Originally Posted by
Whistlin' Dan
They don't need to. The method by which civilian pilots log their flight times is open to much abuse. I knew of guys in the 80's who, upon learning that a particular commuter airline required 250 hours of multi-time to be considered for employment, went away with their logbooks for a weekend. When they returned they had the 250 hours, and shortly thereafter, the job.
Until civilain aviation gets a handle on how flight times are logged (easily done with computers, BTW), applicants are going to be showing up for jobs with however many hours are required. "Raising the minimums" means nothing.
I think the vast majority of pilots have enough integrity to not pencil-whip their logbook. It does happen, though; I agree. A lot of recruiters say they can spot a pencil-whipped logbook from a mile away. Not sure how...It's nothing I, or any pilot I know, would do, however. That's a good way to turn a senator into a smoking hole, up in northern MN.