2. Academic Training as a Substitute for Flight Hours Experience.
The FAA seeks public comment on the concept of permitting academic credit in
lieu of required flight hours or experience1. In particular, we request comments on the
following issues:
2A. Are aviation/pilot graduates from accredited aviation university degree
programs likely to have a more solid academic knowledge base than other pilots hired for
air carrier operations? Why or why not?
2B. Should the FAA consider crediting specific academic study in lieu of flight
hour requirements? If so, what kind of academic study should the FAA accept, and to
what extent should academic study (e.g., possession of an aviation degree from an
accredited four-year aviation program) substitute for flight hours or types of operating
experience?
2C. If the FAA were to credit academic study (e.g., possession of an aviation
degree from an accredited four-year aviation program and/or completion of specific
courses), should the agency still require a minimum number of flight hours for part 121
air carrier operations? Some have suggested that, regardless of academic training, the
FAA should require a minimum of 750 hours for a commercial pilot to serve as SIC in
part 121 operations. Is this number too high, or too low, and why?
This Section is just wrong! I have read dozens of books on golf but still can't hit a straight drive.