Originally Posted by
Ellen
Accurate point. Airlines need a pilot to produce revenue immediately, where as in the military service, pilots need to be prepared for when the need arises, so the govt. is willing to pay a pilot when they are not producing.
In addition, the military engages in all sorts of aptitude and psychological testing prior to accepting a candidate for flight school. The airlines (121 regulation test and Class 1 medical).
I am sure that you will see safety being jeopardized in the very near future, and you will see finger pointing as well as airlines sweeping these incidences under the carpet to protect undue regulation and public outcry.
I agree completely about the "need to produce" - but that's after training. What we need to do is produce highly screened, well trained, safe pilots. My suggestions (and I welcome critiques and other suggestions) have safety as the bottom line - not training a minimally qualified "acceptable" pilot. There is a screening system; many airline pilots have undergone extensive "aptitude and psychological testing" - they become Federal Flight Deck Officers.
There is extensive knowledge on this forum. Collectively they could design the best system. Now all they have to do is convince management their current system "may" have long term costs in lives and aircraft.
During my flying career I hated that expression, "The pilot is the first one to arrive at the scene of the accident."