Pilots and Minimum Flight Hours

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Table of Contents

Outline
Introduction
Analysis
Conclusion
List of References

Outline

FAA – Minimum 1500 –Flight Hours –for Commercial airline Pilots – Whether CASA of Australia attempt to increase the flight hours as that of FAAs is justiable.

Higher flight hours -to be prescribed in Australia – as done by FAA in USA- there will negative impact among regional and small airline operators in Australia Is it justiable to increase flight hours for pilots in Australia?

Introduction

If a candidate wants to become a commercial airline pilot in USA, he should be at least twenty-three years of age and should possess a flying experience of a minimum of 1,500 hours as per ANPRM (Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) by FAA.

This 1,500 hours of flying experience would include instrument, cross county and night flying.They should also pass the both the flight and written examinations conducted by FAA ( Federal Aviation Authority).

Depending upon the needs of a specific job, they should also have one or more advanced ratings. In USA, the commercial airline pilots should have an additional qualification. An air transport pilot’s license should be possessed by Captains. (U.S Bureau of Labour Statistics2010: 789).

It is to be noted that new provision of minimum 1500 hours was notified in the aftermath of a grave air crash that occurred on 12 Feb 2009 , an accident involving a Colgan Air Bombardier Q400 while it approached to Buffalo Niagara international Airport at New York.

Due to the accident, not only the airplane was destroyed, but also all forty-nine air passengers were killed. (Werfelman 2011:2).

As per FAA, the first officer of Colgan aircraft which met with an accident had less than 1500 flight hours’ experience.

However, at the time of the accident, the first officer had acquired 2233 hours of flight hours and Colgan crash at New York made a spotlight on whether a commercially ranked co-pilot in Part 121 operations receive enough training or not. (Werfelman 2011:2).

Majority of airline companies in USA turns down candidates who fail the needed aptitude and psychological tests as these pilots have to make accurate judgments and quick decisions under pressure.

New airline pilots must commence their career as first engineers and as first officers depending upon the type of aircraft, which being used. For instance, pilots who have about 4000 hours of flight experience are being employed as the pilots by major airlines. (U.S Bureau of Labour Statistics 2010: 789).

This research essay will make an earnest attempt about “the USA’s Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010, which demands a minimum of one thousand five hundred flight hours before a pilot is able to operate on regular public transport services. With a similar mandatory requirement applied in Australia, what will be the impact on the Australian aviation industry?”

Analysis

One of the research studies made by NTSB on the deadly air crashes that happened from 1997 to 2008 by employing Flight Risk Assessment Tool of FAA’s and acknowledged 3 or more risk elements in sixty-three of the air cargo accidents and 4 or more risk elements, in forty-one air accidents.

According to data released by FAA’s, there are about thirty-eight risk elements especially in the province of pilot’s experience and qualifications, equipment and operating atmosphere. These risk elements were given an allocated value starting from two to five with five demonstrating the greatest risk.

This research had analysed an air fatal accident that occurred in 1997 which according to NTSB , the main reason for the accident was due to disregard by pilot about the briefing of preflight for harsh weather condition, which was given six risk factors.

In this air accident, it was found out that during the previous ninety days, “some minimum number of hours that the pilot had not flown” and had also not having a minimum quantum of experience and also found that he was flying alone. (Dillingham 2009:14)

Table-1

It is to be observed from the above table, pilot’s low flight experience had caused about 23 air accidents and earned higher ranking of 5.

In some research, the researchers were able to evaluate the pilot’s flight experience who was indulged in accidents with the percentage of pilots in the aggregate pilot’s population at each stage of flight experience.

It was found that about twenty-one percent of all airline accidents associated with the pilots who had just 100 to 300 hours of flight experience. However, the percentage of pilots in the populace with this rank of experience was about twenty-six percentage.

Thus, the researchers’ findings again rebuff the finding that there is a phase of special susceptibility for pilots at this experience stage and this corroborates that those pilots with lesser experience were possibly less prone to be associated in an air accident as compared to pilots with higher experience or flight hours. (Salas & Maurino 2010:599).

These research studies barely reveal that experience is of no use but rather than the impacts of experience are nuanced. In their research study, Li et al (2001) correlated the association between the specific type of airline accidents and the total flight time.

It was found that general airline pilots with greater experience levels were not involved in major air accidents under VMC (visual metrological conditions) but likely to be involved in air mishaps under IMC (instrument meteorological conditions).

In their research study, Stokes et al (1992) unearthed that pilot with more flight hours experience employed more sources of data and information and engendered more substitute courses of action. (Salas & Maurino 2010:599).

As per Goh and Wiegmann (2002b) findings, pilots with higher flight hours are usually better at understanding issues and finding out remedies but not at ease to identify underlying reasons. As per Stokes et al (1990) finding that higher flight hours make a pilot to manage against negative impacts of stress, especially during in-flight scheduling and planning. (Salas & Maurino 2010:599).

However, Casner, Heraldez and Jones (2006) were of the opinion that there had been no impact on aggregate flight experience on long-run preservation of aeronautical knowledge. (Salas & Maurino 2010:599).

As the number of aircraft expands in an airline company, there is a heavy demand for experienced pilots and as a result ¸ these airline companies have to engage lesser experienced or those pilots who have less flight hour experience.

For instance, in China, recruitment of airline pilots from general aviation is not available as the general aviation sector is at puberty stage and airline pilots are being recruited with lesser experience or deputed from military. (Salas & Maurino 2010:308).

It was found by some researchers that pilot with lesser flight experience have the greatest peril of spatial disorientation (SD).

For instance, in his research study, Mortimer by analyzing various aviation accidents found that “pilots in SD accidents did not have adequate flight experience, which was essential to cope or recognize with the stimuli that provoke SD, which was aggravated by alcohol, fatigue, drugs or pressure and other physical and psychological injuries. (Previc & Ercoline 2004: 171).

Australian Regulations on minimum Flight Hours for Commercial Airline Pilots

Presently, in Australia, if an individual wants to acquire a commercial pilot license (CPL), the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia (CASA) specifies that he should have a minimum of flying experience of 200 hours with precise time spent as a pilot in command both in instrument flight time and cross country.

Further, CASA of Australia also specifies if an individual wants to acquire a commercial pilot license through a commercial training course, it is adequate that individual should be flown as a pilot with flight hours of 150 hours.

Further, the CASA regulation also specifies that the sum of specific kinds of experience will also be reckoned towards the aggregate 150 hours. (Aero News Network 2010).

Following the FAA’s way, there has been a strong recommendation for Australian pilots to have a minimum of 1500 hours flying experience in the Australian Senate inquiry recently. This recommendation is an analogues proposal that has made in the United States.

This move has been resisted by airline operators in Australia. For instance, Regional Express (Rex) is an Australian –based airline, which administers a cadet program which intended to create high- quality pilots.

According to Rex, the suggestion to have a minimum 1500 flying hours could be “knee-jerk response” immediately after a grave air crash. Rex has pointed out that air crash was not able to be averted even though the pilots had more than two thousands hours of flight familiarity each in a two separate aircraft accident. (Aero News Network 2010).

Rex is running a cadet program in Australia like many other major airlines around the globe which is especially devised to create high- quality pilots. In the research study carried over by Rex through aircraft proficiency tests and through comprehensive simulator tests, it was found that pilots in their initial year of flying display analogues talents and skills in all areas tested as that of well experienced pilots.

Further, their research revealed that in the second year of flying, these cadets performances even outshined with that of more skilled direct intake pilots in excess of more than one thousand five hundred hours at any point of entry.

According to Rex, Australia, there exists no scientific evidence that it is unsafe to engage a pilot with less than one thousand five hundred flight hours. Rex is also pointing out that RAFF, Australia, is in the habit of engaging pilots who have less than 1500- hour flight experience for manoeuvring their urbane fighter jets.

Rex has also pointed out that both Australian and European authorities have formally endorsed flight training programs that permit pilots with less than 100- hour direct flight experience to manoeuvre the larger jet aircrafts. (Aero News Network 2010).

According to Rex, if Australian Aviation board fixes a minimum of one thousand five hundreds of hours of flight experience for their commercial pilots, it would have a great impact on the Australian airline industry.

If such things happen in Australia, then all the pilot cadet programs in Australia would come to a standstill, and the real sufferers would be the Australian airline companies as it would be difficult to source adequate pilots to cope with their envisaged expansion in the near future. (Aero News Network 2010).

If higher flight hours are going to be prescribed in Australia as done by FAA in USA, then it would have a negative impact among regional and small airline operators in Australia as their pilot status would get ransacked by the famous and larger airline companies in Australia. (Aero News Network 2010).

During the October 2010, the Australian Senate has initiated an enquiry into the airline safety and pilot training procedure followed in Australia in the midst of worries that flight safety standards are declining.

The main reason for the Australian Senate enquiry is to look into at two separate incidents in specific that have culminated into worries about reporting of incidents in two specific incidents. In one incident, a Jetstar flight abandoned landing in June 2007 at Melbourne airport.

The other one was the Tiger Airways which diverted a flight in May 2009 between Mackay to Melbourne when flight was compelled to alter its course due to renewed issues with the aileron control system. (Kelly 2010)

Unfortunately, both Tiger and Jetstar failed to stick with incident reporting needs and the effect on safety of any cutback in minimum flight hour obligations. (Kelly 2010)

Jetstar, a famous Australian airline company, stresses that the suggestion that co-pilots who are flying high power airplane should have a minimum of 1500 hours’ flight hours experience requires to be vehemently condemned.

If 1500 hours is fixed as a minimum flight hour experience, then it would have a poignant, terrific outcome on the whole Australian aviation industry. If higher flight hours are fixed as the minimum, then it would also devastate the regional aviation industry in Australia as it would make the Australian airlines to recruit those pilots with higher flight experience, which would deteriorate their bottom line.

Over the next few years, the regional aviation industry in Australia may not be capable of safely train the quantum of pilots especially to cater for the requirements of the regional aviation industry.

It will be really an intricate situation to visualize how Australian regional aviation industry is capable to impart adequate training and minimum flight hours for all of the Australia’s future needs and to fine-tune with the level of talent drain and pilot turnover as pilots with well experience and with adequate flight hours may search for their career advancement in jet operators in Australia. (Buchanan 2011).

If higher flight hour experience has been prescribed, then, it would connote cadet pilots would emerge through the customary aviation path instead of a specific and a structured jet training program. If the new standard is introduced in Australia, it would be difficult to recruit pilots with enhanced flight hours and with the jet training programs. (Buchanan 2011).

If higher norms of flight hours are fixed in Australia, according to Jetstar, this may kindle the younger Australians to seek green pastures outside Australia. (Buchanan 2011).

One another handicap of fixing 1500 hours as minimum flight hours for commercial pilots is that Australian airlines may be compelled to ignore pilots who have outstanding flight records but who may lack the minimum flight time stipulations to be codified by the aviation authorities. (Buchanan 2011).

There is no available proof or research study carried out on the subject to advocate that a better safety result for airline pilots is accomplished by adding more flight hours, especially for crop dusters, small General Aviation trainers or charter aircraft.

It is to be noted that in the case of the Colgan air crash in New York, which forced the US government to frame new rules for a minimum 1500 flight hour, for pilots , both Co-pilot and the Captain had experience over one thousand five hundred flight hours.

Thus, the Captain had more than 3380 total flight hours, and the Co-pilot had about 2250 flight hours’ experience. Though Colgan employed higher experienced Pilot and Co-pilot, accident could not be averted. This illustrates that flight hours ‘experience does not avert an accident. (www.rex.com.au 2011: 6).

A reliable evidence is available from airline cadet programmes around the world for the last three decades that reveals the capability of such programmes as it traumatically supplying the globe’s famous airlines with high quality commercial plane pilots.

Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and KLM are few illustrations of airline that is well- known for their high safety norms and these companies are having in their pay roll, a majority of low flight hour pilots, especially through cadet schemes. (www.rex.com.au 2011: 6).

It is to be observed that pilots from Royal Australian Air Force enrol into employment as low hour pilots with just two hundred -hour flight hours and are appointed directly to manoeuvre VIP Squadron , transport aircraft or onto a jet aircraft. (www.rex.com.au 2011: 6).

Further, there is ever increasing corroboration and belief that it is the quality of training that counts than that of hours of experience.

Rex is of the opinion that the yardstick of a 200 -hour cadet is analogues to a direct recruit who has more than 1500 hours of GA experience to his credit thereby demonstrating that it is the excellence of the training which is more significant than that of the aggregate number of flying hours. (www.rex.com.au 2011: 6).

Conclusion

Australian airline industry will not be in a position to supply commercial airline pilots who have more than 1500 -hour flight experience due to short supply. As per Boeing forecast, the demand for pilots both internationally and domestically is expected to soar radically in the near future.

As per Boeing Current Market outlook 2010-2029, the demand for new pilots will be around 466,650 globally over the next two decades with poignant demand from Middle East and Asia.

As a result, highly experienced Australian pilots will be naturally fascinated to high -paying employment in these provinces further fuelling to supply pressures in Australian market. It is stressed that without pilot cadet programs, it would be very difficult to cater this ever increasing demand. (www.rex.com.au 2011: 7).

It was found that about twenty-one percent of all airline accidents associated with the pilots who had just 100 to 300 hours of flight experience. , Li et al (2001) correlated the association between the specific type of airline accidents and the total flight time.

Stokes et al (1992) unearthed that pilot with more flight hours experience employed more sources of data and information and engendered more substitute courses of action. As per Goh and Wiegmann (2002b) findings, pilots with higher flight hours are usually better at understanding issues and finding out remedies but not at ease to identify underlying reasons.

As per Stokes et al (1990) finding that higher flight hours make a pilot to manage against negative impacts of stress, especially during in-flight scheduling and planning (Salas & Maurino 2010:599). It was found by some researchers that pilot with lesser flight experience have the greatest peril of spatial disorientation (SD).

Despite the above findings, according to Rex, those pilots in their initial year of flying display analogues talents and skills in all areas tested as that of well experienced pilots.

It is to be noted that Australian and European authorities have formally endorsed flight training programs that permit pilots with less than 100 -hour direct flight experience to manoeuvre the larger jet aircraft.

Though Colgan of USA employed higher experienced Pilot and Co-pilot, accident could not be averted. This illustrates that flight hours’ experience does not avert an accident. (www.rex.com.au 2011: 6).

In view of the above, it is strongly advocated that there is no point in increasing the flight hours for commercial pilots, but more emphasis should be given to accord quality training to pilots who are in commercial airline industry in Australia. (www.rex.com.au 2011: 7).

List of References

Aero News Network. (2010). Australia’s Rex Opposes 1,500 Hour Minimum For Flight Crews. Web.

Buchanan B. (2011). Letter from Jetstar Group CEO, Bruce Buchanan. Web.

Dillingham, G. L. (2009) Aviation Safety: Better Data and Targeted FAA Efforts Needed to Identify and… New York: Diane Publishing Company.

Kelly, E. (2010). Australian Senate Opens Safety Inquiry. Web.

Previc F. H. & Ercoline W. R. (2004) Spatial Disorientation in Aviation. New York: AIAA.

Salas E. & Maurino D E. (2010). Human Factors in Aviation. New York: Academic Press.

United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2010) Occupational Outlook Handbook. New York: Government Printing Office.

Werfelman, L. (2011). Counting the Hours. Web.

rex.com.au. (2011) Rex Submission on Pilot Training and Airline Safety. Web.

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