Originally Posted by
Groundpointfife
I agree that it's not the 1500 hours that make a pilot, but rather the quality of the time. I'd much rather a 500 hour UND, ERAU, WMU.. etc grad in the right seat than some guy who rented a 150 and did circles in it.
But with that being said, I think the ATP/R-ATP rule weeds out the guys who don't have the motivation to CFI.
Plus who will instruct if we do lower the FO minimum qualifications?
Interesting statement. I didn't feel like getting a CFI rating... Yet. I'm saving that for my retirement job. There are other ways of building experience. A summer of banner towing followed by a winter of Picto survey work put me over the top. It's not for everyone but worked for me. Should I be weeded out?
I should add; There was I survey pilot I did a project with. He was a CFII/MEI ERAU Grad. He busted CVG's Bravo 3 times in one day. He got lost trying to find a hotel in a small desert town with one main road. He was given a vector in Phoenix's bravo to a VFR corridor and dang near busted that airspace too. He is a FO and a regional now.