Pilots Union Voices ‘Concerns’ Over FAA Nominee
The Air Line Pilots Affiliation expressed reservations over earlier makes an attempt to decrease required pilot hours by Republic Airways.
By Caleb Revill
The Air Line Pilots Affiliation (ALPA) has expressed reservations about President Donald Trump nominating Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford to move the Federal Aviation Administration.
Bedford was nominated by Trump on Monday, drawing reward from a number of business organizations together with Airways for America and the Regional Airline Affiliation.
However not everyone seems to be pleased with the nomination.
ALPA President Jason Ambrosi mentioned in an emailed assertion Tuesday that the union had “considerations” in regards to the nominee.
“We’ve got considerations in regards to the nominee’s previous efforts to decrease pilot coaching and security requirements and we look ahead to listening to his assurances that he’ll keep the present necessities,” Ambrosi mentioned. “We additionally look ahead to listening to his views on a key America First difficulty that may shield aviation security and advance our nation’s financial pursuits.”
“Particularly, the trouble by some overseas airways and producers to function with fewer than two pilots on the flight deck, which might undermine aviation security and put the U.S. at an infinite aggressive drawback,” he continued. “These points and his plans to assist the President and Secretary Duffy modernize our antiquated air visitors management system are of paramount significance to us.”
ALPA’s concern over a discount in security requirements seems to stem from a earlier try by Republic to deal with a scarcity of pilots through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the pandemic, the regional airline requested for an exemption to an FAA rule requiring 1,500 hours of flight time for first officers.
As reported by AIN in 2022, this request would later be denied by the FAA, which disagreed with Republic’s argument {that a} discount in required flight hours would assist tackle a “perceived” pilot scarcity.
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