Pilot experience may be factor in Colgan Air / Continental 3407 crash in Buffalo NY
The role of pilot error in the crash of Continental Flight 3407 in Buffalo, New York last week hasn’t been determined yet, but it is a fact that pilots who work for smaller airlines like Colgan Air which had been responsible for the operation of Flight 3407, often have less flying experience than pilots who fly for major airlines.
Colgan Air's pilot for instance, had just 3½ years of experience, and had clocked in 3,400 flight hours. His co-pilot had been flying for just about a year and a half at the time of the plane crash. An average American Airlines pilot, in contrast, has about 18 years of service, and has typically clocked several thousands of hours on the job. Additionally, a regional airline may hire a new pilot who has just about 2,000 hours of flying experience. In times of great demand for pilots, those rules may even be relaxed. At the major airlines, however, new pilots are required to have between 5,000 and 6,000 flying hours to their credit. That difference in work experience is also mirrored in the salaries that these pilots earn. A pilot with a small, feeder, regional airline can earn as little as $18,000 a year. Colgan Air's co-pilots make about $27,000 yearly, and captains with the airline make $58,000 per year, data shows. In comparison, American Airlines pay their pilots about $138,000 annually.
These airlines typically link big metros to smaller towns and cities nearby, and because their pilots operate shorter flights, they have to work a greater number of days to make up their quota which is typically about 83 hours per month. Regional carrier pilots insist that the lack of flying hours does not, in any way, indicate a lack of experience. They are after all, used to frequent take offs and landings, several times in a day in many cases, and are comfortable flying in all kinds of weather conditions. The fact however, is that as recently as a month ago, Colgan Air had a listing on its website for co pilots. The ad required applicants to have a minimum of just 600 flying hours.
Aviation Accident Resources
Our law firm represents victims of serious personal injury and wrongful death. If you have legal questions related to an aviation accident, lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP can get you the help and answers you need.
