subject: New FAA Pilot Work Rules Will Require Airlines to Hire More Pilots [print this page] There are new FAA Regs in the offing that will place pressure on airlines to hire new pilots. One is more required rest time and the second is more flight time from 250 hrs to 750 or even 1500 depending upon academic training for co-pilots. Currently the Captain After the crash of Colgan Flight 3407 in Buffalo, two new possible FAA mandates could double the A confluence of factors are adding up to a rich market for hopeful Airline Pilots.
on Commuters as well as Major Airlines require an ATP rating which needs at least 1500 hrs. of flying. Co-Pilots however, need only a Commercial rating a pilot can get with 250 hrs. Discussion is underway that "could" result in upping the required hours to sit as co-pilot. Understandably, this causes concern for Airlines and pilots alike because it is difficult to pay for that kind of flying time. The FAA Rule has not been determined about this yet. A 250 hr. commercial rating is still good for a co-pilot seat.
121 Commercial Pilots fly, sit, or stand during a 16 hour duty day followed by an 8 hour rest period that starts another 16 hour duty day. It is very hard for pilots to get from the airport to a hotel, get rested, refreshed, and back on duty within that 8 hr. period. Painfully, we are learning that following the rules set by the FAA may not be adequate. The airlines cannot be blamed for following the rules, only abusing them. The new rest rule pushes the 8 hour rest period to 9 hours with other minor changes that are to take place in August of 2011.
It used to be common practice for pilots to exit the military into the cockpit to begin their career. Not so much today. Fewer pilots are exiting a downsized military and they are skeptical of an airline career. Mergers, bankruptcies, unstable fuel prices, furloughs, have decimated retirement packages and benefits for flight crews. This makes for an unstable career choice for many. Another factor that is placing pressure on airlines to hire more is the baby boom retirees. The glamour of airline flying is but a glimmer anymore as cash strapped airlines and internet savvy passengers trim profits to frightful margins. Still, there are fresh American faces that feel the need to punch through the clouds on a mission to deliver passengers and cargo to their allotted destinations. The lure of working in a high tech office of a Boeing 737-700, Canadair 700, or EMB 145 is too hard to resist for many despite the challenges. In order to begin a flying career you must start with a Private Pilots License. In order to get that, you have to pass the Private Pilot FAA Written Exam. You will need 20 hours of dual instruction and 20 hours of solo flying. This is aviation 101. The FAA Private Pilot Written written exam is designed to cover information pilots need to determine proper flying weather, how to comply with FAA Regulations, aerodynamics, navigation, avionics, aircraft performance, communication, required equipment, and more.
For more info, or If you would like to join the discussion about this and more, visit us at: http://joepilotecourse.blogspot.com/ or www.joepilotecourse.com visit and comment
New FAA Pilot Work Rules Will Require Airlines to Hire More Pilots
