Originally Posted by
aewanabe
Because 1500 hours is 1/3 to 1/4 the starting experience level that currently sits in JetBlue cockpits. We are a major airline, not a training ground for apprentices, and I expect the person to my right to be a fully qualified professional with a few years of decision making under his belt, not a newbie who was flying a Diamond twin last week. If ALPA doesn't manage to squash this expect to be doing a lot of walk arounds and radio calls. You'll be great at moving the gear and flap handles in no time. The 250-hour regional FO phenomenon was an anomaly in our industry which does not need to be extrapolated to the major airline level.
How is it fair to the customers that the regionals get to be training grounds? 99% of the public who flys an American Eagle/United/Delta express are totally unaware that the pilots are sub-contractors just trying to earn time so a major will pick them up. They see the tail and see the pilots on the same level as the pilots on a 777, no matter what you pay, you expect to get where your going.
So the danger/unprofessionalism (that is what I'm gathering from the posts) is acceptable there?
This would be a monumental shift for the airlines. From what I gather programs like this would hopefully eliminate the high sodium sleep deprived crashpads if the other airlines follow suit, and from what I've been reading, they are planning to. The regional pilot lifestyle could go the way of the flight engineer. Maybe that's a consequence (though possibly unintended) of programs like these.
Again, not trying to be a jerk. Trying to understand. I'm not in the aviation industry and like the other person in this thread I also have an imbeded career and I am leaning away from doing this.