Airlines for America wants FAA to change pilot qualification
May 2, 2012, 02:33 pm
Airlines for America, an industry trade organization, recently urged the Federal Aviation Administration to significantly alter its guidelines for pilot certification and to provide a system that collects information on the industry’s positive safety record, recognizing the quality of the pilots' experience and training, rather than basing their recognition solely on flight hours logged.
“Hard-hour minimum requirements are not a substitute for the quality of a pilot’s training and experience,” Airlines for America said in a comment to the FAA, giving a type of ominous warning. “Failure to provide additional options for meeting the requirements, as recommended by safety experts, will result in an unnecessary pilot shortage and significant barriers to recruiting regional and mainline pilots.”
The response from Airlines for America comes as the FAA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was issued at the end of February, which requires a first officer to hold 1,500 hours of flight time and an ATP certificate. In order to be eligible for this certificate, a first officer must have logged the 1,500 hours flight time, be at least 23-years-old and pass the FAA’s ATP written exam.
Airlines for America recommends that the FAA offer a restricted ATP certificate for first officers, that is based on experience and training and that the FAA form an Aviation Rulemaking Committee in order to encourage a Multi Crew Pilot Licensing Program.
Are you covered? Are you overpaying? Find out! Get a Quote Now!
| 
