As important as cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages are to the average traveler, every flier wants to believe that when they fly it will be safe. On Friday, July 30th, Congress took a major step forward in improving pilot safety measures.
The new rules require airlines to hire more experienced pilots, investigate pilots prior employment more carefully, and better train pilots. This legislation also is aimed at preventing pilot fatigue by overhauling the rules concerning pilot work schedules.
Both the Senate and House have now passed this legislation and President Obama has enthusiastically endorsed this bill and announced his intention to sign it.
This bill includes the following:
Requires the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) come up with new work schedule regulations based on current sleep and fatigue research.
Increases the minimum flight experience required for a first officer from 250 hours to 1,500 hours which is the current minimum for captains.
Calls on the FAA to toughen regulations concerning pilot training programs.
Provides the FAA with three years to come up with new regulations requiring airlines create pilot mentoring and professional development committees.
Require websites selling airline tickets to clearly state on their first page the name of the airline operating each leg of a flight. Regional airlines frequently fly under names sounding similar to their major airline partners.
Of the most recent six fatal airline accidents in the U.S., all involved regional airlines. Pilot errors were cited as contributing factors in four of those accidents.
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