Originally Posted by
Whacker77
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.
Having a CFI, CFII, MEI, and any amount of "instruction" in those areas does not mean that you are ready for flying in the 121 world. If you've been instructing, you have probably never had moderate icing, had to deal with time constraints (i.e. holdover times, being on time for departures and arrivals). As an instructor you're probably not used to shooting an approach above 200 KIAS. There are many things that instructing really doesn't prepare you for in the 121 world. I've personally seen many people with a lot of dual given (1000+ hrs.), wash out of training at the 121 and 135 level. They wash out at a higher rate than someone that has done some real flying.