Let me verify if I'm understanding this correctly, when this law goes into effect, all first officers must hold an ATP, this latest development is allowing graduates of certain institutions to apply academic credits towards the hour requirement for the ATP, which looks like the most it will be able to apply towards the requirement will be around 700-750. This is still going into effect in August 2013 correct?

Not sure of the exact mechanism being used to raise the hour requirement - but the basic result will be pretty close to what you describe above.

Scoop

A majority of my classmates have/had less than an hour of actual when they became instrument pilots. You wouldn't know it with the way they talk.

You're exactly right- the MPL is the bigger threat, and the looming "pilot shortage" will be the justification for it. Whether the coming shortage is real or imagined, the airline lobby can spin it to look any way they want- much the way they can do with their financials to manipulate bankruptcy/ mergers ect.

As I've said before on here- I don't think we have the power to stop it. Our country is too union- hostile, (and too addicted to cheap fares) to really allow us to organize an effective fight against this.

Does anyone have the latest update on the FAA or Congress raising training requirements for pilots?

August 1st 2010:


SEC. 216. FLIGHT CREWMEMBER SCREENING AND QUALIFICATIONS.

(a) REQUIREMENTS.—

(1) RULEMAKING PROCEEDING.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall conduct a rulemaking proceeding to require part 121 air carriers to develop and implement means and methods for ensuring that flight crew-members have proper qualifications and experience.

(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—

(A) PROSPECTIVE FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS.—Rules issued under paragraph (1) shall ensure that prospective flightcrewmembers undergo comprehensive preemploymentscreening, including an assessment of the skills, aptitudes,airmanship, and suitability of each applicant for a position as a flight crewmember in terms of functioning effectively in the air carrier's operational environment.

(B)ALL FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS.—Rules issued under paragraph (1) shall ensure that, after the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, all flightcrewmembers—

(i) have obtained an airline transport pilot certificate under part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and

(ii) have appropriate multi-engine aircraft flight experience, as determined by the Administrator.

(b) DEADLINES.—The Administrator shall issue—

(1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a notice of proposed rulemaking under subsection(a); and

(2) not later than 24 months after such date of enactment, a final rule under subsection (a).

(c) DEFAULT.—The requirement that each flight crewmember for a part 121 air carrier hold an airline transport pilot certificate under part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall begin to apply on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act even if the Administrator fails to meet a deadline established under this section.

SEC. 217. AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT CERTIFICATION.

(a) RULEMAKING PROCEEDING.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall conduct a rulemaking proceeding to amend part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to modify requirements for the issuance of an airline transport pilot certificate.

(b) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—To be qualified to receive an airline transport pilot certificate pursuant to subsection (a), an individual shall—

(1) have sufficient flight hours, as determined by the Administrator, to enable a pilot to function effectively in an air carrier operational environment; and

(2) have received flight training, academic training, or operational experience that will prepare a pilot, at a minimum, to—

(A) function effectively in a multipilot environment;

(B) function effectively in adverse weather conditions,including icing conditions;

(C) function effectively during high altitude operations;

(D) adhere to the highest professional standards; and

(E) function effectively in an air carrier operational environment.

(c) FLIGHT HOURS.—

(1) NUMBERS OF FLIGHT HOURS.—The total flight hours required by the Administrator under subsection (b)(1) shall be at least 1,500 flight hours.

(2) FLIGHT HOURS IN DIFFICULT OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS.—The total flight hours required by the Administrator under subsection (b)(1) shall include sufficient flight hours, as deter-mined by the Administrator, in difficult operational conditions that may be encountered by an air carrier to enable a pilot to operate safely in such conditions.

(d) CREDIT TOWARD FLIGHT HOURS.—The Administrator may allow specific academic training courses, beyond those required under subsection (b)(2), to be credited toward the total flight hours required under subsection (c). The Administrator may allow such credit based on a determination by the Administrator that allowing a pilot to take specific academic training courses will enhance safety more than requiring the pilot to fully comply with the flight hours requirement.

(e) RECOMMENDATIONS OF EXPERT PANEL.—In conducting the rulemaking proceeding under this section, the Administrator shall review and consider the assessment and recommendations of the expert panel to review part 121 and part 135 training hours established by section 209(b) of this Act.

(f) DEADLINE.—Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue a final rule under subsection (a).



So does this mean that since the FAA has not made a change, we get 1500 hours and an ATP for all First Officers starting August 1, 2013?

The simply fact is, with ALL opinion aside we will NEVER see improvement till we stand as one pilot group. We COULD make changes as one pilot group but this will never happen. Why, because we all have different lives, responsibilities, views etc...and we are a large group. Many of us have families, bills etc that others don't have. This makes it tough for some. Certain concessions have a fair greater impact on members of the group.

Upper management / lobbyist are a small group with a lot of money to pay ex-wives and alimony (to name a few), so fighting them would take a VERY hard stand. We (pilot group) are not willing / able to make (not saying we should have to just stating fact) the same short term sacrifices. Our supposed best defense (ALPA and others) is after that big money as well, leaving the majority of us behind. I have been in this Buisness a LONG time and have learned one thing...give up your passion for aviation and get out or bend over!

Companies like Qatar and Emirates have more applications then they know what to do with, all from experienced pilots. Qatar is so backed up that from getting the invite to actually starting training is taking most half a year to hear back. Emirates is also hiring due to growth. But they are not short.

Asian companies are mainly looking for skippers and almost all want current type-ratings with at least 500 hours on type, and yet they too are still capable of staffing the airplanes. Then come the nationals that are in training in the U.S in the dozens, who come home and fill all those right seats, eventually they will catch up to their needs, then where will all the expats go? Since they already left since there is no work in their company.

Are there jobs? Yes. Is there a shortage? Absolutely not. Not even of experienced pilots.

Once all these places start parking planes because they can't crew them, or drop their entry requirements because they can't find the experience they are looking for, THEN we can say there is a shortage of experienced pilots. But while you need a TR with at least 500 on type (in vast majority of cases a A320 or 737TR) to work most of these places, they aren't short of guys experienced guys who have it.

+1...............

Any comments from FAA, or other, on min age 21 for ATP certificate?

I have not seen, heard, or read about any age change with respect to holding an ATP. I do not think that requirement is on the negotiating table. Besides, if it was, the government is trying to make the standards more strict, not the other way around.