Originally Posted by
NoJoy
The ATP requirements for all new 121 hires is around the corner. When this bill gets signed, everyone will have to have their ATP licence by 2013. If that is the case, schools that offer San Juan type program do not make sence unless the students get their CFI certificates and aquire their 1500/500that way.
This is a great point and drills down to one of the two primary causes for MAPD's closure. The other was the obvious declining enrollment there.
The 1500 hour rule is really too bad. Why was this even adopted? The Colgan crew had well over 1500 hrs. total time. In addition, some of the best pilots I've ever flown with had under 1500 hours when I flew with them. I feel terrible for the younger pilots coming up through the ranks who were blind-sided by such inept legislation. They deserve to have the chance to get on without an ATP and 1500 hours. We're depriving ourselves of some worthy talent with this new rule.