SATURDAY APR 01, 2023
×
Search AeroXplorer
The Crash That Caused The Pilot Shortage

The Crash That Caused The Pilot Shortage

BY LUKE ZINN 343d AGO 5 COMMENTS

On February 12, 2009 at 10:17 p.m., Colgan Air Flight 3407 en route to Buffalo (BUF) from Newark (EWR) tragically reshaped modern aviation history. The Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, which held 49 people total, crashed on final approach due to an aerodynamic stall that was severely aggravated by the captain and first officer. At 47 years old, Captain Marvin Renslow, who had accumulated 3,379 flight hours, reacted to the aerodynamic stall by pulling back on the yoke instead of pushing it forward and adding full power. Simultaneously, the first officer raised the landing gear and flaps, which further aggravated the stall. By the end of that evening, 50 people had lost their lives.

 

In the investigation following the accident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that four main factors contributed to the accident: the flight crew’s failure to monitor airspeed in relation to the rising position of the low-speed cue, the flight crew’s failure to adhere to sterile cockpit procedures, the captain’s failure to effectively manage the flight, and Colgan Air’s inadequate procedures for airspeed selection and management during approaches in icy conditions. Additionally, the NTSB also said that fatigue played a factor in the accident, but couldn’t ascertain the extent to which fatigue degraded performance. 

 

N200WQ - Bombardier Dash 8-Q402 - Continental Connection (Colgan Air)
N200WQ, the aircraft involved in the incident. Photo: FOKKER Aircraft

 

The reason this is important is that both pilots had far more than the currently required 1,500 flight hours that resulted from this accident. According to the investigation, sterile cockpit procedures and lack of airspeed monitoring played the most significant role in the crash, not a lack of flight time. Yet, following this accident, the FAA made several rule changes, most notably increasing the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) minimum flight hours from 250 to 1,500. The extreme increase in the hourly requirement has made it six times harder for one to make their way from being a normal civilian to a passenger-carrying airline pilot. 

 

From the moment a pilot steps into the cockpit of a Cessna 172, they are being charged at exorbitant rates financially. In fact, the average hourly rate to rent a Cessna 172 stands at $131 per hour, and that doesn’t even include the flight instruction, which can sometimes run upwards of $50 per hour. All in all, the average pilot is in for around $50,000 to earn their Private Pilot’s License (PPL) and Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot License (CPL), which must not be confused with an ATP Certificate. The CPL allows you to be compensated for certain types of flying such as towing gliders, crop-dusting or flight instruction, but in no way does the CPL grant you the ability to fly paying passengers from point A to point B. 

 

Photo of C-GJKX - PRIVATE  Cessna 172 at LUK
Even training in a Cessna 172 could cost upwards of $50,000. Photo: Mitchell Roetting

 

Due to the sixfold increase in hourly requirements that resulted from the Colgan Air crash, the pilot shortage has been exacerbated. Republic Airlines expects the industry to be short nearly 8,000 pilots by 2023, while other estimates are higher, even in the range of 12,000. This demand for pilots has largely damaged regional airlines such as Skywest and Republic, as thousands of pilots are currently transitioning from lower paying regional carriers to the mainline carriers.

 

Many regional airlines are now slashing scheduled flights, specifically those to smaller airports in the Midwest. Skywest recently announced last month that it would be cutting scheduled flights to Decatur, Ill, Paducah, Ky., and Mason City, Iowa. Republic Airlines Chief Financial Officer Joseph Allman is already talking about reducing the airline's block hours (how it measures capacity) from 9.5 to 9. Furthermore, Allman alluded to the fact that the airline could be at 20% higher capacity if not for pilot shortages.

 

Photo of N401YX - Republic Airlines Embraer E175LR at CMH
Republic Airways is already suffering greatly from a pilot shortage. Photo: Mark S

 

With the plethora of flight cancellations and staffing shortages, the question becomes, how do regional airlines remedy the pilot shortage situation? The answer lies in lowering the ATP hourly requirements to get pilots into the cockpit faster, at a lower cost, and more efficiently. Recent legislation passed allowing some pilots to get a ‘Restricted’ ATP at just 1,000 hours, although an Associates Degree from an approved college is required.

 

With the industry moving quickly to relieve the incoming pilot shortage that was further agitated by the pandemic, the FAA and Congress must work together to funnel pilots into the system at a cheaper rate while still providing the high quality training and education necessary. Simply put, until new legislation is passed to lower the hour requirements, there will continue to be flight cancellations and pilot shortages throughout the country.


 

Luke Zinn
Private Pilot Instrument rated currently seeking my Commercial Pilot Certificate (CPL). Huge General Aviation supporter and lover, feel free to ask questions about anything.

Comments (5)

RaritriSp 2002; 77 1095 1105 <a href=https://lasix.buzz>BUY GENERIC LASIX ONLINE</a> For this, a woman is recommended to visit the family planning center
Reply
NathanMix <a href="https://1xbettbd.com/">1xbet promo code 2023</a>
Reply
Peterhubop <a href="https://linebet-in-bd.com/">linebet agent login</a>
Reply
DarrellZipse <a href="https://code-herb.com/">iherb promo code</a>
Reply
GeorgeHah <a href="https://virtual-local-numbers.com/">virtual phone number continent telecom</a>
Reply

Add Your Comment

SHARE

TAGS

INFORMATIONAL Colgan Aircontinentalbuffalonewarkcrashpilot shortagefaa

RECENTLY PUBLISHED

Red Way: America's Newest Airline is a Little Different Red Way is a charter airline based out of Lincoln, Nebraska planning to launch operations in June. With aircraft being operated for them by Global X, this new company is taking a unique approach to low-cost air travel. NEWS READ MORE »
Japan and Australia's Plans for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Sustainable aviation fuel is growing in popularity amid ongoing plans by the aviation sector to decarbonize. Japan and Australia are cooperating to expand the production of SAFs. INFORMATIONAL READ MORE »
Delta Scraps Dallas Love Field Route Before it Even Starts On Monday, Delta Air Lines made headlines when it announced that its originally planned route from New York La Guardia Airport (LGA) to Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) would not launch in June as previously planned. ROUTES READ MORE »


SHOP

$2999
NEW!AeroXplorer Aviation Sweater Use code AVGEEK for 10% off! BUY NOW

FOLLOW US ONLINE