FAA Issues NPRM regarding Air Carrier minimum requirements

[Baradium]

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-29/pdf/2012-4627.pdf

Highlights:

ATP required regardless of seat.

1500 hour requirement remains. 

Military experience reduces total time requirement for an ATP license to 750 hours.

College aviation degree program reduces total time requirement to 1000 hours. 

Military and college program pilots can get ATP at 21 as opposed to 23.

Revision to ATP requirements to require 50 hours multiengine for a multiengine ATP.

To operate as PIC at an air carrier 1000 hours of air carrier operations required.
 
Multiengine ATP will require an FAA approved "ATP certification program" which requires classroom instruction and time in a level C or higher simulator (most flight schools will not have this capability).

While most of these are only going to be relevent for air carriers,  the multiengine ATP requirements will apply to all ATPs, regardless of intended use.

[Rooster Cruiser]

So no more 250hr wonders with SJS going to the regionals...  About time, IMHO.   

RC

[Mike]

Looks like they finally did something right over there, huh?!

[Fabo]

Depends on how you look at it. The US aviation might have just gotten itself into BIG problems couple years down the road.

[Mike]

Depends on how you look at it. The US aviation might have just gotten itself into BIG problems couple years down the road.

what problems? pilot shortage?

[Fabo]

Mainly, but not only.

[Mike]

ok, so what problems then?
I am just curious. Sometimes I stand too close to the picture to see the whole thing. Just wanna know what people not flying in this country think.....

[Mike]

to clarify, I believe that our system of how to bring up new pilots through the ranks is somewhat broken
not sure how to fix it though

[chuckar101]

Read through the rule, and it sounds like a great idea.  The pilot shortage issue, will be a problem at first but I believe after a few years it will even out.  You'll get more guys going to smaller cargo operators and other 135 operators to get their hours.  The part I'm interested in will be the ATP certification program and what that will entail.  I think it will help everybody in the airline industry, but time will tell.