Bryan Bedford, the nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, attempted to reassure Democrats that he would uphold safety standards despite his record lobbying against tougher pilot training rules.
Bedford, a career airline executive, told the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday that he supports “structured” pilot training programs as well as a rule requiring pilots to log 1,500 hours of flying time before operating a commercial flight. He said in the past that the 1,500-hour rule wrongly focused on the quantity, rather than the quality, of training.
“I’ve been a supporter of 1,500 hours, contrary to what some of the press might say, because it did require structured training … that requires at least another 30 hours of classroom curriculum, requires at least another 10 hours of advanced flight simulation training and requires successful completion of a written exam and a multi-engine check ride,” Bedford said during the hearing. “So there, I am a big supporter of structured training as opposed to pure time … and, for the record, the FAA agrees.”
