RESOURCES
- Talking points to use when discussing the pilot shortage
- Pilot Workforce and Training Update Issue Briefing, Regional Airline Association, October 2016
- 4/23/2015 testimony of AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli before the Senate Commerce Committee
- Air Carrier Enhanced – Part 121 Pilot Training Program (ACE), Regional Airline Association
- Pilot Source Study 2015: US Regional Airline Pilot Hiring Background Characteristic Changes Consequent to Public Law 111-216 and the FAA First Officer Qualifications Rule, Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering 5:2 (2016) 3–14
LETTERS
- 10/24/2016 Regional Air Service Alliance letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta
- 12/16/2015 letter to Senate and House committee leaders
- 5/8/2015 letter to Senate and House leaders
- 7/10/2014 letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD)
TALKING POINTS
When discussing how the pilot shortage is impacting your local community, here are a few talking points:
- Small- and medium-sized communities around the country are continuing to experience commercial air service reductions, in part, because carriers say that there are not enough qualified pilots to operate their flights.
- Regional airlines and the communities they serve have been hit hard by the pilot shortage. Unfortunately, more and more communities will lose commercial flights unless Congress acts.
- The regional airlines have developed a thoughtful plan that would create an alternative pathway for first officers to receive a restricted Airline Transport Pilot certificate while maintaining the highest levels of safety.
- The current pool of qualified pilots is rapidly aging.
○ Between 2009 and 2015, the count of private/commercial/ATPs aged 60 and older has increased 9.5%.
○ Between 2009 and 2015, the count of private/commercial/ATPs aged 20-59 has decreased 16.5%. - The regional airline plan would allow carriers to implement their own “comprehensive, structured, and disciplined” training program that would enhance aviation safety.
- The Regional airline plan would also help communities by ensuring that there are more pilots in the pipeline to accommodate rising demand and to fill the shoes of tens of thousands of pilots who are expected to retire in the next several years.
- As you prepare to consider the next FAA reauthorization bill, I urge you to endorse the regional airline proposal and take other steps to help communities that are struggling to maintain and attract new commercial air service.