Just a FYI for all those wondering if new legislation requiring all RPT crewmembers to hold an ATPL will result from this hearing.
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The laws signed in the USA have a 3yr compliance date from signing date.
That means they will not take mandatory effect until 1 Aug 2013.
The Colgan crash happened in mid Feb 2009, law signed July 2010 with a 3 yr window. Hardly a speedy response to the whole safety issue supposedly being helped by this law.
Whether or not it benefits safety it could and should have been enforced in a much shorter window. Reqmts for an ATPL have been around for ever, so no hidden surprises there.
In the meantime the very low hour hiring continues for all the regional min wage jobs, effective salaries being less than or close to $10-12 /DUTY HOUR for 1st several years of service as an FO. Capt are not that much better.
The law reads--
Title II, Sections 216 and 217 make up what’s referred to as the “1500 Hour Rule.” Read the
complete or
abbreviated text of these sections below.
SEC. 216. FLIGHT CREWMEMBER SCREENING AND QUALIFICATIONS.
(a)(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—
(B) ALL FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS.—Rules issued under paragraph (1) shall ensure that, after the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, all flightcrewmembers—
(i) have obtained an airline transport pilot certificate under part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and
(ii) have appropriate multi-engine aircraft flight experience, as determined by the Administrator.
SEC. 217. AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT CERTIFICATION.
(c) FLIGHT HOURS.—
(1) NUMBERS OF FLIGHT HOURS.—The total flight hours required by the Administrator under subsection (b)(1) shall be at least 1,500 flight hours.
(f) DEADLINE.—Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue a final rule under subsection (a).
If it comes to pass here in Aust I wonder how long a compliance window there will be. Enough for these cadet schemes ripoffs to continue???