Originally Posted by
flyeagle111
If mins continue to go down, could they hire someone with 250 hours in say July of 2013 and grandfather them in, or will they need to be at 1500 by August 2013?
Originally Posted by
Outlaw2097
Rules say yes but public backlash would still be resonating from the Buffalo crash.
Originally Posted by
slumav505
Our DO told us that the 1500 hour rule would most likely not be a grandfathered type thing. We were told a final ruling was coming in June. I imagine initially the lowest you will see mins get is 500 hours or so. That way you get roughly 14-16 months to get to 1500. As we get to August of 2012 I imagine you'll see 1000 be the walking line, then about 6 months out it'll be hard ATP.
The information provided to the air carriers and 121 pilots from the FAA says this:
"The purpose of this InFO is to advise air carriers and pilots conducting operations under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), part 121, of the statutory requirement for all pilot flightcrew members to have or obtain an appropriate ATP certificate by August 2, 2013."
"Though the FAA may propose alternative hour requirements for a restricted privileges ATP, the Public Law does not include grandfathering provisions for current pilot flightcrew members who hold commercial pilot certificates."
So I agree with slumav505, less than 500 TT at the regionals may be in the ballpark for the next year or so. As life goes on towards August 2012, 1000 hours of TT will eventually become the hard minimum; followed shortly thereafter by requiring the ATP at the interview.
As the FAA information says, there are no grandfathering provisions for commercial pilot certificates in the public law. Requiring an ATP certificate for 121 operations will not change, the only option would be for the FAA to propose alternative hour requirements (less than 1500) for a restricted privileges ATP. Given the increased time that it takes the government to get something accomplished; I don't see the FAA taking action on a "restricted privileges ATP" any time prior to August 2013, when this law takes effect.