* Pilot training, fatigue highlighted in bill

* Measure also temporarily funds air traffic operations

* Larger FAA bill stalled in Senate over other issues

WASHINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Friday approved and sent to the White House legislation that toughens airline pilot training requirements and aims to reduce pilot fatigue.

Prompted by the crash of a commuter airline flight in 2009 near Buffalo that killed 49 people, the safety provisions were included in a funding extension for air traffic operations through September.

The House of Representatives approved the measure on Thursday.

While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding provisions are short-term, the safety changes will be permanent once they become law.

Under pressure from families of the crash victims, Congress stripped the safety measures from a larger bill proposing longer-term U.S. aviation priorities that has been stalled by lawmaker wrangling over service, labor and passenger fee issues.

The bill headed to President Barack Obama’s desk would create a task force to evaluate flight crew qualification and training standards.

It would also tighten training requirements to better prepare pilots for flying in poor weather, especially in icing conditions.

Investigators largely blamed crew error for the Buffalo crash of Continental Connection CAL.N flight 3407 operated by Colgan Air, a unit of Pinnacle Airlines Inc PNCL.O. Wintry conditions were a factor in the crash.

Airlines will also be required to submit plans to the FAA addressing pilot fatigue. The bill also requires an independent study of how a pilot’s work commute affects fatigue. Pilots are often based in cities far from where they live. (Reporting by John Crawley)