New airline bill would mean friendlier skies for travelers

Better training requirements for pilots and a ban on airlines making you pay more so you can sit with your family are part of a new $105 billion FAA bill.

Under the new bill, pilots must have 1,500 hours of flight training before they can work as a certified Airline Transport Pilot and be a first officer.

This idea came after Flight 3407 crashed into a home in western New York in 2009, according to a statement from Sen. Chuck Schumer. Forty-nine people on the plane and one person in the home died in the crash.

The bill also paves the way to hire more air traffic controllers to address a nationwide shortage. It also implements a zero-tolerance policy for near-misses at airports and requires the FAA to use the latest technology to keep runways safe.

There are also clear standards for refunds when an airline cancels a flight.