Now Delta, American Consider Trimming Pilot Requirements

Republic Airways asked the FAA to cut the amount of training time for pilots in half in order to combat the pilot shortage in the industry.

Delta Air Lines and American Airlines are considering similar measures, including trimming the number of flight training hours pilots need to become certified, according to Business Insider.

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Republic asked the FA A to cut training hours from 1,500 to 750. The requirement that all pilots have a four-year degree was eliminated by Delta. Many pilots have gained more than the equivalent of a college education through years of life and leadership experience, according to Delta.

Increasing the mandatory retirement age is one way to alleviate the pilot shortage.

The current mandatory retirement age for pilots is 65 years old, but Senator Lindsey Graham is going to propose increasing it to 67 years old.

The proposal would have an immediate effect on the shortage.

Henry Harteveldt, travel analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told Business Insider that cutting the number of required flying hours may look like a riskier approach than allowing a healthy pilot to continue flying a few more years. The airline industry doesn't have time for discussions with the FAA. We have seen route networks and airline schedules cut due to the lack of pilots, inconveniencing passengers and communities, and contributing to higher airfares.