Originally Posted by
Senior Skipper
Agree 100% While I've always been a fan of the ATP rule (even before I was anywhere near 1500hr), I will say that a small percentage of pilots will be able to make the transition to the airline world very early. I've trained one or two students who I'd be confident would make excellent FO's with 300hrs- partially because of their superior skill, but mostly because of how much they knew and their willingness to learn.
Always true but we have no way to screen them. The airlines can't be trusted to do it, they just want seat-meat... if you allow 300 hour airline pilots they'll find a way to sneak every 300-hour wonder they can find through 121 training. 121 training as currently structured doesn't teach basic aviation skills like ops at uncontrolled fields with part 91 aircraft in the pattern.