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1500‑hour rule and ties to Republic Airways dominate ethics debate at Bedford hearing
Summary
Senators pressed nominee Brian Bedford on his past opposition to the 1,500‑hour pilot requirement and on a 2022 Republic petition; Bedford said he will not ‘‘roll back safety’’ and cited an Office of Government Ethics agreement for recusals tied to conflicts with Republic.
Senators used Brian Bedford’s confirmation hearing to press him on his past lobbying and a 2022 petition from Republic Airways seeking exemption from the FAA’s 1,500‑hour minimum flight‑time requirement for pilots.
Why it matters: The 1,500‑hour rule, adopted after Colgan Air Flight 3407, is widely credited with improving pilot training standards. Several senators said any effort to reduce hours would be intensely scrutinized because pilots serve as the last line of defense in many in‑flight emergencies.
Senator Maria Cantwell repeatedly pressed Bedford on whether he would seek to change the 1,500‑hour requirement while…
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