A new FAA proposal seeks to boost the number of flight hours required for co-pilots.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently submitted a proposal aimed at helping to reduce the risk of airplane accidents. Attorneys with Jacksonville’s Spohrer & Dodd support the proposal, which seeks to substantially raise qualification requirements for first officers who fly for U.S. passenger and cargo airlines.

If passed, the FAA’s proposal would require first officers (also known as co-pilots) to hold and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, requiring 1,500 hours of pilot flight time. That’s a significant boost from the currently required commercial pilot certificate, which can be secured with just 250 hours of flight time. The FAA also wants first officers to have an aircraft type rating, which involves additional training and testing specific to the particular airplanes they fly.

Also included in the proposal is a call for enhanced training requirements for an ATP certificate, including 50 hours of multi-engine flight experience and successful completion of a new FAA-approved training program; and a minimum of 1,000 flight hours as a pilot in air carrier operations that require and ATP prior to serving as a captain for a U.S. airline. Other components of the proposal suggest restricted privileges for pilots who have fewer than 1,500 hours of flight time, but who have earned an aviation degree or have military pilot experience.

The FAA’s proposal is consistent with a mandate in the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 and addresses recommendations from an Aviation Rulemaking Committee, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the FAA’s Call to Action to improve airline safety. Says FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta: “Our pilots need to have the right training and the right qualifications so they can be prepared to handle any situation they encounter in the cockpit… This proposed rule will ensure our nation’s pilots have the necessary skills and experience.”

As highly experienced airplane accident attorneys, Jacksonville’s Spohrer & Dodd have successfully landed multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients and ultimately contributed to the improved safety of air travel by exposing and removing multiple hazards and unsafe practices. We support any proposal that will significantly improve safety and help avoid airplane accidents.

A new federal aviation law increases the number of hours of flight time required to become an airline pilot to 1,500.

A new federal aviation law set to take effect in August 2013 increases the number of flight hours required to become an airline pilot. Congress passed the law last year in response to the February 2009 crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 near Buffalo, N.Y. that killed all 49 people on board and one person on the ground died. But not everyone agrees that more hours in an aircraft are necessary.

Purdue University’s Department of Aviation Technology are concerned that the new requirements will force students to unnecessarily spend thousands of dollars to increase their airtime. Students in the program typically log about 300 hours of airplane flight time during their course of study. And for collegiate student pilots at respected institutions, that should be enough, some argue.

Many agree that the 1,500 hours of flight time that will be required for landing a pilot’s license come August 2013 is appropriate for students of smaller, independent and less expensive flight schools favored by airplane hobbyists. But argue that the intense focus and comprehensive coursework that students at colleges and universities like Purdue make them uniquely qualified for employment as airline pilots immediately after graduation.

At Spohrer & Dodd, we know just how critical it is that aviation students log as much aircraft flight time as possible before being handed a license. We’ve litigated numerous multi-million-dollar aircraft accident cases, landing fair settlements for the families of those killed in airline accidents – some caused by faulty equipment, others by pilot or air traffic control personnel error. If you or a loved one has been injured, or if you have lost a loved one to an airplane crash, no matter the cause, Spohrer & Dodd can help. Call us toll-free at 800-413-7948 or complete our online “Do I Have a Case?” form for a quick response from an experienced aviation lawyer.