Question for the flying lawyers around here, with a preface to same.

Quote:

"The AP (7/25) reports that the Kansas State University at Salina’s pilot program has been granted an exemption from the FAA “that will allow students to become professional co-pilots more quickly than other schools’ graduates.” Instead of being required to fly 1,500 hours before becoming co-pilots, graduated will only have to fly 1,000 hours. Kurt Barnhart, an official at the school, “said the exemption gives the students advantages in time and cost over students at flight schools that don’t meet the FAA requirements.”


This smells of job discrimination based upon nothing, nada, thin air. Why should a pilot with a 4 yr mechanical or electrical engineering degree from MIT with 1,200 hours have to take a back seat to a K-state grad with an "aviation degree" and 1,000 hrs??

Question: With the grant of this new exemption, can the MIT grad now sue the FAA, and win?

Put another way, has the FAA just opened itself to a rash of lawsuits?