Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy emphasized the importance of maintaining the 1,500-hour in-flight pilot training requirement. He called on the next Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator to enforce this law.
“As Chair of the Aviation Safety Caucus, I applaud President Trump and Transportation Secretary Duffy for their bold vision to take American air travel into the future by modernizing our outdated air traffic control system,” Langworthy stated. “Their commitment to finally delivering this long-overdue, critical upgrade is exactly what we need to restore American excellence in aviation.”
Langworthy noted that the incoming FAA Commissioner will play a crucial role in implementing these changes. He expressed confidence in Mr. Bedford’s potential as a leader but stressed the necessity of upholding the current training requirements. “To truly ensure safety in our skies, he must commit to upholding the lifesaving 1,500-hour in-flight pilot training requirement,” he said.
This regulation was established following the Flight 3407 crash, which highlighted deficiencies in pilot training for regional carriers. Langworthy credited the advocacy efforts of Flight 3407 victims’ families with strengthening these standards. “The results speak for themselves: there has not been a single commercial airline crash due to pilot error since it was enacted,” he remarked.
Langworthy also referenced last year’s FAA reauthorization by Congress, which supported these standards. He urged Mr. Bedford, if confirmed, to adhere strictly to this law. “We must ensure that our progress never comes at the cost of passenger safety, and I will fight every day to make sure we do,” he concluded.
