WASHINGTON (AP) – Far-reaching aviation safety legislation developed in response to a deadly commuter airline crash in western New York last year was approved by the House of Representatives late Thursday.

The safety measures are an attempt to force airlines to hire more experienced pilots, investigate their previous employment more thoroughly and train them better. It would require a major overhaul of rules governing pilot work schedules to prevent fatigue.

Senate passage is expected Friday.

The impetus for the safety measures was the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 near Buffalo-Niagara International Airport on February 12, 2009. All 49 people aboard and one man in a house were killed. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation faulted actions by the flight's pilots and deficiencies in pilot hiring and training by Colgan Air, the regional carrier that operated the flight for Continental Airlines.

All of the past six fatal airline accidents in the US involved regional carriers. Pilot performance was a contributing factor in four of those cases.

Major airlines are increasingly outsourcing short haul flights to regional carriers, who now account for more than half of all domestic flights.

As they prepared to pass the bill, lawmakers praised the friends and family members of the victims killed in the crash of the Flight 3407. They have lobbied relentlessly over the past 17 months for the safety measures.