To improve scheduled air service safety through enhanced aeronautical experience requirements for applicants seeking an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category and class rating, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · July 18, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
This bill increases the flight experience requirements for pilots seeking an airline transport pilot certificate, the highest level of pilot certification needed to serve as a captain at commercial airlines. The legislation was introduced in response to a troubling spike in near-miss incidents at major U.S. airports in 2023, which safety experts believe may be linked to hiring less experienced pilots to meet increased travel demand following the pandemic and recent retirements. The bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to strengthen regulations within 30 days to increase minimum requirements for specific types of flight hours, including raising cross-country flight time from current levels to 900 hours, night flight time to 200 hours, and instrument flight time in actual conditions to 75 hours. The bill also directs the FAA to conduct a rulemaking within 60 days establishing stricter standards for flight simulator training, requiring simulators to have advanced motion capabilities and accurate modeling of difficult flying scenarios like stalls and high-angle approaches. These changes aim to ensure that new airline pilots have more diverse, realistic flying experience before commanding commercial aircraft.
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