Comment from Carlie Gantar
Carlie GantarSupportIndividual
Summary: The commenter supports recognizing the experience of Weapon Systems Officers (WSOs) by the FAA. They argue that WSOs possess critical skills in navigation and communication that would benefit airline safety and provide career opportunities for military veterans.
WSOs are critical crew members who share in the responsibility of navigation, communication, airspace deconfliction, and airspace awareness. All these fundamental skills contribute to a safe and efficient flight deck, and would be a great use of skill and resources to any airline prioritize safety and CRM within their company. Allowing their experience to be recognized by the FAA increases qualified skill aviators for the airlines and opens up doors for WSOs to put their credentials to use after transitioning out of the military.