise Bray (786-7322)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 12, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Aircraft used to carry persons or property for compensation are required to be equipped with a downed aircraft rescue transmitter.  Aircraft which are rented or leased without a pilot are exempt from this requirement.

Under current law, aircraft are not required to be equipped with survival kits.

SUMMARY:

Aircraft are required to be equipped with a fully functional downed aircraft rescue transmitter.  Aircraft that are leased or rented without a pilot are not exempt from this requirement.

All aircraft that carry persons or property for compensation are required to be equipped with a survival kit containing a tent, horn capable of emitting a signal one-quarter of a mile, a mirror, matches, a candle and survival instructions.  Certain aircraft are exempted from this requirement.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  Flight school aircraft used for solo flights by students are no longer exempted from requirements for downed aircraft transmitters and survival kits.  The Department of Transportation is to prescribe the contents of survival kits.  Obsolete language is deleted.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Jared Karstetter, King County Police Union; Lynn Buchanan, City of Yakima.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     These measures will increase the likelihood of locating downed aircraft and increase the chances of survival.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Yeas 94; Excused 4

Excused:   Representatives Allen, Hankins, Nealey and K. Wilson