Airline Pilot Central Forums - Maintaining current minimum FO qualifications

As your constituent, a professional airline pilot, and a member of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), I am writing to bring your attention to a matter that is important to pilots, the flying public and me personally: upholding landmark aviation safety legislation, the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010. This law significantly improved training and qualification requirements for first officers – and improved the safety of our skies. It is a measure that was written in blood, and should not be weakened in any way, shape or form. I am asking you to ensure that any pilot flying with me has the training necessary to be a safe and successful commercial airline pilot.

The Federal Aviation Administration has identified 31 accidents over a nine-year period that government and industry designed the current minimum qualifications to address. These included four fatal accidents that cost 150 people their lives. Since the FAA implemented the new qualifications in 2013, our country has not had a single passenger fatality due to an accident on a scheduled U.S. passenger airliner (Part 121). The qualifications include a minimum number of hours controlling aircraft (1,500 hours for pilots without formal classroom training), training specifications, and other safety protocols. There is a direct correlation between the decline of accidents and these mandates.

There are special interests in Washington, D.C. who, for reasons of profit, seek to weaken our air safety regulations. Some claim these standards are too stringent and reduce the number of pilots available. But let’s be clear; there real shortage falls with our regional airlines and its willingness to pay qualified pilots a decent salary. That is where we should focus. Degrading U.S. aviation safety requirements is not the solution for our airlines’ economic problem.

Furthermore, the facts clearly show that there is not currently a pilot shortage in the U.S. Since July 2013, the FAA issued more than 25,500 active Air Transport Pilot (ATP) certificates, the certification required to serve as a professional commercial airline pilot. That number exceeds even the most optimistic pilot forecast needs.

Most airlines enjoy an excess of pilot applicants. Regional airlines that have increased compensation, added flow-through opportunities to mainline carriers, and created better working environments have seen a large increase in applicants for pilot jobs. The small number of carriers unable to attract pilots offer poor compensation packages and working conditions, and inadequate career opportunities. We should not jeopardize safety because some small air carriers aren’t willing to fairly compensate commercial airline pilots.

Professional pilots are highly qualified, technically trained individuals with the skills to choose many other career paths. Your safety is my top priority on each and every flight. Join us in keeping our air safety system the safest mode of transportation in the world. I urge you to support common sense and oppose any attempts to change the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010. I look forward to hearing back from you on this very important issue.

PS Keeping the first officer qualifications where they are also enables student pilots to complete training. Flight schools are actually very happy that their instructors must stay to build experience, while at the same time teaching our next generation of pilots. Lowering first officer hiring requirements will impact the training process, leaving no one qualified to teach.