FAA Publishes Final Rule Requiring ATPs for First Officers on Airline Flights

On July 10, 2013, in advance of formal publication in the Federal Register, the FAA released its Final Rule amending portions of Parts 61 and 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The Final Rule, which generally requires compliance by August 1, 2013, is an outgrowth of the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 (Act) passed in the wake of the 2009 Colgan Air crash in Buffalo, NY.

The primary thrust of the Act and the Rule is to require that the Second-in-Command (First Officer) of an airline flight have an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate by August 1, 2013. Currently, only the Pilot in Command (Captain) of the flight requires that level of pilot certification, with the First Officer needing a commercial certificate. Other provisions of the Rule modify the time and training requirements for obtaining an ATP and add a “restricted ATP” certificate to permit certification of pilots meeting most but not all of the formal requirements (which include age requirements).

The advance publication of the Rule is available on the FAA website here. For additional reference, the Act may be reviewed here.