Bill Would Require All Pilots Operating Under Part 121 To Be ATP Rated

The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA), which represents more than 28,000 commercial cargo and passenger pilots nationwide, has expressed support for Senator Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) bill that would require all pilots flying in Part 121 operations to possess an FAA Airline Transport Pilot License (ATP).
 
Schumer's bill, S.1744, endorses the flight requirements of the FAA Airline Transport Pilot License including 500 hours of cross country flight time, 400 hours of night flight time and 75 hours of instrument time. CAPA says this is a vast improvement over today's part 121 minimum hiring standards of a Commercial Pilot License with its requirement of only 250 hours of flight time. The quality and quantity of flight time required by the FAA Airline Transport Pilot License should be the minimum hiring standard for all commercial part 121 operators and S 1744 mandates the ATP requirement. Almost one year has passed since Colgan flight 3407 crashed in Buffalo, New York and CAPA strongly agrees with Senator Schumer's conclusion that "something must be done" to improve pilot training and hiring standards.
 
CAPA President Captain Paul Onorato said "Senator Schumer has done an outstanding job in gathering the professionals and asking the hard questions. The 28,000 professional pilots of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations commend his insight and resolve to write this important piece of legislation.  CAPA's 28,000 pilots pledge to work tirelessly to ensure passage of Senator Schumer's bill, S.1744."

FMI: www.capapilots.org