Originally Posted by
TheSultanofScud
...My thought is that whether a low timer will be able to get the necessary time to handle "that last 10%" by the time he or she upgrades will continue to vary with the individual...But, all other things being equal, I'll put my money on the guy with 2,000 hours of challenging work in the right environment before I look at the same guy with 200 hours, who has never been challenged. At least with 2,000 hours of (respectable) experience he or she is more likely to handle that 10%...
Sky,
I never really said 1000 touch and goes in a 172; I meant to suggest that some experience is better other kinds in the above quote. Regardless, you have adequately qualified the notion that not all experience is equal in value. But even useless experience can be a confidence builder. We can argue about the validity of hours and experience till the cows come home. I still hold to my point about the "10%" of flying problems people can't prepare for or aren't exposed to during training.
But, you are undoubtedly right about the management perspective. As for professional pilots being unable to reverse current trends, you may be right there as well. I sincerely
hope you're wrong though. Intensely.
The one thing that keeps my spirits high, is that GA is still pretty exciting (however imperfect) for the time being. Which brings me to another question: with future pro pilots being mass produced in MPL/AbIn programs, who will carry the torch for GA?
No matter where I wind up, I hasten to say that I cling to my bug smashin' roots.