The pilots we hire at Northern Airways are required to obtain a commercial pilots license, an instrument rating and a multi-engine rating. They must also have a minimum of 1,200 hours of pilot-in-command experience.
Northern Airways pilots receive a minimum of 5 to 10 hours of in-flight training which covers every possible emergency that can occur in their assigned aircraft. They are required to take an oral and written examination as well as a flight check-ride, during which they must demonstrate their overall pilot-in-command abilities to an FAA examiner or an FAA designated check airman. These flight checks are very demanding and test judgment, reaction and corrective action. This process is repeated every six months for every one of our pilots.
All of our pilots are highly experienced professionals and maintain the highest standards of safety.
Pilot Duty Safety & Regulations
The amount of time that a pilot is on duty is highly regulated.
HOURS
Domestic Flight Time
8 hours in a 24 hour period. This can be increased to 10 hours with the use of a co-pilot.
HOURS
International Flight Time
12 hours in a 24 hour period. However, once the aircraft lands in the United States, the 8 hour rule takes precedence.
HOURS
Duty Time
14 hours in a 24 hour day. This includes pre-flight and post flight of the aircraft.
If a pilot can have 10 hours of rest in-between flight legs, the flight time clock resets to
zero. Again, the rule is a maximum of 8 hours in a 24 hour period for a single pilot. If a pilot flies beyond the 8 or 10 hour limit due to unusual circumstances such as severe weather, the rest period requirement increases to 16 hours. Also, a pilot can only fly six consecutive days before they are required to be off-duty for 24 hours.