Tuesday, August 6, 2013

FAA Publishes New Rule on Pilot Qualifications

On August 1, 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") published a new rule on pilot qualification requirements impacting pilots who fly as first officers for U.S. passenger and cargo airlines. The rule requires first officers to hold an Airline Transport Pilot ("ATP") certificate with 1500 hours of total time as a pilot. The new rule also requires first officers to have an aircraft type rating specific to the airplanes flown for the airline.

There is an allowance for current first officers with fewer than 1500 hours of flight time enabling those pilots to obtain a restricted privileges ATP certificate. The restricted privileges ATP certificate allows a pilot to serve as a co-pilot until he obtains the necessary 1500 hours.

The new rule stems from the Colgan Air flight 3407 crash in February 2009. This rule is meant to increase the safety of operations by raising the experience level for both pilots flying for passenger and cargo airlines.

If you have questions about the new rule or its implementation, then contact Aviation Attorney Ronnie Gipson by email at Gipson@higagipsonllp.com or by telephone at (415) 692-6520.