Originally Posted by
FreshPilot
First, I'll admit I am someone that is low time, trying to come up the ranks and pay my dues but I see part of this proposal as a disaster.
I agree that more training always improves safety. But the 1,500 hour ATP minimums I disagree with. This is why: When Joe Pilot finishes his commercial single and multi training he could anywhere from 250 hours on up. So when he goes hunting for a job, 250 hours isn't enough. What's Joe Pilot going to do? Find the cheapest (lets admit it, we are all broke) way to gain the hours needed to meet the current hiring minimums to stay competitive. Joe Pilot is going to go a couple different ways to accomplish this. A) Earn a CFI/CFII/MEI rating and instruct until he is satisfied with his hours. During this he could be giving quality instruction or just be a yoke holder to log time. B) Buy time the cheapest way possible, either in C152's, J3 Cubs or a multi time building program. C) Fly banners, sky divers and other low time pilot positions, whenever insurance allows him to come on board. Or D) Military flight officer.
So out of those options which one most like 121 flying? A? Not in my mind. How does 2,000 hours in the pattern flying a 152, 172, Seminole, Dutchess transfer into flying a CRJ, ScareBus or Boeing? I don't see it. C? From I have read here and heard from other sources, banner towing and skydiving is still legal time, but not always accepted. D) I was enlisted, served my time and left with an honorable discharge and the GI Bill. Therefore I don't have first hand experience with the selection process, commissioning, and the going through flight school... So I couldn't fly, but as the saying goes "My parents couldn't afford to put me through college, but Uncle Sam can." Here I am, earned my ratings and going down path A. In my mind B is the closest to it. If you buy into a 'academy' type school. Isn't the the goal here, to "train like you fight" for that 121 dream job?
I agree with higher education, experience and ratings should be rewarded with better compensation. But if everyone should have an ATP before interviewing, how does that new standard become any better than the current? What's to say a first year FO with an ATP doesn't get paid minimum wage?
How does 2,000 hours in the pattern flying a 152, 172, Seminole, Dutchess transfer into flying a CRJ, ScareBus or Boeing? I don't see it.
All require positional/situational awareness and basic airman-ship skills. It is so easy to tell the guys who DIDN"T fly all those hours in the pattern: just ask them to fly an old fashioned, not backed-up-with-the-ILS-approach.... especially at night.
From I have read here and heard from other sources, banner towing and skydiving is still legal time, but not always accepted.
It counts toward that first job. I grant that the difference between 500 hours of banners is about the same as 5000, and it may not count as much as flying boxes.
If you buy into a 'academy' type school. Isn't the the goal here, to "train like you fight" for that 121 dream job?
They are selling a product: flight training. So, if I am selling the exact same product as the next guy and charging more, how can I generate customers? By selling this "We train you to be AIRLINE PILOTS!" All most do is make the instructors wear epaulets and ties and retype the checklists to "look just the same as the 121 airlines do."
But the best thing the ATP would do is eliminate those folks who have NO IDEA how to get 1500 hours. And the sweaty, grimy, UNGLAMOROUS jobs (aka. work) required to get those 1500 hours is below most people. Becoming an Airline Pilot will be
just too darn hard 