The Air Mobility Command (AMC) is participating in a national-level discussion about current and future-projected pilot manning shortfalls. A group that included representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, airline trade associations, academia, several airlines, and the AMC gathered recently to discuss pilot manning shortfalls caused by mass retirements; stricter licensing requirements for first officers; new crew rest duty rules, and other recent changes. Many pilots are reaching age 65 and are starting to retire. The minimum flight hours required to earn a commercial airline transport pilot certificate increased significantly in 2013. Also, stricter regulations that govern how many hours a pilot can be on duty require a larger pool of pilots to fill in scheduling gaps.
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