Having been a 250/15 hour pilot, a 1000/100 hour pilot, and a 1500/350 hour pilot I can state with confidence that there are a LOT of things to be learned in GA between 250 and 1000 hours. After that the learning curve tapers off a bit. The amount of flight experience it takes to "get it" depends on the individual...

Sound professional judgement is where maturity, high-stakes decision making experience, and knowledge come together. Some of the knowledge can be learned academically, but a lot of it you have to see for yourself.

A 21 year old with an agressive attitude and 250 hours has three strikes already. He has no maturity, no decision making experience, and little knowledge (he didn't pay attention in class)

A 30 year-old cubicle worker doing a career change has some maturity, and some decision making skills, but is not accumstomed to making decisions in life-and-death circumstances. He paid attention to the books and classroom stuff.

A 40 year retired soldier, cop, or construction contractor has maturity and relevant decision-making skills...all he really needs is a little knowledge, which he already knows how to acquire.


Which of these folks needs 600, 1500, or 3500 hours?