Originally Posted by
heading180
Easy for us to say it's a great idea now that most of us have in excess of 1500 hours. How would you feel about it if you had just earned your CMEL or CFI. It would seem like a very dim light at the end of the tunnel.
20 years ago a regional wouldn't even interview a candidate unless he had 2500TT and 500ME. Requiring an airline pilot to have an ATP shouldn't be a dim light but rather a goal!
Originally Posted by
N6724G
We are talking about FO's here and not Capt's right? Why does the FO need to have 2500 or 5000 hours? He isnt the PIC.
You guys talk about hours. But ithink it has more to do with competency. The military takes a young 22 year old second Lieutenanat with about 200 hours of flight time and trains him to fly F-15's and C-130's. So how does flight time equate to a better pilot? I think the military puts out some the best pilots in the world and they start off with a little over 200 hours of total time.
However I do agree that 1500 hours is a good starting place if thats what they want to do.
Because you are a crew, and decisions are made as a crew. Also the FO must be competent to assume the duties as PIC if required. Trust me it is much safer to have an exprienced competent pilot sitting in your right seat than a low time pilot.
Originally Posted by
OldManReverend
ARE YOU SERIOUS???
Last time I checked... at ALL ATP's you had to get signed off (all except... ready? .... the ATP checkride!) And then... believe it or not... you had to take an actual checkride, WITH an examiner... and since ATP runs everything part 61, there is no "in-house" examiner to offer special treatment.
wouldn't hurt to have some information on the subject before you bash it...
Also, I'm a firm believer in the power of Knowledge. and as far as the colgan crash goes... it wasn't JUST fatigue, it wasn't JUST "low times", it wasn't JUST failed checkrides, it wasn't JUST improper stall/spin awareness. IT WAS ALL OF IT!!!! It's so amusing to watch everybody point their finger on a specific topic... or that last straw that broke the camel's back... who cares about the other 100's of factors.. anywhere from being hungry, being thirsty, problems at home, financial troubles, unfinished duties, we are all human and all of us are susceptible to errors... I just don't think 1500TT is going to eliminate that one broken link in the chain.
Actually most airlines use in house instructors and APD's (basically checkairmen/examiners) who have been given the authority to give ATP and type rides in specific equipment.