Congress members call for change after News 8 investigation

10:29 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 24, 2009

By BYRON HARRIS / WFAA-TV

A News 8 investigation reporting on hundreds of mechanics who can't speak English or read the mandatory repair manual while working on commercial airliners made national headlines.

Now, Congress is asking for changes in FAA rules regarding the English skills of mechanics.

The News 8 investigation began with a look at the way aircraft mechanics are certified by the FAA and quickly discovered repair licenses being bought and sold. That discovery raised safety and terrorism concerns.

It's not necessary to have an FAA license to repair an aircraft.

But, News 8 also discovered hundreds of lower-level repairmen, who may have mechanical skills, did not have the language skills to talk to their English-speaking supervisors or read the English repair manuals. English is the international language of aviation.

As a result of the News 8 investigation, 17 members of Congress are calling for a change in the rules. They wrote the secretary of transportation and called the lack of English among repairmen "an urgent safety matter."

Congressman Brian Bilbray, of California, is leading the group.

"I think that it's a whole safety issue that's been overlooked,â€