Echoes Statement From FAA Administrator Michael Huerta

The Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for American Airlines pilots, voiced continued strong support for raising qualification requirements for first officers who fly for U.S. passenger and cargo airlines. APA President Keith Wilson said that a recent in-flight emergency aboard an Alaska Airlines flight clearly demonstrated the need for highly trained first officers.

“Just last month, when the captain of Alaska Airlines Flight 473 suffered a medical emergency, the co-pilot was left alone to safely land the airplane,” Wilson said. “Emergencies happen, and people can become incapacitated. That’s exactly why you need equally qualified pilots in the cockpit.”

The increased requirement would be consistent with a mandate in the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. It would require first officers, also known as co-pilots, to hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, requiring 1,500 hours of total pilot flight time comprised of a variety of flight conditions, as well as an aircraft type rating, which involves additional training specific to the airplanes they fly. Currently, first officers are required to have only a commercial pilot certificate, which requires 250 hours of flight time.

The FAA proposed to substantially raise the qualification requirements for first officers nearly a year ago. In testimony before the House Aviation Subcommittee Wednesday, Administrator Huerta said "we are raising the required hours of experience before a pilot can operate the controls of any airline flight. We are also finalizing a rule that will require more rigorous and realistic training so that flight crews can better handle rare but serious scenarios.”

“We totally agree with Mr. Huerta’s statement, especially in light of the Alaska Airlines incident,” Wilson said. “Since last February, we have not heard about any progress on this new rule, and yet the need for increased safety and increased qualifications for first officers has not diminished. The current minimum requirement of 250 hours of in-flight experience is simply inadequate.”

“Airlines need to be focused on the safety ramifications associated with inexperience,” Wilson added. “The FAA needs to refocus on its stated commitment to the safety of the traveling public and raise the pilot qualifications now.”

FMI: www.alliedpilots.org