New Rules for Pilots

To make jet flying safer, the airlines last week put in a new set of crew training rules. They came only after a year of arguing with the Federal Aviation Agency. FAA decided that since the transition from slower piston planes to tricky jets is much more demanding on pilots than a simple move up the ladder from one piston plane to a bigger one, the old training system was not good enough.

It costs $1,300 an hour to train a pilot on a jet, so the airlines are eager to train them as quickly as possible, within the limits of safety. They gave their pilots an average of 12 to 14 hours jet flight training, exclusive of ground school, then sent them to FAA for a certification test. About 25% flunked out, although after more schooling almost all passed. In the end the average pilot got 15 to 16 hours flight training, which was adequate, said FAA, but should be bettered. The Air Line Pilots Association also complained that copilots on the jets were not receiving sufficient training.

Pilots must now have 120 hours of ground school, plus at least 20 hours in the air, although FAA will make exceptions for men who catch on more quickly. Copilots must have at least ten hours flight training. Furthermore, copilots as well as pilots must have an annual, FAA-supervised checkout.

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