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Federal Aviation Administration Proposes New Training Rules for Pilots

May 16, 2011

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May 16, 2011

Last week the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unveiled a plan to dramatically overhaul air carrier training for pilots, flight attendants, dispatchers, and all other flight crewmembers. Introduced as a supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking—the plan will revise the January 2009 proposal that the FAA issued, taking into consideration the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Act of 2010.

“The United States has the world’s safest aviation system, but we are continually seeking ways to make it even safer,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This proposal will make U.S. pilots and other crewmembers even better-equipped to handle any emergency they may encounter.”

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said that, if approved, these would be the most significant changes to aircraft carrier training in 20 years.

Among many other proposed changes:

  • air crew members would be required to demonstrate—not just learn—how to cope in “real world” training scenarios;
  • pilots would have to train with their flight crew and determine how to respond to scenarios based on actual past events;
  • dispatchers would receive additional standardized training;
  • and flight attendants would have to complete emergency drills every year.

The proposal notes that simulation training devices would factor heavily into crewmembers’ training exercises though the FAA says air carriers would experience minimal cost increases as a result of the extra training.

Read the complete report here.

Do you think that additional air crew training by the FAA would decrease the number of plane crashes every year?

If you or someone you know has had their safety compromised on a commercial or private aircraft, contact the national aviation lawyers at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy.

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