Mon, Sep 18, 2017
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Approves Recommendations In Internal Report
The FAA's Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) has approved a report that recommends rolling back pilot qualification rules it says is adding to a nationwide shortage of airline pilots.
The committee approved the report 14-4 with one abstention, according to a report from The Washington Post. But the recommendations are opposed by some pilot unions and safety advocacy groups, as well as several lawmakers.
The rules were put in place following the Colgan Flight 3407 accident in Buffalo, NY in 2009. Lawmakers said that some regional airlines were hiring pilots as first officers with far less experience that was required by mainline carriers. The rules said that a pilot must have 1,500 hours of flying experience before being made a first officer for any airliner. Some have said that the rule sets too high a bar for people interested in a career as an airline pilot, and has led to a projected shortage of pilots, particularly at smaller regional carriers.
The report recommends that pilots with less than 1,500 hours can qualify for an ATP certificate if they receive academic training from their airline.
But pilot unions and safety advocates say regional airline pay, not qualification rules, is the primary reason the potential pilots don't pursue the career. In a dissenting opinion to the report, the National Air Disaster Foundation said “UPS and FedEx have good pay and benefits and thousands of highly qualified pilot applicants. There is only a pilot shortage of pilots able to work for $25,000 a year.”
A bill was passed earlier this year by the Senate Commerce Committee that would ease the flight time requirements in lieu of academic training. But opposition by some Democrats in the Senate has prevented the bill from being moved to the floor for consideration by the full Senate.
The report also included 53 other changes, including regulations for emergency exit markings, the strength of door hinges.
More News
Omnidirectional Approach Lighting System ODALS consists of seven omnidirectional flashing lights located in the approach area of a nonprecision runway. Five lights are located on t>[...]
"Polaris Dawn, the first of the program’s three human spaceflight missions, is targeted to launch to orbit no earlier than summer 2024. During the five-day mission, the crew >[...]
Also: 1800th E-Jet, Uncle Sam Sues For Landing Gear, Embraer Ag Plane, Textron Parts A friend of the family reported that Lt. Col. (Ret.) Richard Glenn Rutan flew west on Friday, M>[...]
Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]
“Our aircrews are trained and capable of rapidly shifting from operational missions to humanitarian roles. We planned to demonstrate how we, and our BORSTAR partners, respond>[...]