Finally I read a comment from an ACTUAL airline pilot. Funny how his story is COMPLETELY CONTRARY to what the 250 hour wonder kids and lobbying groups are saying, no? (I'm sorry for all the APC posts all of a sudden. Reading the apologetics for no experience in the cockpit absolutely galls me.)

"As a 20 year airline pilot I would like to comment on h.r 5900 the new rule to require First officers to have at least 1500 flight hours. This rule is WAY over due. I am tired of flight insructing in a jet full of passengers going 500 miles an hour. I have flown for regional airlines for 20 years. My co -pilots flying right seat in a regional jet have only 300 hours of TOTAL flight time. Many times I have taken the plane away from them, Some have never seen snow let alone flown in it. I have had one co pilot give me a high five after landing in low ceilings he had never flown through a cloud before! One time in Boston Logan airport my co pilot who was landing the plane simply let go of the controls at 100 feet and said "oh my god your airplane" The only thing wrong was she hit a little turbulence. Another co pilot was asking which way to fly around the storm ahead..His radar showed flashing red meaning bad storm..except he had the radar pointed at new york city.there was no clouds above 2000 feet..They had never seen a radar let alone used one. Another first officer basaclly crashed on the landing bouncing a 40,000 pound jet and didnt compensate for a 5 knot crosswind. A visual approch gets interesting with these low time pilots.This rule needs to pass now! Thank you Captain XXXX XXXX XXXX Airlines"