Airline Pilot Central Forums - View Single Post - Deal made on hours of training for co-pilots

03-16-2010 | 01:32 PM

#79

dudas3

On Reserve

Joined: Jun 2009

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From: EMB F/O

Schumer’s provision will mandate that FAA conduct a rulemaking for co-pilots, which must be completed by 12/31/2011. FAA’s rulemaking must include a requirement Co-pilots to have 800 hours of flying experience, which must be met in specific conditions, listed below. If FAA does not complete the rulemaking on time, then co-pilots will have to get an ATP license, which is 1500 hours of flight experience in specifically-prescribed conditions.

According to Schumer’s provision, pilots will have to have no less than 800 hours of flight time before serving as a flight crew member for a commercial air carrier, and will have to demonstrate the ability to:

·Function effectively in a multi-pilot environment;
·Function effectively in an air carrier operational environment;
·Function effectively in adverse weather conditions, including icing conditions;
·Function effectively during high altitude operations; and
·Adhere to the highest professional standards.

The FAA Administrator will also have to dedicate a portion of the minimum 800 hours to flight training in difficult operational conditions.

So let me see if I'm reading this correctly. Congress is trying to pass a provision requiring the FAA to make a rule change for FO's by 12/31/2011 (End of next year). If the FAA does not do this within that time frame then the minimum requirement for FO's automatically goes to an ATP? What about the specifically-prescribed conditions stated in this article for an ATP? Are they referring to the already written requirements for obtaining an ATP or are they planning on coming up with something different?

Next we come to the part of, "Demonstrate the ability to." What in the world does that mean? Does that mean that we are now going to have PTS's for these new requirements, more written tests, or will the fact that you have flown for a regional, even though you may be furloughed at this time, going to be enough to meet these requirements?

Finally we come to the flight training in, "Difficult flying conditions." Once again, what are we talking about? Are we talking about icing, very busy Class B (i.e. JFK, EWR, LGA, ORD, LAX, etc.), IMC, emergency type training?

I agree with NoBeta that these statements are way too vague. There is no where to go to and get any information on these changes, and as far as I know there have been only two articles that I have found which even discuss the changes. Granted this bill sounds like it is a proposal of rulemaking to the FAA so specifics are probably not available yet, but some of these changes could affect quite a few pilots. My concern is for those of us who are furloughed, through no fault of our own in many cases, who meet the 800 hours, but who may now not technically be qualified to do the jobs we have already done because of these additional requirements. Will there be any type of Grandfather clause for those of us with 121 experience? This bill is just filled with way to many questions.

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