FAA Issues New Requirements for First Officers
In a final rule issued on July 15, 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued new requirements for first officers on domestic, flag and supplemental flights. Citing a Congressional mandate in the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010, FAA officials are now requiring all first officers to hold an airline transport pilot certificate as well as an airplane type rating for the aircraft to be flown.
The rule is one of several rulemakings required by the Act, including the new flight duty and rest requirements for pilots that were finalized in December 2011. Compliance with the provisions of this rule is required by August 1, 2013.
To hold an airline transport pilot certificate, a pilot must be at least 23 years of age and have a minimum of 1,500 total hours as a pilot. Previously, first officers were only required to hold a commercial pilot certificate, which mandated a minimum of 250 flight hours.
Pilots who do not meet the requirement of 1,500 flight hours may qualify for a restricted privileges airline transport pilot certificate at least 21 years of age, if they are a military trained pilot or hold a bachelors or associate degree in aviation. Furthermore, pilots who are at least 21 and have 1,500 hours of flight time may also qualify for a restricted privileges airline transport certificate. The restricted privileges airline transport certificate allows a pilot to be second in command on domestic, flag or supplemental operations not requiring more than two crew members.
This rulemaking is a response, in part, to the crash of Colgan Air 3407 in February 2009. The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) crash investigation revealed that the pilot had not followed appropriate procedures in handling the aircraft.
In early 2010, in response to the Colgan Air accident, the FAA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) entitled “New Pilot Certification Requirements for Air Carrier Operations”. The subsequent rulemaking addresses recommendations from the FAA chartered the First Officer Qualification Aviation Rulemaking Committee (FOQ ARC), the NTSB, and the FAA’s Call to Action to improve airline safety
For more information on FAA operating regulations please contact Ronce Almond at (202) 457-7790.
