David M Fontenelle 
Pilot Training and Safety 
Considerations and Assessments

The United States’ aviation transportation system is an important component of the U.S. economy and one of the safest and most efficient systems in the world. However, the continued integrity of this system depends in part on the roughly 3, 400 U.S. pilot schools providing well-trained pilot candidates for airlines. This is particularly true for regional airlines, which hire and train pilots from these schools, whereas large mainline airlines tend to hire and train pilots who already have experience at regional airlines. Although the large mainline airlines have an unprecedented safety record, in recent years regional airlines, which account for about 53% of the nation’s commercial flights, have experienced a number of fatal accidents; specifically the last six fatal commercial airline accidents involved regional airlines. This book discusses the various types of U.S. pilot training organizations, how they compare, and issues associated with training. Also discussed is to what extent the FAA carries out its oversight role of pilot training and certification.