Association says more training needed for pilot safety
October 18, 2010, 01:32 pm
Earlier this year, new rules aimed to enhance passenger and pilot safety by increasing the amount of time pilots receive for training. Congress was set to increase the number of training hours for pilots to 1,500 hours, but, the airline industry is pushing to have that number reduced.
The Allied Pilots Association is voicing its support for the 1,500-hour of threshold as well as New York Senator Charles Schumer, who has also voiced his opposition to cutting back on training time.
APA president captain Dave Bates says that current required training minimums, which are set at 250 hours, is not enough time for new pilots. He says money shouldn't be a motivating factor for the amount of training an inexperienced pilot receives.
"The key issue is safety, not money - airlines should be focused on the safety ramifications associated with inexperience. There's no substitute for an experienced, properly trained and well-rested pilot at the controls."
There are a number of factors that play into why a pilot may get into an accident. One reason is not being experienced enough to handle the different situations that can arise while one is in the air.
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