There is such a thing called "The Aviation Ladder." It starts with Cessnas as the bottom step, then duchesses and barons, then king airs, then saab-340's, Beech 1900's, then CRJ's, then DC-9's, Airbus 319's, 757's and 747-400.


When pilots try to jump up a couple of steps it jeopardizes safety. At 250 hours, you should be building flight time in a baron or duchess. Around a 1,000 hours, you should be right seat in a kingair. Around 1500 hours, blasting along at 550 mph at 37,000 feet in a CRJ while skirting a thunderstorm, that's still alot for a 1500 hour pilot, but by climbing each step in the Aviation Ladder, you will feel more so in place.

A 250 hour wonder pilot at LGA tends to be a total meltdown on the radio.