Palmtree Pilot

I agree which will allow mngt to pay lower since it will be easier, less expensive and less time consuming to obtain, ie. many more applicants just wanting to fly anything for any amount.

Also, please explain to me how 1500 hrs translates to higher pay rates. New hires don't come into the regionals and say "I'm sorry, I have 1500 hrs your gonna have to pay me more." We already have highly qualified pilots under union leadership that are not doing a very good job of getting pay increased. If you think that because there will be less applicants available to fill available positions that mngt will raise pay, you may be disappointed. If there is a gap in training of qualified pilots, a couple of thousand dollars a year isn't going to produce instantly qualified pilots coming out of the "wood work." That being said, if the flying can't be taken over by lesser paying regional because they can't get enough qualified pilots, then it stays with majors that pay more money for future and current flying. Is this why you think this ruling will increase pay?

Maybe I'm missing something. Please explain with resonable logic, not your fantasy vision of how it should be.

Pt P

NuGuy

Bah, you kids get off my lawn....

Nu

hemaybedid

Nice........

Purpleanga

These rules go into effect one to three years after it's passed. The first bill was 3 years but now I'm hearing 1 year. Whatever happens, it won't be immediate though it doesn't really matter because most places hiring are taking 1500+ hour applicants anyways.

mrmak2

The military is not an option for 95% of young pilots. Soon with the UAVs there will be 0 pilots coming from the military to airlines so it's probably ridiculous to recommend someone to a 10+ year commitment in the armed services who will never see 1 flight hour. Seriously, how many pilots are leaving the military for the airlines right now? Let's get real.

The only ones who benefit from 1500 hr minimums are the ATP flight schools ("puppy mills") of the world. They will just develop a 0-1500 hr program for $150,000 and now because first year FO pay has gone up to $30,000 a year people will line up for that program.

The real problem stems from deregulation and the lack of barriers to entry for airlines into the market. The average consumer will almost always choose the lowest fare available, and so it perpetuates the ultra-lowcost startup airlines that grab market share for the 1 yr they can stay afloat before capitalization runs out, and then they reorganize as some other bottom-feeder airline with an amazing deal in aircraft financing and airport subsidies. And the regional airline that can do the job for $1 less than the competion gets the contract because the mainline airline costs are lower.

I got hired in 2007 during the peak of the "boom" and the lowest time guy in the class had 2000 hours. This legislation is smoke and mirrors for the dim-witted airline passenger. And the reality of the whole mess is that the airlines (incl. regionals) are pretty [EDITED] safe right now. Look at the statistics.

Do I want to get paid more money? YES. But this legislation is only going to cause tremendous shortfalls in the future and none of us will ever see an additional dime from it. Best bet- vote out everyone in office and send a message things are unsat (and hope for reregulation).

Purpleanga

It's very simple. When airlines can't get people to show up, they lower mins. Other industries, when they can't get people to show up, they raise pay. What this does is prohibit airlines from lowering mins to get warm bodies in so they don't have to increase pay. Now, the pay has to go up, or they won't find any more warm bodies to show up for class. That's the whole point and why this is a good thing. It won't happen overnight but it will do all of us good years later.

Superpilot92

This will destroy the Pilot Puppy mills. The only thing that made those places run were low hiring standards and a credit market that enabled anyone to get a loan for training. The credit market is dried up and those loans arent easy to get anymore. It was already outrageous money to just get 5oo hours at these schools, 1500 would be out of reach for the solid majority.

1500 hours or ATP mins are exactly what the mins should be and only those whom work hard and are dead set on becoming airline pilots will stick it out for 1500 hours. Up until now anyone with enough money could be an airline pilot overnight. With this change, that wont be the case. It will take time and dedication to meet requirements which is how it should be.

Purpleanga

It's got to start somewhere. We won't see any significant improvements but we definitely will 5 to 10 years from now.

Superpilot92

Theres plenty of pilots that meet the requirements, theres just not enough pilots with those requirements that are willing to work for the low pay that comes with the regionals.

exerauflyboy5

Finally, I've met too many, snot nose, egotistical, twerps, with wet commercials, that mom and dad bought for them, that think they can grace the left seat of a jet. Use it to instruct and fly some freight! LEARN. I myself am a couple hundred hours short, here’s hoping they take unmanned time.......