LR2205

Yeah but the thing is that in reality, everything else is not the same. Pilot A who will take the job for $19 an hour is probably not as good a pilot as pilot B (not to mention not as smart for accepting the job for $19/hr in the first place). Maybe the airlines should find a way to measure pilot skill as a whole rather than just judging from the number of hours in a logbook.

Whacker77

I'm in the most distinct of minorities because I generally oppose the 1500 hour rule. I definitely think it is well intentioned, but I think it has more to do with public relations than anything else.

Many of the news stories over the past year have made it seem as though a 250 hour pilot could act as a captain. Of course we know this is not true as you need an ATP, but the public sees the number 250 and the number 1500 and sees something totally different.

I've written many times I think this rule is not necessarily benficial, but if it passes, it passes. Having said that, I don't think it's going to change things. I think we'll see a lot more time building and cost sharing by up and coming pilots. It's the old safety pilot thing. Is that really a good thing?

Having 1500 hours does mean a pilot has had more chances to experience tough situations, but I think we're going to see lots of guys with 1300 hours of pattern work in C150's. Is that really going to help matters. In past iterations of this bill, many pilot factories were even given exemptions.

If changing the quality of the hours is really the best way to improve skill and technique, why not require a new ATP which requires 1200 hours, but also mandates a pilot have a CFI, CFII, and an MEI and a certain amount of instruction in those areas. I think that would do more to improve safety than anything else.

Gajre539

Best idea ever!

CommutR4Life

I agree with you. Another problem is the way time is 'logged'. Anyone could grab a logbook and write whatever they want in it. I don't know how its done elsewhere, but anytime I have applied overseas they want me to validate my log book from some authority thats vouches my hours are as they say. They time is logged now, you can just taxi around the airport for an hour and log 1.0

DashTrash

Having a CFI, CFII, MEI, and any amount of "instruction" in those areas does not mean that you are ready for flying in the 121 world. If you've been instructing, you have probably never had moderate icing, had to deal with time constraints (i.e. holdover times, being on time for departures and arrivals). As an instructor you're probably not used to shooting an approach above 200 KIAS. There are many things that instructing really doesn't prepare you for in the 121 world. I've personally seen many people with a lot of dual given (1000+ hrs.), wash out of training at the 121 and 135 level. They wash out at a higher rate than someone that has done some real flying.

Elvis90

Put this ATP rule in perspective...if it is irrelevant, then why not have both pilots up front be qualified with a minimum of 250 hours? Would anyone feel safe with that? I remember my experience after military UPT...188.9 hours total, and I wouldn't feel safe with passengers by myself at all. I think stricter requirements are a good thing, but will obviously have unintended consequences.

Aloha

Bottom line, I think it will help the industry. I think it will keep flying across the nation from being "farmed" out by some 250-700 hour wonder that will work for peanuts. Reduce the number of pilots and you will see wages go up. Simple supply and demand.

If the regionals are forced to pay pilots a decent wage, that will put a huge strain on their bottom dollar business model. Maybe we will see the bigger airlines expand and start to pick up the flying of their regional competition, who rely on poorly paid pilots to meet their financial bottom line. If the big boys start hiring for their pilots to do the RJ flying, we will see better pay, work rules, training, and dare do I say......... safety across the board, as more experienced pilots are in the cockpits.

Regardless of what happens. We need more experience in the cockpits than what is required now. I will not let my family fly on some of the regionals due to the low flight time requirement...... that is just me.
my .02 cents,
Aloha

Piedmonster

I don't know what you would do, but on top of paying $60-100k for training, 0-250hrs, I don't see too many people buzzing around the pattern for 1200-1300 hrs.
There might me a few, but 1/2 of 1% is low...
Just think, pay $60-100k for 0-250h. Then pay 1200hrs @ $75/hr wet = $90k. Said and done $150-190k, unless daddy's paying, you're not getting a loan of $90k to tool around in the sky for 1200+ hrs.

And $75/hr is a lowball number.

People will be forced to teach, tow, drop, or freight dog it to build experience. That or they will start forging logbooks.. Either way, I don't see 1300h of pattern work...

ysslah

Because being 30 hours short is so earth shattering......

ysslah

Based on what you are saying, I need to go beyond the limitations of the airplane I fly to get moderate icing experience before I fly 121? Also, you make it sound like MS flight simulator would be more valuable than flight instructing because it would get me used to flying at 200kts. Those two problems should be addressed by the airline's training problem, which they are doing the bare bone minimums to save money.