Originally Posted by
sqwkvfr
There's no way in hell that can happen. The system here continues to become more and more like the EU system of integrated and MCL programs. There will be less and less GA to provide pilots with the opportunity to build enough time to get ATP mins and the will be fewer and fewer pilots willing to go through what it takes to get those hours.
Requiring ATP mins won't happen...if it does, it won't last more than five years.
The real problem with pilot pay continues to be the RLA. I fail to understand why i haven't seen seen more discussions about this place in time being the perfect opportunity to have a discussion about this. I've also not seen nothing (granted, I don't read these boards NEARLY as much as I used to) about FedEx labor's attempt to get themselves removed from the RLA. I don't know the specifics of it, but I saw on CSPAN one congressman rising in opposition to an amendment to the FAA funding bill that would remove FedEx employees (not sure which group) from the constraints of the RLA.
THIS is the real issue that needs to be dealt with, the "ATP mins" argument is gonna be dead before it even sees the light of day.
I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you, it's not just about the pay, if the Colgan hearings showed us anything is that the system is broken. One of the main differences between the European system and our current hiring practices here in the states is the recruitment process itself. In Europe they are a lot more selective in their prospective candidates, it's not just a body to fill a seat. In absence of a system like Multi-crew Pilot Lincense (MPL is the correct acronym, not MCL), which not only filters, but trains the candidates from zero time as airline pilots, then we have to modify the system we have, and higher standards raise the expectations, and contribute to higher wages by lowering the supply of "truly qualified" pilots. Furthermore, in light of this accident I expect the FAA to change certain aspects of certification.
We shall see.