Originally Posted by
NuGuy
This is all about bringing the "Euro Plan" to the States. Over there, they call it "self-funded training schemes".
I know it's a quirk of Euro English that "scheme" is used for "program", but it's really pretty ironic how it "translates" into American English.
In the Euro model, you pay your own way through training (anyone remember the PFT from the 1990s? It's back again!). You then get an MPL which essentially locks you into the carrier you go to work for, OR, you get a CMEL equivalent, do type specific training (self-funded again) and then get "placed" by a staffing company.
In either case, you are locked into the type of aircraft you train....on your own nickel.
Why do they want this here?
1) Training is almost entirely self-funded.
2) The "structural educational requirement", Euro style, practically locks you to your employer for a significant period of time. You gonna rock the boat when if you get let go, you're a low time wannabe who can really only fly FO on a specific type?
Say "buh bye" to any kind of negotiating leverage with that plan.
There are some Euro pilot forums. Check them out and see what you think of how the Euro industry treats their low time guys. It will make CFIing, towing gliders/banners, or pipe line patrol, for a year or two, while getting paid to do it, look like a walk in the park.
Nu
Agreed 100%, this is undoubtedly where the airlines are trying to go. But it should be very important to note the safety record of American-based airlines vs. Euro-based carriers. We see lower frequency of such major tragedies because our pilots aren't hired from high-school into Airbus FO. Some pilots object to the 1500 hr rule saying "oh, 1,000 extra hours of flying the pattern doesn't make airline flying safer"... But the proof is in the results: it does.
But I know we as pilots say "if they repeal the 1500 hour rule, there goes the endless supply of cheap labor". I can't help but feel I disagree with that. If they repealed the 1500 hr rule today, tomorrow airlines would hire every 250-1499 hr. wonder, and 3 days from now we'd still have no pilots. Where the airlines are mistaken is their labor shortage isn't an experience requirement problem, its a much more deep rooted labor supply problem.
As has been previously said, this career isn't being persued by kids out of high school. And until the job is desireable again, there won't be mass young'ns getting into the profession.