Originally Posted by
RuttR
I don't know if this will dramatically affect safety because accidents happen, even with pilots with 10's of thousands of hours. I'm not paid to figure out the statistics of airline accidents vs pilot flight time.
But what I'm more in support of is the additional barrier to entry in the right seat.
Airlines, specifically regional operators, see no value in your flight time and experience as a pilot. Thus, the carrier will find low time pilots willing to work for nothing. This new requirement, which has to go into effect by August of 2013, right, will add value to a pilots flight experience. This is a great thing! Look at flight attendants, there are very little requirements to become one and they're a dime a dozen.
These new barriers for pilots will sort of make it like becoming a doctor: you go to school, pay your dues while gaining experience during internship and residency programs, become licensed, gain more experience and become board certified, then you make lots of money because theres value for your time and experience that wasn't quickly and easily attained.
The problem is if you quit, are fired or were laid off , even with all this experience you start off at the BOTTOM of the pile. With 1st year pay and on probation. Do you think the doctor gets treated like this. What about the Union worker for the Auto Industry, carpentry ,etc do they start at the BOTTOM ? It's time all pilots in every union get a National Senority Number. That follows you to your new job. The FAA wants us to get all these rating, have a current medical and now 1500 hours/ATP for crap pay. The 1500 Hours reg will stay, buy the National Senority # can change. It won't help me, but it would help the younger pilots looking at this profession. It's time we all stop eating our own and work a one group.