IMO the FAA needs to step up and create some dynamic regulations for required 121 upgrade experience. This would be incredibly difficult regulatory language to draft, and would likely end up being unfair to certain subgroups, but 1000 hrs 121 as a simple blanket rule is going to bite someone at some point.

A pilot who came over with 3,000 hrs of USAF bomber command time or 700 carrier landings is in a very different place than someone hired with 500 hrs at a regional flying an airplane with RNAV and Autothrottles and then 500 hours in a 777. A former regional pilot with 8 years of LCA experience is in a different boat than someone who has been on the seniority list for 20 years but spent the last 10 as an IRO and just upgraded to the 737. These are sweeping generalizations not intended to represent every member of these subgroups, but I believe we are starting to see event(s) which fall within some of these categories.

Until then it’s all fun and games until a delayed flight leads to a 2am approach into Missoula in a snowstorm and the GPS integrity hiccups, the IRS positions have drifted, and it’s time for a VOR approach.