Originally Posted by Rotator

I understand the reasoning behind the new requirement for Part 121 pilots to hold an ATP ticket, but is it based on any relevant data? In the past 15 years there were times when regionals were hiring low-time pilots in droves, but we have not seen a corresponding increase in Part 121 accidents at the hands of low-time regional pilots.

I've noticed some serious stuff happen with highly expereinced airline pilots:

The Colgan pilots who stalled/crashed in Buffalo were well above the 1500 hour mark. The guys who crashed the ComAir CRJ several years ago were seasoned pilots, with well over 1500 hours on their logbooks. We saw a UPS crew fly a perfectly good Airbus into the ground after they botched a basic instrument approach, and they both had tons of experience. A Southwest Captain flew a jet off the runway in New York after grabbing the controls from the F/O on short final...and she was light years beyond being a low-time pilot.

With the previous hiring of so many low-timers at the regionals, why hasn't there been an up-tick in accidents as a result?

I am not defending or slamming the ATP rule, but I am not sure why the rule was implemented given the stats. Am I missing something? All well-reasoned arguments are very welcome! Thanks!

Originally Posted by block30

I wrote AOPA my thoughts about their article, but my letter to the editor wasn't published. I hope we are all sending our thoughts along as this captain did, in order to fight back against the mountain of lobbying being done by the airlines.

Originally Posted by rickair7777

Ever take note of the ads in the AOPA magazine? They know which side of their bread is buttered...

Originally Posted by bozobigtop

The Colgan accident resulted in rule changes and I don't believe the changes will prevent any future accidents. The airline industry in the US suffered all types of airline accidents in the 70's, 80's, and 90's that resulted in rule changes that we have now. Some of these accidents have never been repeated but today we have other types of incidents/accidents.

Originally Posted by 404yxl

The changes would have prevented the Colgan crash because Renslow would never had been Captain on that flight. He was hired at 600 hours. Without the stagnation age 65 created, Colgan would have struggled to find anyone to staff their airline as well.

So yes, the new ATP minimums will increase safety, unless you truly believe the same pilot is a worse pilot at 1500 hours than they were at 250 hours.

Originally Posted by Urbandrone

I disagree. This guy would have had 900 extra hours of either: flying skydivers in severe clear weather, teaching new pilots how to land, doing turns around a point towing banners, or flying low level along a pipeline in VFR weather. I doubt that any of this additional experience will help any pilot recognize an aircraft slowing while on autopilot in icing conditions.

Originally Posted by Slick111

Were you a better pilot at 50 hours or at 100 hours?

Were you a better pilot at 500 hours or at 100 hours?

Were you a better pilot at 1000 hours or at 500 hours?

Were/will you be a better pilot at 3000 hours than you were/will be at 1500 hours?

Will you be a better pilot at 5000 hours?

Originally Posted by USMCFLYR

At least a couple of these experiences involve flying slow - even at or near stall speeds don't they?
I flew jumpers for a little while and I was very slow when they jumped.
If you're teaching - you are teaching stalls right?
Never flew banners - but according to the posts on APC many of them talk about flying just above stall speed.
Don't know if pipeline guys fly low AND SLOW to do the job.

I think he might have gotten some real good experience doing those other things that might have helped him when he needed *recognition* in that airliner cockpit.

Originally Posted by Urbandrone

I disagree. This guy would have had 900 extra hours of either: flying skydivers in severe clear weather, teaching new pilots how to land, doing turns around a point towing banners, or flying low level along a pipeline in VFR weather. I doubt that any of this additional experience will help any pilot recognize an aircraft slowing while on autopilot in icing conditions.