Rigorous Training Standards Ensure Air Travel Remains Safest Mode of Transportation
The latest: U.S. airline safety is the gold standard worldwide thanks, in part, to a focus on pilot training and qualifications.
- Why it matters: As the industry continues to evolve, discussions about pilot training requirements must prioritize safety above all else. Ongoing efforts to reduce the rigorous training and qualification requirements for airline pilots will undermine the safety track record established by the current high standards.
The cornerstone of aviation safety: The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010, which strengthened pilot training requirements and increased minimum flight experience qualifications for airline first officers, is the most effective aviation safety law of this century. Established as a needed response to several accidents that highlighted existing shortcomings in pilot training and minimum experience requirements, it must never be weakened.
- There is no shortcut to the flight deck. Pilots spend numerous hours each year training, refining their skills and preparing for the unexpected. In order to even receive the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate that's required to fly a commercial airliner, first officers must have logged at least 1,500 hours of flight time. To be promoted to a captain, pilots must have logged at least 1,000 hours of flight time in commercial service.
- In addition, pilots must receive yearly training on the aircraft type they fly, ensuring they are up to date on its unique systems, Every single airline pilot must meet this exact same set of standards regardless of age, identity or background,. It is thanks to this tireless commitment to quality training that U.S. airline safety is the gold standard worldwide, ensuring that pilots are ready for any scenario and reinforcing the industry's already strong safety record.
The bottom line: Maintaining strong pilot training and qualification requirements is essential to preserving public confidence in air travel and ensuring that safety remains the industry's top priority.
