Third-ranking Senate Republican John Thune of South Dakota added a proposal to the recently-introduced FAA reauthorization bill hoping to amend the 1,500-hour requirement for airline pilot hiring. The rule, enacted in July 2013, requires Part 121 airline new hires to qualify for an ATP certificate before starting work. Thune says he believes what he calls a “narrow revision” to the law “preserves the strong safety demands of the original law, but will offer ways to make it easier for regional airlines to hire copilots.”
Senate Amendment Could Alter 1,500-hour Pilot Rule
Key Takeaways:
- Senator John Thune proposed an amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill to revise the 1,500-hour airline pilot requirement, aiming to prioritize training quality over quantity and ease hiring for regional carriers.
- The proposal faces strong opposition from Democratic senators and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), who argue it would "water down" crucial safety standards.
- Opponents, including ALPA, highlight the absence of Part 121 airline fatalities since the current pilot training and qualification requirements were enacted in 2010.
- Critics fear the amendment could allow credit for less rigorous academic or airline training, though some experts suggest the improved safety record might not be solely attributable to the 1,500-hour rule.
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