Final answer:
The limitations for first officers with less than 100 hours time in type include rules and restrictions designed to promote safety. These can require additional supervision and restrict flying under adverse conditions. Similar considerations for safety and opportunity were behind the modification of US Air Force pilot height requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The limitations on first officers flying with less than 100 hours time in type in the aviation industry are measures put into place to ensure the safety of flights. Just as checklists and operational limits, such as required overnight breaks introduced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), aim to reduce workplace accidents, restrictions on flight time for newly typed pilots serve a similar purpose.
When a first officer, also known as a co-pilot, has less than 100 hours of flying experience with a particular type of aircraft, they are subject to certain restrictions that can include additional supervision, limits on flying under certain adverse conditions, or requirements for more experienced captains.
While such rules are generally designed to be fair and increase safety, they can also have secondary effects on who can participate in certain roles within the field of aviation. For example, physical requirements to become a pilot in the US Air Force, which once excluded individuals below 5 feet 4 inches or above 6 feet 5 inches, limited opportunities for many people, including over 40 percent of American women.
After recognizing its implications, such a rule was recently modified. Nevertheless, both sets of rules underscore the importance of safety in aviation as well as the ongoing conversation about inclusivity and opportunity allocation within the field.