I'm in the most distinct of minorities because I generally oppose the 1500 hour rule. I definitely think it is well intentioned, but I think it has more to do with public relations than anything else.

Many of the news stories over the past year have made it seem as though a 250 hour pilot could act as a captain. Of course we know this is not true as you need an ATP, but the public sees the number 250 and the number 1500 and sees something totally different.

I've written many times I think this rule is not necessarily benficial, but if it passes, it passes. Having said that, I don't think it's going to change things. I think we'll see a lot more time building and cost sharing by up and coming pilots. It's the old safety pilot thing. Is that really a good thing?

Having 1500 hours does mean a pilot has had more chances to experience tough situations, but I think we're going to see lots of guys with 1300 hours of pattern work in C150's. Is that really going to help matters. In past iterations of this bill, many pilot factories were even given exemptions.

If changing the quality of the hours is really the best way to improve skill and technique, why not require a new ATP which requires 1200 hours, but also mandates a pilot have a CFI, CFII, and an MEI and a certain amount of instruction in those areas. I think that would do more to improve safety than anything else.