Proposed ATP/1500 Minimums for 121 Carriers
 

Under the "Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009", the bill would require, at a minimum, an ATP in order to fly for a 121 carrier.

Congress to toughen airline standards - USATODAY.com

• "Require that all airline pilots obtain an Airline Transport Pilot license, which is currently only needed by captains. Pilots must have a minimum of 1,500 flight hours to obtain the license. Co-pilots may now be hired at airlines with as little as about 200 hours, though most begin airline work with more experience.

• Mandate that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) within 90 days set up a new database of pilot records so that airlines will have access to more information before they hire someone for the cockpit. The captain of the jet that crashed near Buffalo had failed several FAA-mandated tests of his piloting skills, but his airline did not know about all of them when it hired him.

• Direct the FAA within one year to rewrite the rules for how long pilots can work. Several attempts to rewrite the rules to make piloting less prone to fatigue have failed in recent decades. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt also has vowed to update the rules.

• Require airlines and travel websites when they sell tickets to disclose the name of the carrier operating the flight. About half of all flights are operated by regional airlines working under contract to major carriers, but those regionals almost never sell tickets directly to passengers. Most of the regional flights are flown with the name of the major carrier painted on their aircraft.

• Set up numerous studies and task forces to examine how best to train pilots, minimize pilot fatigue and run a safe airline."

Not a bad start. How about revoking the Railway Labor Act so we actually have the leverage to improve our profession to the point that it attracts smart people again?

It's all about the Benjamin's. Smart people follow the money. Hence why I am an idiot/pilot. :D

Sick Calls
 

How about not requiring a doctors note if you are sick. If a pilot even feels a little tired they should be given the day off with no questions asked. The regionals often treat pilots like children. It is no wonder that sometimes they act like them.

Pilots should be able to call in sick or take the day off if they feel they need to for whatever reason. Airlines should have enough people on staff to cover. An investigation should not be opened whenever someone calls in sick or decides they don't want to work that day.

SKyhigh

1,500 hrs??? I like that, sign the bill.... could not agree more

Its a good start, a little late, but better than nothing

How will it handle folks who are already in place who do not meet those requirements? I presume they will be grandfathered in. If it passes it will create a shortage of pilots which should push pay up.

Thats an interesting question..... I am with you that people would be grandfathered in but probably would have to pass the ATP within so many days of aquiring the minimum times required. You might also see 6 month checkrides for the guys grandfathered in instead of 12 month.

Some guys hired with say 1000 hour or less in some cases may not have the requisite PIC hours for an ATP even when they have in excess of 1500 hours....

I have thought for many years that to fly 121 both should be "Airline Transport Pilots"...its a start if nothing else.

1500 hours is also the first start to getting all flying back at mainline! There is hardly any training going on right now and in 2 or 3 years when people start retiring and regional captains start getting picked up one by one, they will not have enough people to hire in to the regionals with 1500 hours. Mainline at that point might be forced to bring at least the 76+ back to mainline.

Wouldn't this wipe out half of Republic?