Originally Posted by
Duffman
From firsthand anecdotal experience, I disagree. I do believe there are some stick and rudder, hand-eye-coordination skills from flying 1500 hours ASEL, but 121 is a totally different world. If anything, I'd say there's negative transfer from a Cessna to a jet (the ol' chop and drop, for example, that has wrecked airplanes). Even the SA gained from flying VFR everywhere with students is totally different from 121 IFR. I think there are much better ways to ensure high-quality airline pilots and the FAA should redesign a separate training pipeline for people who want to be career airline pilots. The current system of piling high-interest pilot training debt on student loan debt, then taking a barely liveable wage for a few years to time build, is just not that enticing to most 19 year olds.
It's probably more about being the PIC and command mentality than it is about stick-and-rudder skills, although both matter.
If the economics don't work, then the airlines can pay for time-building. They're pursuing waivers for the 1500 rule simply because it's cheaper than time building.
Our system in the US is very safe, and is not comparable to most foriegn systems. Look at accident stats over the last 10-20 years, especially the last decade... those numbers paint a stark picture, way too stark to write off as statistical anomalies. I can count on the fingers of one hand the foriegn carriers who I would consider to be equivalent to US safety. And our regionals are our soft under-belly as it is.