Originally Posted by 100LL

You know what could improve safety even more than an hour requirement and some training? Previous flying experience other than tooling around in a 172 for 1500 hrs or instructing. I'm talking about part 135 flight time especially single pilot turbine. Part 135 pilots who have done their job for a minimum of at least a year bring invaluable experience that can't be gained by instructing, or going to ERAU. We are talking hard IFR flying, night experience, icing and thunderstorms just to name a few all while acting as PIC alone. Introduce incentives for the regional airlines to hire pilots with prior 135 time. its my opinion they should be allowed to start higher up in the pay scale since they come with valuable experience unlike a 172 CFI doing steep turns day after day. Not asking for a bonus...they are as useless as per diem.