Editorial Comment by Rick Adams, FRAeS
Is there objective, validated justification for the FAA’s 1500 flight hours regulation to become an airline pilot?
For that matter, was there ever justification for the 250-hour rule that preceded it?
The answer, in both cases, is not really.
More Than Enough Pilots to Meet U.S. Airline Demand
Over the past decade, the United States has produced more than enough certificated pilots to meet airline hiring demands and compensate for retirements, even as new and more rigorous pilot training standards were enacted to enhance safety. In fact, there are currently about 1.5 certificated pilots relative to demand, according to Federal Aviation Administration and Bureau of Labor Statistics data. So, although we don’t have a pilot shortage, we do have a shortage of airline executives willing to stand by their business decisions to cut air service and be upfront about their intentions to skirt safety rules and hire inexperienced workers for less pay. ALPA’s position to maintain airline pilot safety training and requirements is strongly supported by industry and labor stakeholders.