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New Regulations For Pilot Training

Embraer-190 jetliner arrives at Greater Rochester International Airport on test flight. New class of regional jets will begin serving Rochester in the fall.
WXXI
Embraer-190 jetliner arrives at Greater Rochester International Airport on test flight. New class of regional jets will begin serving Rochester in the fall.

(AP & WXXI News) The government says it will significantly increase the amount and type of flying experience that first officer,  also known as co-pilots, must have to qualify to fly for an airline. 

The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday it will publish new regulations requiring first officers to have at least 1,500 hours of flying experience. Airline captains are already required to have at least 1,500 hours. Previously, first officers were only required to have 250 hours of flight time.

The rule also requires first officers to have an aircraft type rating, which involves additional training and testing specific to the airplane type they fly.

The new regulations are required under an aviation safety law enacted in 2010 in response to the crash of a regional airliner near Buffalo, that killed 50 people.

Local members of Congress and  Senators Schumer and Gillibrand all called this week's announcement welcome news.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.