Market Intelligence: -General Aviation

Flight School Association of North America Opposes US Airline Initiative

US Regional Airline – Republic Airways LLC (Republic) has filed a petition for exemption from C.F. R. 61.160 (a) (click here to see the full request) – which is a petition for exemption for restricted ATP Training Requirements. This would allow Graduate Pilots from its own Flight School – LIFT Academy – to already join the airline at 750 hours experience.

The Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) has received much input since the petition was filed. A FSANA survey was recently conducted and 78% of the responses were opposed to the FAA agreeing to the Republic exemption.

If the FAA were to approve the Republic request, pilots would be permitted to be seated in the right seat of Republic regional jets with 750 TT. This would be a 50% reduction from the current 1,500 TT rule. Congress passed the 2010 Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act which was driven by the Colgan Air fatal accident in Buffalo, NY on February 12, 2009, which killed 49 people on board and one person on the ground.

Data in the past has shown a direct correlation between applicant practical test pass rates and periods of high instructor turnover. In other words, the more experience that a CFI has, the more likely the quality of the pilot candidate.

Bob Rockmaker, President & CEO of FSANA noted that the association has received several phone calls from flight training providers who said they would put their schools up for sale if the FAA approves the Republic exemption request. The increased CFI turnover rate will be devastating to their flight school model and decrease safety.

FSANA has identified several primary concerns with the request that include:

  • A deviation from regulatory practices that have served to produce the safest period of airline travel in the United States since they were implemented;
  • A fundamental flaw in the deviation request that attempts to indicate that the training provided in the Republic Airways process would meet and/or exceed that of military training, a statement in which FSANA does not agree;
  • A significant turnover of CFIs would result from further reduction of R-ATP experience requirements that would actually hinder the overall industry ability to produce more pilots;
  • That Republic Airways indicates that its training meets ACS/PTS standards which are a minimum standard, not an enhanced standard that would warrant a reduction in requirements due to higher standards in training provided.

There are other concerns with the exemption request but the fundamental points are that a reduction in R-ATP or ATP minimums right now will do more to harm the industry and decrease safety than enhance it in the opinion of FSANA and those in the flight training industry with whom we have received input.

FSANA welcomes input from members and the overall flight training community when issues such as this develop. The association is here to advocate on behalf of the best interests of the flight training community and our members. While FSANA knows there will be those within the industry with whom its position does not agree, FSANA feels it is critically important that it remains focused on the mission of this association while also working to improve the overall flight training community to deliver a safe, vibrant, and healthy aviation sector.

To check out FSANA’s full position paper regarding the Republic Airways’ request for Deviation from Restricted ATP minimums, click here.

Source: FSANA Update

For more information, kindly contact FSANA.

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US Pilots Association: “Raising Pilot Retirement Age is Ill-Advised on Multiple Fronts”

The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing the 14,000 pilots of American Airlines, spoke out against changing the mandatory retirement age for professional airline pilots.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is reportedly soliciting cosponsors for legislation that proposes changing pilot retirement age from 65 to 68. Congress raised the retirement age from 60 to 65 in 2007 to align with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

“It’s not at all clear that raising pilot retirement age would actually increase the pilot supply. Moreover, while it might not be less safe, ‘might not’ must never be a rationale on which to base safety-sensitive decisions in our industry,” said APA President Capt. Eric Ferguson. “Further, it would likely create additional instability in airline schedules by displacing pilots age 65 and older from international routes due to ICAO’s age 65 limit for international flying. Pilots age 65 and older would then be assigned to domestic-only flying, in turn displacing less senior pilots from those routes.

“Airlines would also be faced with significantly more training cycles,” he said.

Ferguson also emphasized that raising pilot retirement age would introduce additional risk into commercial aviation.

“According to numerous studies, cognitive abilities decline with increasing age,” he said. “Flying longer would also result in prolonged exposure to solar radiation and the debilitating effects of circadian rhythm disruption. In addition, as we age, we become more susceptible to other health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These facts are borne out by American Airlines’ own pilot disability demographics, which rise sharply with age.

“Despite what supporters of raising retirement age may claim, there is no shortage of qualified pilots,” Ferguson said. “FAA records indicate that nearly 16,000 new airline transport pilot licenses were issued between 2019 and 2021. During that same time, approximately 9,600 pilots retired, leaving a surplus of several thousand pilots.

“Raising pilot retirement age is ill-advised on multiple fronts, and we urge lawmakers to direct their focus elsewhere.”

Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association — the largest independent pilots union in the United States — is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 14,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces.

Source: Allied Pilots Association Press Release

For more information, kindly contact APA.

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Epic Flight Academy Presents $25,000 Scholarship For Aircraft Maintenance Training

Epic Flight Academy representatives joined NeoCity Academy faculty in presenting Christian Vega (center) with a $25,000 scholarship to attend Epic’s Aircraft Mechanic Program.

Representatives from Epic Flight Academy traveled to Kissimmee, Florida on May 23rd to present a $25,000 aircraft mechanic scholarship to Christian Vega.

Jonathan Motta, Experiential Learning & Partnerships Coordinator at NeoCity Academy, said, “The scholarship provided by Epic Flight Academy is a game-changer for Christian as he begins his post-secondary journey. We look forward to seeing Christian begin the aircraft maintenance program and work towards a rewarding career in the aviation industry.”

Jon Luck, Epic’s Career Development Coordinator, added, “We are happy to make this presentation and support Christian in his goals. We look forward to welcoming him to campus in September.”

Epic’s aircraft mechanic program takes approximately 19 months to complete. Graduates earn an FAA-certified airframe & powerplant license, which is accepted at Polk State College equivalent to 30 credit hours toward an AS degree in Aviation Maintenance Administration.

NeoCity Academy opened in 2019. It offers an inquiry-driven, project-based learning environment and is part of the Osceola County School District. Epic Flight Academy was founded in 1999 and is based in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Source: Epic Flight Academy Press Release

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Leading Filipino Aviation Training Organization’s Sign MOU For Flight Simulator and Aircraft Maintenance Training

Alpha Aviation Group’s Flight Training subsidiary International Center for Aviation Training (AICAT) formally signed twin memoranda of agreement (MOA) with WCC Aviation Company and WCC Aeronautical and Technological College on Friday, 20 May 2022 at the AAG Simulator Training Center.

The MOAs provide for the delivery of an on-the-job (OJT) training program for WCC students taking up BS Aviation (Major in Airline Operations Management) and for the entry of WCC graduates with CPL/IR into the First Officer Transition (FOT) Program or the Airbus A320 Type Rating Program of AAGP.

Signatories to the agreements were Capt. Vicente Casibang II (AAGP Accountable Manager), Capt. Benedict Lopena (WCC Aviation Academy Accountable Manager), Capt. Napoleon Garcia (AICAT-Maintenance Training Center Accountable Manager), and Capt. Jeric Abari (WCC Program Head, College of Aviation).

Gracing the occasion was AAG Regional Director (Asia-Pacific) Cristopher Magdangal and other top executives from AAG and WCC. “As we prepare for the eventual rebound of the aviation industry, the need to produce world-class aviation professionals is a challenge we can confidently address together as partners,” Magdangal underscores.

“The agreements reinforce the long-standing collaboration between AAG and WCC as both institutions continue to leverage on their respective strengths and competitive advantages, and contribute to making the Philippines a premier aviation training hub in the region,” Lopena adds.

AAG’s mission is “to train and develop world-class pilots and future leaders for the aviation industry by providing top-of-class training solutions” and its vision is to see “an AAG-trained pilot in every flight deck in the regions” it serves.

WCC’s mission is to “offer quality aviation education by means of comprehensive curricular offering, unmatched experiential learning approach, industry involved instructors, excellent and modern facilities to graduate professional in aeronautics and leaders of the world” and its vision is to be “one of Asia’s top aviation-focused universities recognized to produce graduates who can contribute in nation-building and global progress”.

Source: AAG Press Release

For more information, kindly contact Alpha Aviation Group Philippines.

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US Airport Open’s Mock Aircraft Training Center

Video coverage from US based Fox9 on Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has opened a one-of-a-kind trainingfacility designed to help people with disabilities prepare for takeoff, and practice boarding and travel procedures, without the pressure of an actual travel day.

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Netherlands’ Flag Carrier Cancels Flights Due to Staff Shortages

KLM airline has been cancelling flights at Schiphol airport due to staff shortages. The flag carrier of Netherlands reports that staff shortages continue to affect its operations thereby forcing it to cut, if not reduce, flights. A dozen flights have been cancelled last weekend after a whopping 42 flight cancellations a day before it.

“It’s a busy May holiday period. Due to the increasing numbers of passengers and the shortage of staff, passengers at Schiphol are faced with longer than usual waiting times. In recent days, this has led to very busy situations at the airport. Schiphol has therefore asked airlines to reduce the number of local departing passengers this weekend by canceling bookings and not accepting new bookings from Schiphol in the period 2 to 8 May. This is an annoying but necessary measure to reduce the number of passengers, to manage the crowds together with our partners. Schiphol advises passengers to contact their airline for questions about their flight,” said Schiphol airport.

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US Airline Pilot Union Shares Abinitio Flight Training Recommendations with Government

Testifying before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Aviation Safety Subcommittee, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) outlined a plan to reduce the costs of becoming an airline pilot and create a more diverse and inclusive air transportation workforce while ensuring that the United States continues to stand as the unquestioned global leader in aviation safety.

“Thanks to the Payroll Support Program and its strong worker protections, the United States has enough pilots today to meet demand—in fact, more than 1.5 pilots for every job,” said First Officer Paul Ryder, secretary for ALPA’s United Airlines pilot group. “But today’s supply of pilots doesn’t mean that we don’t need to do all we can to build a strong pilot workforce for the future. ALPA has a plan to break down those barriers, create opportunity, and build a strong pipeline of qualified aviators, while protecting the high level of safety in the U.S. air transportation system. Some argue that we must lower standards to open the doors of opportunity—we flatly reject that.”

During the field hearing called by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), ALPA reiterated steps needed to ensure that the nation’s pilot pipeline remains robust and is welcoming to all, particularly to those who have traditionally been underrepresented in the profession. To help aspiring aviators, ALPA is calling on the U.S. government to align federal funding for pilot academic education and training with that of other highly skilled professions.

ALPA asserts that the government:

  • Must do more to provide federal financial assistance for academic instruction and flight training for students pursuing two- and four-year degrees.
  • Should provide an opportunity for pilots to work for airlines that serve the public need in exchange for student loan forgiveness.
  • Should also increase subsidized loans for flight training and ensure that unsubsidized loans do not accrue interest while students are in school.

“As the United States works to expand its pilot workforce, it must protect our industry’s extraordinary safety record. The success of first officer qualification requirements and pilot training that were developed by the regulator, airlines, and labor have helped make U.S. air transportation the safest in the world. Some suggest we must choose between safety and opportunity. That is a false choice,” added Ryder.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 62,000 pilots at 38 U.S. and Canadian airlines.

Source: ALPA Press Release

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