If YOU were the head of the FAA...
 

If you had a magic wand and could change the regs, what changes would you make to improve safety? Higher times? More thorough background checks? Apprenticeships/mentor programs? Prohibiting the company from calling during rest? Duty/rest?

If I had a magic wand I'd wish for 280 million dollars.

I'd want a royale with cheese for every pilot for all their hard work.

If I had a magic wand I'd slowly turn a 10-19 seat piston/turboprop market into a long-range 50-100 seat jet market, all the while never changing payrates to match major airline averages that used to fly the same routes/capacity.... oooh wait... that already happened. :cool:

Well since I'm furloughed and back to turning wrenches, I'd make an emergency airworthiness directive mandating the removal of all flat-head fasteners on aircraft.

Oh, and if I felt like going back to work, I'd lower the mandatory retirement age to .. I donno... 47.

Max 8 hours day flight time for a 2 man crew. 10 for 3 man crew.
12 hour duty day max unless waivered for specific ultra long haul flights
RAPs for international reserve crews
No calling crews during any crew rest
10 hours minimum behind the hotel door
6-8 hour max flight time depending on number of legs in the day.
More stringent duty time and flight hour rules for nights
Duty day starts at sign-in time for a new trip or leaving the hotel during layover.

And that's just for starters.

I really like the ATP/ 1500hr requirement to be an FO at ANY 121 carrier.

I'd ban codesharing as a "bait and switch". If your code is on the flight, it would HAVE to be operated on your certificate.

All the other problems would go away at that point.

Nu

Minimum wage
 

Implement a mandate for a minimum livable wage in a large metropolitan city, equivalent (rent x 3 = base salary). In the interest of public safety!

Since supply and demand method dictates some positions pay well, and most positions (especially at the regional carriers) pay pathetically low, then the FAA must intervene and set a minimum. Again in the interest of the safety of the flying public! Besides...what FAA mandate hasn't been met with protest by the airline bean counters?, every requirement in the ops manual already costs the "operator" lots of money

This, I think, will somewhat help the situation. It's not the only solution, but it's a start to a long and over due problem of an industry that has failed collectively.

That's my bit, thanks.

Requirements for the mile high club would be: 5280 ft. AGL.