HR 5900 - Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act

of 2010

 
 

HR 3371 has passed as HR 5900...

It is still too early to tell how this will affect future pilots and initial flight training programs. The most notable change will be the Airline Transport Pilot certificate required to work at a regional airline. The proposed minimum requirements include a minimum age of 23 years and at least 1500 hours flight time to apply for the ATP certificate.  BSU Aviation does not foresee this requirement as negatively impacting a pilot's career path.

HR 5900 is intended to strengthen pilot training and qualifications, resulting in higher levels of pilot professionalism and safer operations.  This will also improve many aspects of the piloting profession, mainly respect and compensation for a job with tremendous responsibility.

The era when newly-minted commercial pilots could expect to be hired to fly for a regional airline with a good interview, a smile, and 250 hours total time may be coming to an end. Between 2005 and 2008 regional airlines were constantly challenged with staffing issues resulting in steadily decreasing flight time requirements. Too often, this demand also created an environment that promoted reduced training standards and levels of safety during flight operations. This "hiring boom" went hand in hand with the over-inflated economy and should not be considered a "normal" market for pilot placement.

Historically, it was not uncommon at all for a newly hired First Officer at a regional airline to already have an ATP certificate (or the flight time required to apply for the ATP). Many commercial pilots build flight time as Certified Flight Instructors, charter pilots and in other various ways. Once a pilot earns a commercial license with an instrument rating, reaching 1500 hours of flight time can easily be accomplished within two years.  

That said, the race to get the hours is not the point.  The issue is quality of experience and the amount of it.  More flight time provides pilots with the opportunity to gain experience that is critical to developing their skills and judgment, making command decisions, and ultimately operating an aircraft in a consistently safe manner. A good pilot never stops learning.  

BSU Aviation looks forward to participating in the evolution of H.R. 5900, and to continuing our role in the development and provision of aviation training that meets or exceeds the highest industry standards. We will be sure to post any news and updates on this link.  A quick overview of H.R. 5900 is provided below, followed by a link to the actual bill in it's entirety. The bill has been signed into law and BSU Aviation will continue monitor it's progress into the aviation industry.

Mr. Greg Bongiorno                                                                                             Mr. Loren Herren

Manager of Aviation Affairs                                                                                Chief Flight Instructor

Related links for additional information:

 

7/29/2009--Introduced.
Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009 - Requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish the FAA Task Force on Air Carrier Safety and Pilot Training to evaluate best practices in the air carrier industry and make recommendations on specified matters. Directs the FAA Administrator to conduct a rulemaking proceeding to require air carriers to: (1) provide flight crewmembers with ground training and flight training to recognize and avoid or recover from a stall or an upset of an aircraft; and (2) establish remedial training programs for flight crewmembers who have demonstrated performance deficiencies or experienced failures in the training environment. Requires the FAA Administrator to convene a multidisciplinary panel of specialists to study and report to the FAA Administrator on methods to increase the familiarity of flight crewmembers with stick pusher systems and certain weather events. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report annually to Congress and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on NTSB air carrier safety recommendations made to and adopted or refused by the Secretary. Directs the FAA Administrator to establish an electronic pilot records database of pertinent information in FAA, air carrier, and other records that an air carrier shall access and evaluate before allowing an individual to begin service as a pilot. Requires the FAA Administrator to issue a specified final rule regarding flight crewmembers and aircraft dispatchers training programs. Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to review and report to the FAA Administrator on FAA aviation safety inspectors and operational research analysts. Directs the FAA Administrator to conduct a rulemaking proceeding to require air carriers to: (1) establish flight crewmember mentoring programs; (2) develop methods for ensuring that flight crewmembers have proper qualifications and experience; and (3) implement a safety management system. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on flight schools, flight education, and academic training requirements for pilot certification. Requires the FAA Administrator to report to specified congressional committees on certain voluntary safety programs. Directs the FAA Administrator to develop a plan to facilitate the establishment of an aviation safety action program (ASAP) and a flight operational quality assurance (FOQA) program by all air carriers. Treats as an unfair or deceptive trade practice for any ticket agent, air carrier, foreign air carrier, or other person to sell tickets for a flight on an air carrier without disclosing the name of the air carrier providing each flight segment before the purchase of the ticket. Requires the FAA Administrator to issue regulations to: (1) limit the number of flight and duty time hours allowed for pilots to address pilot fatigue problems; as well as (2) require air carriers to develop for FAA approval fatigue risk management plans. Directs the FAA Administrator to study and report to Congress on aviation industry best practices with regard to flight crewmember pairing and crew resource management techniques.


 

Last Modified: September 7, 2010