Originally Posted by
rswitz
Does another 1000 hours in a 172 prepare one better to fly an RJ? All experience is valuable, but probably not. I don't really see an issue with a 250 hour guy sitting in the right seat learning from experienced captains. As long as the captains are experienced...
They do that overseas and they get computer programmers who seem to have trouble actually flying an airplane if God-forbid they should ever have to do that. How many airliners have crashed overseas in the last decade? How many here in the US (we account for a disproportionate share of total world-wide flying).
Military comes closest, but their screening is rigorous and their training is unforgiving. Even then, the ones who fly solo have ejection seats, and they use them on a regular basis.
An FO's *primary* role (once off IOE) is to be a backup PIC, not an apprentice getting OJT.
Fortunately the colgan families don't seem inclined to let this one go easily, so I doubt any lobbying will stand up to political and media scrutiny.