Originally Posted by
Fegelein
Because any swinging d$&@ can go to ATP and get an ATP. What's needed is the structured four year degree program in professional aeronautics from established universities like ERAU and UND. Their students have taken classes in advanced avionics, turbine aircraft systems and high altitude and high speed aerodynamics. Plus they will have attended the in house RJ transition course where they will experience CRM and FMS.
All that structured formal training and they can't fly a visual approach at 180kts. The education is excellent, but there is no substitute for the basics. That has been the biggest challenge regional training departments.
I'm a believer in the 1500 hour rule, but the quality of pilots has not improved because of it. As a matter of fact it has forced hiring the same pilots that were rejected at 500 hours, but with another 1000 hours of reinforcing their bad habits.