Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots?

Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by throwaway_exer on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @02:57AM (#11525291)

I've been watching this government-made crisis develop over the last 24 months.

Currently, you need 1,200 hours experience from a designated aviation college or 1,500 hours experience from GA.

I believe airlines will lobby Congress to halve the number of hours in the very near future as they get data on the massive pilot shortage.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by cr1895 on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @03:47AM (#11525472)

Wasn't this requisite level of experience upped by Congress not terribly long ago?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by steffan on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @04:03AM (#11525524)

Yes. In the US, originally you could be a First Officer without holding the ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) certificate. The ATP requires 1500 hours of flight time. Prior to the rule change, you would see regional airlines recruiting pilots with as low as 400 hours of total time (TT) for FO positions, allowing them to build the requisite hours to obtain their ATP.

[ Parent | on HN ]