Originally Posted by
HercDriver130
Requiring an ATP to be an AIRLINE pilot is a small step in the right direction.
More important in my opinion is that training standards and checkrides at ALL levels, PPL, CPL, Instrument, ME..etc, be ramped up to make it difficult to acquire these certifications. The fact of the matter is given enough time and MONEY... anybody can get enough training to pass these checkrides. BUT, do you want the guy who took 38 hours to solo in a 172 flying with you..... or the guy who took 50 extra hours of instrument flying to GET it RIGHT before his checkride? Professional training facilities like CAE and FSI etc ... do a fair job of evaluating the customer.. but remember .... MONEY is involved and they dont want to **** off clients. I know I am sorta rambling but I think it needs to be HARDER to get ratings and certifications..etc.
Here is what ALPA said about that:
Need for Stronger Academic Emphasis
The Joint Aviation Authority (JAA), now the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and FAA pilot licensing requirements are both ICAO-compliant. The single biggest difference between EASA and FAA is knowledge requirements. The FAA theoretical knowledge is simply not as demanding as EASA, which has 14 written exams versus one by the FAA, which is a multiple-choice exam. The EASA exams require the student to be tested for 30-40 hours. By stark contrast, the FAA publishes its exam questions with answers provided so a student can purchase them, study the questions, and pass its single exam. Examination questions are not available for EASA exams in such a manner.
The least demanding Federal Aviation Regulations which govern commercial pilot license requirements (i.e., §61.125 and §61.155) specify the aeronautical knowledge requirements for commercial and airline transport pilot ratings. These rules were written decades ago, when there was no expectation that they would be used as minimum standards to train pilots to take jobs as airline first officers. The requirements emphasize weather and navigation, including interaction with air traffic control. There is some mention of aircraft aerodynamics and human factors, including aeronautical decision making and judgment as well as crew resource management. The regulations allow self-study and many such training courses emphasize passing the test rather than learning the material. We do not feel these requirements are adequate to prepare a professional airline pilot. The ground instruction of these subjects needs to be strengthened with required formal classroom academic instruction and more extensive testing and examination.
The EASA-approved training course for a commercial airline pilot tends to be rather structured and rigorous. FAA should develop and implement a corollary ground school and testing process in FAR Part 121 for all pilots who seek commercial airline careers. Testing akin to the quality of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exams or bar exam for attorneys would benefit aviation by serving as a screening tool to ensure that, in the future, only the most knowledgeable and dedicated pilots join the ranks of airline pilots.
http://www.alpa.org/portals/alpa/pre...-09written.pdf