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The aviation industry has long debated the minimum flight hours required for pilots to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, a prerequisite for serving as a pilot in command at major airlines. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates 1,500 hours of total flight time for most pilots seeking an ATP certificate, although certain exemptions (e.g., for military pilots or graduates of approved aviation programs) allow for reduced minimums; a Restricted-ATP.
There are currently advocates pushing to lower these requirements, arguing that use of technological advancements, structured training programs, and simulator-based instruction can adequately prepare pilots with fewer hours. While there is some truth in that, and leveraging new systems and technology is always worthy of consideration, reducing ATP minimum hours could have significant unintended ripple effects. This is especially true with relation to flight instructors, flight training providers, and the overall quality of pilots entering the airline industry.
Such a reduction could shorten the tenure of flight instructors, increase training staff turnover at flight schools, and potentially diminish the quality of training for future pilots, ultimately affecting the competency of professional pilots over time. Continue reading
ASA again let me have the opportunity to work with their Oral Exam Guide series, this time working on updating the Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide, making it a 14th edition.
This fourteenth edition of the Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide by Jason Blair aligns with the ACS and includes more than 900 questions and responses to ensure all the subjects a Private Pilot candidate will be tested on during a checkride and review flight are covered. Topics covered include pilot qualifications, preflight/postflight procedures, airworthiness, aircraft systems, performance and limitations, airspace, airport operations, weather, flight planning, human factors, night operations, emergency equipment, and more.
Arranged in a question-and-answer format, this comprehensive guide lists the questions most likely to be asked by evaluators during the practical exam and provides succinct, ready responses. FAA references and Airman Certification Standard (ACS) codes are provided throughout for further study.
An Applicant Practical Test Checklist and quick-reference to the Private Pilot maneuvers and tolerances (as defined in the Airman Certification Standards) are also included. This resource prepares applicants for the Private Pilot Airplane checkride and is valuable as a general refresher.
Visit https://asa2fly.com/private-pilot-oral-exam-guide-fourteenth-edition/ to get your copy today!
The FAA Safety Team’s FRAT tool, like many other FRATs, produces a score that will fall within one of three risk categories: Green (low), yellow (medium), and red (high).
And an updated version of it was released in October of 2024.
Why is a FRAT tool necessary?
Being “in the thick of it” is not the time to address a potentially dangerous situation. When preparing for a flight or maintenance operation, it’s crucial for operators and technicians to pause and consider the risks involved. Simply running through the task mentally often overlooks the actual risk exposure. The mind has a tendency to isolate individual risks, which can lead to an underestimation of their collective impact. Personal biases may also skew our risk assessment to align with our own objectives. To counteract these biases, it’s advisable to document the process. Writing it down helps set clear risk boundaries away from the pressures of an imminent flight or maintenance activity, offering a comprehensive view of the risks that is difficult to achieve mentally. Most importantly, it lays the groundwork for managing risks with proactive and recorded mitigation strategies.
Given that every flight carries some degree of risk, it’s vital for pilots to distinguish beforehand between low-risk and high-risk flights, establish a review process, and formulate strategies for risk mitigation. A FRAT facilitates proactive hazard recognition, is user-friendly, and provides a visual representation of risk levels. It serves as an essential aid in assisting pilots with informed go/no-go decisions and ought to be incorporated into every flight’s planning process.
Check out the FAA Safety Team’s
Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)
and start using it in your own flying or with
your students in training today by clicking here!