Please share your experience then. I am a current CFI and airline pilot who has been involved in training for years. I was also flying at airlines prior to the 1500 hour rule and had to fly with captains who got hired with 250-500 hours. It showed! There were too many instances of the FO pointing out mistakes that the captain should have found. I was in the jumpseat when on final approach to a runway in winter and IMC, the tower reported a 15 knot tailwind with poor braking action. The captain didn't understand that both the aircraft limitations and the FOM prevented us from landing. This captain was also a check airmen. I don't know what he would have done if an experienced FO wasn't in the right seat.

And their training departments and company policies reflect that. Have you seen the a written test for a JAA pilot certificate? They require a high level of knowledge about advanced aircraft even if you are just going to be flying a Seminole. They actually have a different rank for low time FOs and they spend a couple of years flying with training captains.

I agree. That is why you won't find anyone saying to go bore holes in the sky until you get 1500 hours. Work as a CFI and get proficient in explaining flight maneuvers and recovering from unusual attitudes, get a tail wheel endorsement, take some soaring lessons, get a seaplane rating, fly some solo IFR countries, find some turboprop operator who will let you sit in the right seat, in short, gain experience.


That is true. But in the US, not everyone wants to learn to fly so they can become an airline pilot. Many learn to fly because they only want to fly GA. It would be ridiculous to require a commercial pilot who is only going to be flying a C172 to have the same level of knowledge as a pilot who will be flying a CRJ. They did modify the training for ATP applicants and I think it is a good start.

I know it might be frustrating to have to build time to get an ATP, but how is that different than a commercial certificate? I can get most students to pass commercial checkride by 150 hours, but the FAA won't let them take the ride until they get 250 hours. That might seem absurd, but at 150 hours, those pilots are nothing more than trained monkeys. They are able to regurgitate what has been taught to them, but they don't have enough experience to really understand what it is they are doing.