FLYING HOURS EXPERIENCE TO BE REDUCED BY FAA PANEL

The Federal Aviation Administration advisory panel has announced it wants to ensure that airline co-pilots have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flying experience, the same experience threshold of captains. This recommendation is in response to the Buffalo crash. However it is facing stiff opposition from airlines who are concerned it could lead to higher salaries for airline pilots. Co-pilots are currently required to have 250 flying hours. If that is raised to 1,500 airlines says they will be forced to raise pilot salaries and benefits to attract more experienced fliers. Equally university flight schools are concerned that if beginner