RAA Member Airlines Are Ready for New Pilot Licensing Law

July 10, 2013
Cohen: "Regional airline training professionals have worked intensely preparing for these new standards, and as an industry we are committed and ready."

Washington, DC-July 10, 2013— Today, the FAA released the final First Officer Qualifications (FOQ) Rule detailing additional changes supplementing the airline First Officer licensing and flight time requirements law. 

“Regional airline training professionals have worked intensely preparing for these new standards, and as an industry we are committed and ready,” President Roger Cohen notes. RAA indicates more than 8,000 regional airline pilots have already successfully completed training for their Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificates.

RAA recognizes the FAA’s decision to credit pilots for academic and military training, a decision validating some recommendations by the agency’s own rulemaking committee emphasizing quality training versus arbitrary hour minimums.

“Highly structured training, airline standards and FAA approved curriculum produces excellent pilots. Unfortunately the goal posts have also been moved for future aviators,” says Cohen. “As we’ve stated all along, the changes will impact the future supply of pilots and could imperil service to 500 communities across the US which rely on regional airlines exclusively for their scheduled flights. We are hopeful the FAA will take additional steps to help bring more highly-trained aviators into the cockpit and an airline career.”

RAA’s full perspective and recommendations were filed on April 30, 2012 in the form of official comments to the NPRM. Click here to read.