Pilots will need more cockpit training before becoming fully certified first officers for U.S. passenger and cargo airlines soon, according to CNN.
The change in safety measures was ordered by Congress and imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday. It's mainly the result of a 2009 commuter plane crash and will take effect just as attention is focused on pilot training issues after the Asiana Airlines crash in San Francisco last weekend that killed two people.
The pilot on the Asiana Airlines crash had limited flying experience in 777s, though he was more experienced at flying Boeing and Airbus jetliners, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). They plan to review training and other records during the investigation.
The new requirement will see co-pilots completing 1,500 total hours as a pilot beginning on August 1. Currently, first officers are only required to have a commercial pilot certification, which requires only 250 hours of flight time.
Under the new rule, first officers must also undergo new training and testing specific to the planes they fly.
"The rule gives first officers a stronger foundation of aeronautical knowledge and experience before they fly for an air carrier," Michael Huerta, Administrator for the FAA, said in a statement.
Current rules allow newer, less experienced pilots to fly for regional carriers, which operate smaller jets domestically and bring passengers for transfers to larger airlines at hubs. Airline cockpit crews are comprised of two pilots, a captain and a first officer.
The rule came about after a 2009 commuter aircraft crashed outside of Buffalo in 2009, killing 49 people. Congress has also updated the regulations on crew scheduling and rest. The NTSB blamed the inexperience and inadequate training of the pilot for the crash.
Pilots of international airlines aren't required to follow federal FAA guidelines or standards.
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