ALPA to DOT: Block SkyWest Request for Charter Certificate

ALPA president Capt. Joe DePete described SkyWest’s proposal as purposefully deceitful. He said it would undermine safety standards because it would allow the airline to avoid critical first officer qualification rules that apply to Part 121 operations, but not Part 135. That means the airline could hire pilots at less than the requirements of the 1,500-hour rule.

Michael Wildes

Wednesday, August 03, 2022 at 03:57 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

• The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) formally opposes SkyWest Airlines' request for a Part 135 air charter certificate, asserting it's a "scheme" to circumvent established 1,500-hour pilot qualification rules and potentially compromise safety standards for small community air service.
• SkyWest applied for the Part 135 certificate to alleviate pilot shortages and re-establish service to nearly 30 small cities, as this certification would allow them to hire first officers with as little as 500 flight hours, significantly less than the 1,500 hours generally required for Part 121 operations.
• ALPA warns that approving the request would create a dangerous precedent, allowing SkyWest to operate under less stringent safety and work rules, potentially shifting a substantial part of its flying schedule to the less-regulated Part 135 side and misusing federal funding.
• SkyWest, while not directly responding to ALPA, stated to investors that its proposed charter operations would maintain the same "exceptionally high standards of safety and service" as its Part 121 airline, utilizing existing robust safety management systems and rigorous internal pilot training processes.

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