A proposal that would have reduced the number of hours required to become a co-pilot has been denied by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA rejected a request by a regional airline to hire co-pilots with half the usual minimum amount of flying experience, saying it would reduce safety, the Associated Press reported.
Republic Airways, which flies routes for Delta, American and United, proposed in April that pilots be allowed to join an airline after 750 hours of flight time once they've completed the carrier's training program.
Normally, 1,500 hours of flight time are required before a new pilot can fly commercially, though there is an exception for certain military experience.
"After full consideration of Republic's petition for exemption and the public comments, the FAA has determined that the relief requested is not in the public interest and would adversely affect safety," the FAA said in its decision. "The FAA supports the regulatory requirements that are in place to facilitate the qualification of pilots, and the FAA maintains that the exemption process is not the correct avenue to change the current manner of pilot preparation."
The proposal was an attempt to combat a severe shortage of pilots that prompted carriers to cut routes and cancel thousands of flights earlier this year and over the summer.
Republic CEO Bryan Bedford told FOX Business he was disappointed but not surprised by the FAA's decision.
"Despite the rhetoric to the contrary, our proposal would enhance safety by providing students a highly structured, mission-specific training approach," Bedford said in a statement. "The data proves that our approach works and it would open the door to a rich career in aviation to any students who cannot otherwise afford to participate in this transformational career while helping to address the diminishing air service impacting 90 million Americans in small and mid-sized communities"
"It is disappointing that, when the nation is struggling to deliver reliable air service, the FAA has declined an opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion on this topic or to approach it in a spirit of working together," Bedford added.
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