What a sack of crap. The 1500 hour rule is only a small piece of the puzzle.

What kept people from flying is the idiotic pay that commuter airlines have paid FOREVER. A guy who wants to fly will find a way to get 1500 hours. Teaching, towing banners, flying jumpers, crappy freight jobs, etc etc etc. Just as civilian guys have done forever. 30 years ago, you weren't getting a job without at least 1500 hours, if not more. I well recall an ad for the original Colgan in which they asked for 3000 hours and 1500 multi for new F/Os. But back then you could get your tickets for under 30K. Major airline pay was not only extraordinary, they had killer work rules and pensions, so it was a calculated risk.

But in the 90's and beyond the cost of obtaining the tickets and a degree wasn't justifiable for most people when they looked at the potential salaries. Add to that over a decade of relative stagnation and furloughs and guys said: "eff it". There are a lot of 20-year guys stuck at regionals because of the vagaries of the industry.

Bethune and his airline buddies might not have created this mess, but they sure enjoyed suppressing their costs as they parked Boeings and gave our jobs away. They bludgeoned labor for years while lining their pockets.


Show us the money, B*&^%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRq0O4lnsKE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP5bmRrm9hE