Thread: Calling all Captains to support 1500 hours
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Old 06-29-2011 | 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by IdahoFlyer
I think the real issue is decision making experience and not just experience. I am in support of the 1500 rule for one major reason. It forces potential airline pilots to build hours doing meaningful flying I.E. instruction, freight, etc where they are forced to learn and make decisions. Gaining experience as an FO does very little in terms of learning decision making. The is a big difference in REAL experience between the guy who gets his certs with 250 hours and builds time working towards an ATP in a meaningful way verses the guy who goes right to an airline to be babysat for a few years. You need to learn to make decisions, and that happens when you are forced to make decisions rather than when you watch someone else make them while you fumble on the radios.
So in terms of the 2000+ hr pilots that have been mentioned on this thread keep in mind that its just a number. If we look at the breakdown we'd probably see that each of them had an unhealthy amount (too much) SIC time and not enough real, useful time.
The 1500 rule will force pilots to build time in meaningful ways. If you're not willing to spend a while instructing, hauling freight or doing any of the many crappy jobs we put up with to get to the top you don't belong at the top. Suck it up, learn to be PIC and send me your app once you've rightfully earned your ATP.
Did that make me sound opinionated?
I support the ATP rule not because I believe it will put an end to unqualified FOs who put an unnecessary burden on a captain on the line, but because it will put a barrier to the industry to prevent someone from getting a $90,000 loan and being at an airline in 3 months.

If you want to improve safety and get better pilots in the right seat, interviews must be more challenging, 121 training should be providing pilots with the required skills to fly the line, not to pass a canned checkride, and pilots must have acquired adequate skills. Requiring 1500 hours or an ATP does not ensure adequate skills. You mention that people should have more PIC experience before entering a 121 cockpit, but what would prevent a 250 hour pilot from getting on with a 135 operation and logging 1250 hours of SIC time to get their ATP?

The only real solution is for current pilots to get involved with the interviewing and training process to ensure the new pilots they select won’t be a burden to other captains. As many threads on this topic has proven, it is impossible to compare instructing, to flying jumpers, to flying freight, to sitting right seat at a 135 operation, to flying traffic, or to patrolling pipelines. The real answer to this question is to look at each pilot individually at an interview and be willing to say no even when your operation is hurting for pilots. When enough interviewing pilots say no, the airline will be forced to increase pay and the quality of pilots will increase. But since regionals are a stepping stone and most don't plan to stay longer than they needs to, why invest so much of your time and energy in a process that will take many years to pay off?
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