Originally Posted by
Airway
He isn't entirely wrong. The 1500hr rule was indeed arbitrary and a knee jerk reaction by Congress with regard to an accident that had less to do with experience and more to do with general incompetence and lax training standards.
Whoa there cowboy. The experience level at many commuters was shockingly low. It's amazing that more of this type of Colgan accident hadn't happened more often.
Arbitrary and knee jerk? I disagree. The ATP requirement was a very logical place to make the distinction. General incompetence is a corollary to inexperience.
Since the rule has been enacted, there have been very few incidents, and only 1 fatality, which was SW's engine failure--in the US.
There a lots of ATP's out there. Just no one willing to work for the regional pay.