Any thoughts on if this rule will affect international inbounds with low time guys at the helm?
I personally think this rule is a little excessive. As stated before, some guys are great at 250 and others will never get it.
Let the business regulate it's self. Just remove the barriers of liability and lawsuits for wrongful death. After the Colgan crash, if Continental could be sued to the point of extinction, other mainline carriers would take direct control of pilot recruitment and training. No insurance company would insure you if you have a spotty record. That is where the change need to come from.
Remember, you only need a private multi with the complex and high performance to fly a B200. What does that take? 60 hours? You would never touch one because of the insurance. That same mentality needs to fins its way into the airline world.
As for the industry going down the drain. Deregulation was not the cause. Partial deregulation is. Airline management is now able to slash and burn benefits, but we need to go to mediation before we can strike. End the RLA and let the Unions get what they can and it will all come out in the wash. A true free market with no Govt. control on who does what work when, that will make an accurate pay. Not depressed or over inflated. Just what we are willing to fly.