[COLOR=black]I agree that the FAA CPL course standards and requirements are ridiculously low. I think modern times call for different approaches. For example; the JAA has recently changed the CPL license knowledge requirements to ATPL standards. This means that you have to take a 6-12 month theoretical course before you can even start to fly. I think the professional pilot education should be MUCH more academic than it is now, possibly changing it into a University like program. How many "fresh" commercial pilots really know how their plane works? Increasing the demands on pilot students would also root out some of the plonkers that shouldn’t be there in the first place and resolve the later trainability issue. This would mean that the airlines would no longer require a 4-year degree to ensure trainable people. It is ridiculous that you need to be a dentist or speach pathologist to become a pilot! Flying is for pilots! Raise the CPL standards so we can focus on flying, get fewer but better pilots and increased wages. I have no quarrels with the stick portion of the FAA CPL test though.