I don't think hes "getting" it at all. I think it sounds like a lot more blabble without actually doing or changing anything. All they're talking about is making checkrides harder, they're not increasing experience requirements or forcing the airlines to provide higher quality training.

Sure people say hours don't matter, but thats when you don't have hours. Pilots with 200-300 hours, who have spent the majority of their flying career under the watchful eyes of an instructor, are simply not experienced. They haven't been out there and handled unforeseen problems, they haven't scared themselves in weather, they haven't had to make PIC decisions.

Regional airline captains shouldn't be having FOs remark things like "That was the first approach I've ever done in actual IMC!". A lot of people say 1500 hours of putting around in a Cessna are worthless, but I'll take any 1500 Cessna flying flight instructor over a 300 hour wonder any day. Those 1500 hours do an extraordinary amount to make you a better pilot. A 200 hour pilot, unless operating under a training and selection process like found in the military or Europe, simply does not belong in the cockpit of an airliner. period.

I have a great idea, if our training can be improved so greatly as the FAA says, why not do that AND require experience? Oh wait, money is whats important here, not safety. Silly me.


So once again, the FAA is giving into airlines. Instead of making a hard experience rule that will shut down no-experience pilot puppy mills and put actual real pilots with some experience and ability in cockpits, he's just blowing sunshine up our rears. Its sounding more and more like nothing is going to change and thats really unfortunate.