Originally Posted by
Splanky
I graduated from Riddle a while ago. Have now been working as a pilot for 8 years with 6,000 flight hours. So, my gripe comes from experiencing both sides. The loophole is crap. Riddle does a descent job educating, not providing experience. This will subvert the safety intent of the bill.
I learned more in my first month working as a pilot than I did in four years at Riddle. Because of the highly-structured, hold my hand please sir environment, Riddle releases some of the worst prepared pilots to the work force.
Book knowledge will help with the training part of airline flying. The actual flying, decision making and good judgment are far more important. And knowing how to work through odd situations as they come your way.
By the way, wrote both my Senators on this one. Though I don't think it likely they will notice. I live on the non-favored side of the state. The side where the votes don't matter.
I really don't know how this thread turned into Riddle bashing... There are several aviation colleges in the US. I truly disagree that a pilot who has had four years of college training in aviation is a bad product. What makes ANY PILOT a bad product is low hours. 141 schools put out a commercial pilot around 190-200 hours. This bill will make it so a pilot needs to get significantly more experience before moving on to an airline.
Even if the hours are lowered for university aviation programs it will not be to 500 hours, my guess is 1000-1250. Also this bill puts significant incentive on a college education which isn't required by regional airlines. I truly believe that this bill will provide some serious education requirements that didn't exist in the industry before. No longer will ATP type schools be able to provide there fast track programs to put people in the cockpit in 6 months. The impending pilot shortage may actually be a shortage because people will not be able to enter the career in a few months.