I can't imagine the ATP requirment becoming retroactive as that could knock out many pilots at the regionals. If anything, this will be for anyone hired post implementation.

I think we can all agree it's far more desirable to hire pilots with 1500 hours and an ATP than those with 500 hours and a commercial ticket. Still, the requirement seems arbitrary to me. Drawing a line in the sand could negatively affect the industry when it begins to grow again.

I'll be interested to see what the industry and its lobbying groups have to say. 1500 hours is a nice number, but it removes flexibility needed in certain economic conditions.