Quote:
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony 
At 1800/200 I was one of the lowest in my class at Great Lakes in the late 90s. At ASA, with 2500/500 turbine I was still on the low side. To fly a Brasilia at both places mind you.
Originally Posted by
wrxpilot
Even at SKW in early 2011, I was middle of the pack in experience as a new hire with over 2000 hours, 1000 multi, and a PIC jet type. This was also for the Brasilia. It's a very cyclical industry...
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And yet, at a symposium earlier this year , Republic Airways Holdings C.E.O. Bedford told us that 1500+ hour new-hire pilots were not as safe as 300 - 500 hour pilots and that he would prefer to hire the 300 - 500 hour pilot, (not because they're cheaper and more plentiful than 1500 hour pilots, but) because they were easier to train and had not yet had an opportunity to develop "bad habits".
Of course the irony of Rev. Bedford's assertion is that in the 1990's an earlier 2000's, regional airlines, (including those where Bedford was CEO,; RAH and Mesaba), posted new-hire pilot minimums of 1000 - 1500 hours back when the supply of pilots was plentiful.
So which is it, Rev.? Did you choose to hire unsafe pilots back in the 1990's and early 2000's or are you "forced" to hire unsafe (1500+ hour) pilots now?