I think the point is that they must do internships. To gain that real world experience under the tutelage of an experienced doctor. As you know this is not a requirement for airline pilots. Experience or training like this, in some form, would be great experience for a new pilot before he/she gets to an airline. I think courses from acredited schools should be given some sort of credit.

For all you guys that mock Riddle and other schools like that, you have no idea what your talking about. I got a much better knowledge base in commercial aviation particularly, airline operations then if i just flew around towing a banner or got my training at some mom and pop school. I was much more prepared for airline training than someone who had no exposure to it at all. We had classes in advanced aerodynamics, advanced aircraft systems and avionics, power plants, weather, CRM, performance, safety, a CRJ course, and so on. I think you get the point. You mean to tell me that these course do not help someone prepare for a career as an airline pilot what so ever? That they have no bearing on a person's qualifications to be an airline pilot? Your arguement with they new doctor proves that very point. They MUST have certain course, or they can not continue into their profession. Why do you think Riddle guys get hired at places? Because companies know that they have had these courses which makes them a much better candidate for a pilot position. So a 1500 hr banner pilot with no advanced training is a better candidate than a, say 800 hr guy with advanced training?

I've been in airline systems classes where people had no clue about high altitude aerodymaics, jet systems, high altitude weather. Some didn't know why most jets have a swept wing. How they got threw the interview I don't know. At this level you should have some knowledge of those things. I just don't think your initial training course at an airline is the place to be exposed to that for the first time. Courses at an accredited school prepare you for that. Knowledge is power.

I'm not saying that I was ready to fly for the airlines right out of the box, I wasn't, that's why I CFI'd and did some 135 stuff. I'm also not saying that I know it all because I went to Riddle, or that I'm the greatest pilot ever because I went to Riddle, or that Riddle is the greatest school ever. We definitely should have a much higher time requirement. I agree, that real world experience is everything. But if your real world experience consists of single-engine flight time over a beach for 1500hrs, I don't think that makes the cut. Another problem is how to make it fair as well.

End rant. Rebuttals?