AboutDavid A. NewMyer Expertise I can answer questions about aviation industry employment, airports and airport planning and aviation industry regulation (overall regulation of the industry--who regulates what and why).
Experience
Past/Present clients Prepared airport master plan and environmental assessment reports for several Illinois Airports; prepared two separate airport systems plans for the Chicago area
Question QUESTION: Hello:
I am 37 years old and just received my instrument rating. My total flying hours are about 200. I also have a BA degree in a totally unrelated field. My goal is to work as an airline pilot. I have a questions about getting my commercial pilot licence. Do airlines perfer a Part 61 or Part 141 training for a commercial licence? Which one do you think will be cheaper to get? My instrument licence was done under Part 141. Thank you.
ANSWER: Hi,
Thanks for your question, I will try to assist you.
As far as airline preferences over time, I would say that the airlines are interested in the QUALITY of the flight training received, not the just the type of training. FAR 61 is, perhaps, slightly less structured than FAR 141, and probably includes less check rides (which are good experience for working with the airlines) but, overall, both provide good training. It comes down to the person who is actually instructing you along the way.....their background and training will be reflected in the quality of training that you receive.
Also, you might want to look for flight training providers such as universities and colleges since they provide such advanced training as crew-based training, line-oriented flight training, glass cockpit training and multi-engine time-building possibilities.
In addition, the quality of the experience you obtain along the way will be important.....the more you can fly in nighttime, in actual instrument conditions, in multi engine aircraft and in turbine aircraft, the better it is for you when you get to the airline interview. What large airlines normally look for in a future airline pilot is something like 500 hours to 1000 hours of multi engine time as a pilot in command in a turbine aircraft. The smaller airlines, for now, look for a bit less (500 to 1500 hours total time and 100 to 300 hours of multi engine time). However, Congress is looking at changing the entry-level requirements for a first officer position at a regional airline (due to the February, 2009 accident in Buffalo, New York). If they do change them, the new requirements will become effective in about three years.
As far as expense is concerned, FAR 61 requires 250 flights hours to obtain a commercial certificate....so, you have to factor that into the equation when you compare costs. An FAR 141 program usually requires less than that (190 to 210 or so)....the cost per hour at a 141 location might be more, but, the total hours at a 61 might be more, so, you have to shop carefully. If I were you, I would select the provider that has the best proven track record for gaining employment for its trainees. If a provider has a good record of job placement into good flying jobs, I would choose that one....
I hope that this helps. Ask me anything else via a follow-up question on AllExperts.com
Best wishes,
David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale http://www.aviation.siu.edu
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for your reply Mr. NewMyer:
You mentioned that congress might change the entry level requirements because of the Buffalo accident. What are the current requirements and how much higher do you think they will raise the minimum hours for first officers? Should i be concerned? I should be done with my commercial/multi by late this year or early next year. Also, when do you see the regional airlines starting to hire again? Thanks
Andy
Answer Hi, Andy:
Thanks for your follow-up question.....
The bottom line is that the proposal before Congress (HR 3371) is just that: A proposal. I am not sure what part of it will finally become law. What is being proposed is that the first officer requirements will change to require the Air Transport Pilot Certificate, which is now only required for the Captain. So, that means, among other things, that 1500 hours of PIC flight time will be required rather than the commercial pilot minimums (250 hours). Now, keep in mind that most regional airlines, in recent years, hired at a 500 to 1000 total PIC time level; but, 1500 hours and the ATP is a pretty big step up from that. The other thing proposed in the bill is that multi engine hours required for an entry-level airline position are left up to the determination of the FAA administrator under the bill. So, there would have to be a rule-making on this subject before it changed. Right now, there is no particular hour minimum; however, a multi engine land rating is required along with successful completion of the airline's training on a specific aircraft. The way the bill is written at the moment (and, again, this could change and probably will change), these items would go into effect three years after the passage date of the bill into law.
As far as regional airline hiring, there is still a bit of it going on, but, they are primarily hiring experienced pilots (not entry-level pilots with little experience). I expect that hiring will open up again in two to three years.....about the time the law mentioned above may change!
I am not sure how all this will ultimately change. However, I know that the regional airlines are relatively unprepared for all of this change (and there are several other additional key changes in the proposed bill related to stick-shaker/stall recovery training, bad weather/icing training and so forth. All of that will hit the airlines in the next couple of years, too, if the bill is passed into law. I am predicting a pilot shortage if it is passed....which might well lead to higher salaries for the airline industry, which is not a bad thing. However, the new flight time requirements will be a barrier to entering the airline industry as a pilot in the meantime.
I hope that this answer helped to clarify the situation. I think that, if you finish your certificates and ratings as you indicate, then, you will have enough time to build your flight time and get hired before the new requirements hit the industry....
