Committee Challenges New 1500 Hr Requirement
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,197
USMail pilots/their requirements in the 1920s
To put things into prospective the US Air Mail pilots in the late 1920s were required to have at least 500 hours of flight time to fly those contracts. Think about that for a second. What was the average lifespan of an Airmail Pilot? That was hard IMC flying with minimal equipment.
I guess my question is why was the commercial requirement ever as low as 250 hours. These airmail pilots weren't even carrying people and they were required to have more experience than today's airline pilots.
Let's look at experience. Air traffic and travel is much different today than it was back then, but I would almost look at the airmail pilots as being the bush pilots of the lower 48. That was experience. Flying around flight instructing, towing banners and and the like doesn't compare to flying single pilot IFR for a small freight company, or flying for a small charter outfit.
I think what the regulators are looking at is that you should be able to trade experience for the Total Hour requirement if the experience is useful and pertains to commercial aviation. (time spent flying a king air or something high performance through weather at altitude in busy airpsace. Not spending 500 hours flying through the same airspace in central FL and never getting any experience with Icing.)
I guess my question is why was the commercial requirement ever as low as 250 hours. These airmail pilots weren't even carrying people and they were required to have more experience than today's airline pilots.
Let's look at experience. Air traffic and travel is much different today than it was back then, but I would almost look at the airmail pilots as being the bush pilots of the lower 48. That was experience. Flying around flight instructing, towing banners and and the like doesn't compare to flying single pilot IFR for a small freight company, or flying for a small charter outfit.
I think what the regulators are looking at is that you should be able to trade experience for the Total Hour requirement if the experience is useful and pertains to commercial aviation. (time spent flying a king air or something high performance through weather at altitude in busy airpsace. Not spending 500 hours flying through the same airspace in central FL and never getting any experience with Icing.)
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2008
Position: Upright
Posts: 605
The guy spending time in the King Air will need 1500 total and has more experience. The Empty Nipple grad with 500 hours is going to get the job in his place.
ALPA is supporting this because they think it will pass. Was the same thing with age 65. I agree with you guys, it's time to bounce them.
ALPA is supporting this because they think it will pass. Was the same thing with age 65. I agree with you guys, it's time to bounce them.
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Posts: 123
I expect the RAA and ATA to support watering-down entry level requirements to fly 121. It's only natural for them...keeps their costs down.
What is mind-boggling and unacceptable is ALPA backing yet again something that hurts its own members. What is their deal? ALPA, PLEASE STOP HELPING US!
ALPA is irrelevant, no longer represents its membership, and member airline unions, beginning with my own, should cut ties to it.
We need a union that will represent airline pilot's interests...not a bunch of dopes that'll do and say anything just as long as they get to sit at the cool dude's table.
What is mind-boggling and unacceptable is ALPA backing yet again something that hurts its own members. What is their deal? ALPA, PLEASE STOP HELPING US!
ALPA is irrelevant, no longer represents its membership, and member airline unions, beginning with my own, should cut ties to it.
We need a union that will represent airline pilot's interests...not a bunch of dopes that'll do and say anything just as long as they get to sit at the cool dude's table.
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 387
They need to improve the training quality in my opinion. Is someone who has flown a C172 around a Texas farm for 1500 hours more valuable than a 500 hour pilot with deep understanding of jet transport flying/sim training, etc? Not in my opinion, I feel if you want to become an airline/jet transport pilot, then you need to begin that learning process from the beginning to understand the dynamic operating environment it takes to be safe and successful in this industry. It's been working in Europe for years, and I think it's time the US adapts a similar process. It's not just about how much experience you have, but the quality of your experience that makes the difference. KLM, Lufthansa, British are good examples.
But with that, if airlines want qualified pilots, they need to pay for it! The only reason the airlines don't want the 1500 hour rule is money, they know they will have to raise their poverty salaries which cuts into managements fancy bonuses!
But with that, if airlines want qualified pilots, they need to pay for it! The only reason the airlines don't want the 1500 hour rule is money, they know they will have to raise their poverty salaries which cuts into managements fancy bonuses!
#17
Why are you listening to a newspaper article about what ALPA supports? How many times have we all seen reporters hand out blatantly inaccurate information about aviation issues? Did the thought ever occur that maybe this reporter doesn't have his facts straight?
#18
Sounds good. You'll be expelled from the union, and then your contract's agency shop clause says you'll be terminated. Have fun with that.
Why are you listening to a newspaper article about what ALPA supports? How many times have we all seen reporters hand out blatantly inaccurate information about aviation issues? Did the thought ever occur that maybe this reporter doesn't have his facts straight?
Why are you listening to a newspaper article about what ALPA supports? How many times have we all seen reporters hand out blatantly inaccurate information about aviation issues? Did the thought ever occur that maybe this reporter doesn't have his facts straight?
But it so much easier to go on an internet message board and complain about how little ALPA does for them.
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 613
Originally Posted by Cruise
But it so much easier to go on an internet message board and complain about how little ALPA does for them.
#20
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: Pilot
Posts: 2,625
Sounds good. You'll be expelled from the union, and then your contract's agency shop clause says you'll be terminated. Have fun with that.
Why are you listening to a newspaper article about what ALPA supports? How many times have we all seen reporters hand out blatantly inaccurate information about aviation issues? Did the thought ever occur that maybe this reporter doesn't have his facts straight?
Why are you listening to a newspaper article about what ALPA supports? How many times have we all seen reporters hand out blatantly inaccurate information about aviation issues? Did the thought ever occur that maybe this reporter doesn't have his facts straight?
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