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A pillar of these reforms is the “1,500 Hour Rule” which requires first officers, also known as co-pilots, to have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight training time. Since this rule was implemented in 2012, our skies have never been safer.
The 1,500-hour rule came about because the families of the victims of the Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash near Buffalo, New York, in 2009 made a concerted effort to lobby congress to force the FAA to implement the rule. (Never mind that both pilots had more than 1,500 hours.)
Airline transport pilot license (ATPL)
An ATPL is considered the highest level of certification. Attaining this license will allow you more options when it comes to flying for pay. An ATPL requires at least 1,500 flight hours and averages $5,000.
The simplest way to describe the rule is that it is a height restriction directly affected by the distance you are away from uninvolved people. For example, starting at ten meters separation from uninvolved people and ten meters above the ground, for every metre you fly closer you must descend one metre.
It's called the 3-2-1 rule, and it's the easiest way to remember the regulation. To recap, if the weather at your destination isn't at least 3 SM of visibility and 2000' AGL ceilings from 1 hour before to 1 hour after your ETA, you need to file an alternate.
Definition: The 5/20 rule is a norm of the Indian Aviation Ministry under which national carriers are required to have five years of operational experience and a fleet of minimum 20 aircraft to fly overseas. This is applicable to all commercial aviation organisations flying passengers.
To become an airline pilot, it takes two years to gain the required 1,500 hours flight time.
Flight Duty Limitations
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) limit pilots to 36 flight hours in a week, 100 hours in 672 hours (28 days), and 1,000 hours in a 365-day calendar period. As a hard answer, the maximum number of hours a pilot can fly in a year is 1,000 hours.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median U.S. pilot salary at $211,790 in 2022. This means 50% of pilots earn more than this, and 50% earn less. However, there are pilots working for major airlines making more than $700,000 per year.
The simple answer is yes, pilots do, and are allowed to sleep during flight but there are strict rules controlling this practice. Pilots would only normally sleep on long haul flights, although sleep on short haul flights is permitted to avoid the effects of fatigue.
Flight times within the duty periods are restricted to a maximum of 8 hours for flight crews consisting of one pilot and 10 hours for flight crews consisting of two pilots. The 8-hour and 10-hour flight time limitations include any additional commercial flying performed by the flight crew during the period.
When there is more than one pilot in the cockpit, if a situation arises where one pilot becomes startled, the other pilot can regain the pilot in focus's attention and bring their focus back to the situation, regaining all senses.
(13) Packages of radioactive materials shall be stowed on an aircraft so that they are separated from persons, live animals and undeveloped film, in accordance with the requirements specified in the Technical Instructions.
There are no specific height restrictions for pilots under FAA rules. Flight schools and commercial airlines accept pilots for training as long as they are physically able to reach the controls and obtain a full rudder deflection in the aircraft they will operate.
Airline pilots don't necessarily get paid a traditional salary. Instead, pilots are paid per flight hour. Meaning a pilot is only paid while their airplane is running.
Singapore Airlines has held the record for world's longest flight since 2016. Their trip from Singapore to New York is more than 9,500 miles.
To Summarise - The 1500 Hour Rule
The Colgan Air flight was a terrible accident. However, some see the 1500 hour rule as a knee-jerk reaction. However, despite the airlines putting the FAA under a lot of pressure to change the rules, it does look like this 1500 hour rule is going to be sticking around.
More than two pilots
While some airlines require a third pilot for flights longer than seven hours, others may extend it to 10 hours. If the flight is longer than 12 hours, a fourth pilot (second officer) is required.
Long haul flights must have two or three pilots on board.
If there are three pilots on board one will be the captain who flies the plane, the second will be the first officer or co-pilot. The third pilot is the flight engineer.
To get a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) in Australia, you will need an average of 1 to 2 years (in some extreme cases 3 years). Whereas you will need around only 3 to 6 months to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL). Not all pilot licenses allow you to get paid for your service.
The 80:20 rule means airlines need to use their take-off slots at least 80% of the time in order to retain them. A "justified non-use provision" will be retained to prevent airlines flying ghost flights.
Rule 57 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 requires that every aircraft shall be fitted and equipped with instruments and equipment, including radio apparatus and special equipment as may be specified according to the use and circumstances under which the flight is to be conducted.
For larger aircraft, typically people use some form of the 3/6 Rule: 3 times the altitude (in thousands of feet) you have to lose is the distance back to start the descent; 6 times your groundspeed is your descent rate.