Originally Posted by
USMCFLYR
I'll insert that word again into your post:
Yes - it can be a tough obstacle - but it still doesn't make 1500 hrs "very high" time. I suppose the original purpose of the amount of total time, and the different categories of time, was to make sure that a potential ATP applicant at least had some breadth of experience before earning the highest aviation rating. Count me among those who believe that you should have to have an ATP before being an airline pilot and also as one who disagrees with the reduced minimums for certain training programs.
USMCFLYR
It has been shown time and time again that most accidents happen while mid to high time pilots are at the yoke. It seems as if accidents aren't the cause of low-time pilots, but more the cause of pilots either ill-trained for the condition they find themselves in; or are, in fact, trained wrong.
As the devil's advocate, I would ask you: would you rather have a 300 hour pilot who knew how to recover from a stall and odd attitudes, or a 1500 hour pilot who didn't?