Originally Posted by
UpAndAway
No one has said experience shouldn't matter and no one has proposed that question except you, for obvious reasons. It is, however, reasonable for someone to go into the right seat after a rigorous and airline focused training program, with the guidance and leadership of an experienced Captain. Many global, established airlines with excellent safety ratings seem to think so.
There mere existence of the Regionals proves this as they use this exact same model and operate thousands of flights daily, safely.
Where did anyone say a graduate of this program would be comfortable handling all situations? No amount of experience and hours can guarantee that. Why is it acceptable to spend the same amount of money and become a FO on a CRJ but not an E190? Same airspace, same airports, same responsibilities for human lives.
As someone who truly wants to join the industry, this is probably one of the most disheartening things I've read in a while. Focus your anger and frustration at airline Management who greedily created this horrible system (have you seen their salaries recently?), not those trying to be a part of change.
You did say this right? That's it's "reasonable" to go into the right seat after a rigorous training program with an experienced captain. So should every captain here have to keep an eye on you? What if one of the captains makes a mistake? Would he want some 1500 hour 172 pilot with some simulator time watching his back or an ex regional captain, an ex military pilot or an ex coorpotprate captain? I know which I would choose. This program was not created to fix a fantasy pilot shortage. It's sole purpose is to hire a no time guy that owes everything to JB and would go as far as to cross a picket line if need be.