Preparing For Change

The aviation industry is constantly changing, just like most complex industries are.  The US government plays a large role in shaping this industry, most effectively by passing laws.  The most talked about new law is PL 111-216.  This law addresses an array of topics that include amendments to aviation funding, handling of the FAA pilot records database, regulations for airlines, and changes to the way airline pilots are trained and licensed.  This law is mainly a response to the Colgan Air Accident of Flight 3407.  Aviation businesses that run 121 operations will feel the biggest impact, but it affects 91 and 135 operations as well.  People who have dreams of becoming an airline pilot should be concerned with a few of the law's key changes.  The FAA will now be required to keep a pilot records database.  It will be regulatory to include certain aspects of a pilot's training and employment history.  It will also be regulatory for an air carrier to access and evaluate that information before hiring a pilot.  The National Business Aviation Association has a short discussion about how that will affect 91, 121, and 135 operations.  Perhaps the most controversial change is the requirement that flight crew members for a part 121 air carrier be required to have an airline transport pilot certificate.

The requirement for a flight crew member of a part 121 air carrier to have an ATP certificate has the potential to affect students at EMU more than other changes resulting from this law.  Previously, first officers were only required to have a commercial license.  A commercial license can be obtained after 250 total flight hours.  Once the proposed change takes affect, first officers would be required to have an ATP certificate.  Currently 1500 hours are required for an ATP certificate.  Under the new proposed law, there would be only one option to obtain a restricted ATP certificate with fewer flight hours.  Candidates that were to receive an aviation degree and flight training from an accredited 4-year institution could obtain a restricted ATP certificate with 1000 flight hours.  This would greatly affect EMU students that were hoping to quickly begin careers as airline pilots.  These students may need an extra stepping stone before obtaining their final career goal.

The same part of this law could also affect EMU's future in flight training.  There is not a current degree requirement for an ATP certificate.  Under the proposed change, a restricted ATP certificate could be obtained if the candidate had earned an aviation degree and received flight training from an accredited 4-year institution.  This would affect EMU because more people than before may pursue an aviation degree from a 4-year institution. An aviation degree program is not very common, and EMU could possibly benefit with increased enrollment.

The intended benefits of these changes include having more competent pilots, and safer airlines.  Established programs such as EMU could benefit financially from increased enrollment and longer training.  These are just theories, and I don't personally agree with the changes being made.  The captain of flight 3407 had 3,379 flight hours, and the first officer had 2, 244 flight hours.  The first officer did not have an ATP certificate, but certainly had enough flight hours.  I do not think the proposed changes properly address current flight training issues.  I think one of the simplest changes that should be made is a requirement for a significant amount of actual instrument time required for a commercial license.

The FAA has mandated changes in airlines' safety cultures, and encourages a preventative approach to safety instead of a reactive approach.  In all fairness to the FAA, they are being mandated by Congress to make changes.  Unfortunately, these changes show what a lack of aviation education Congress has.  The FAA is now forced to violate their own safety culture, and make reactive and hasty regulation.  On the other side, we also have human nature at its finest.  Humans are sometimes best at being negative and complaining.  Many of the flight instructors at Eagle Flight Centre do not leave for airline jobs until after they have 1000 flight hours.  Airlines have "rarely" hired commercial pilots with 250 hours.  The minimum hiring requirements of the airlines have generally been above the FAA's minimums. I feel there will be an impact on the supply of airline pilots, but I do not feel it will have a long lasting affect on the industry.