ATP Requirement?
 

Guys,

I've recently heard that in order to fly for any airline (regionals, majors, cargo, etc.) you must have your ATP ticket in hand, therefore obviously at least having 1500hrs total time. Now I don't know how accurate this is but does anyone have any information on this?

This is not a requirement at this time.

But there are some pending regulatory changes due to the Colgan airlines accident. One of these is a bill in congress which will require all airline pilots to hold an ATP three years after the passage of the bill. Assuming the bill takes another 6-12 months, you might have as long as 4 years to either get hired without an AT, or to get the ATP.

If you are already a professional pilot, it should not be a problem for you. It will be hard on wannabees who do not want to work as CFIs.

I am in agreement with these upcoming changes requiring an ATP for operations requiring such a certificate. A pilot flying in an airline operation should be an airline transport pilot.

However, I take umbrage to the fact that you consider any person who doesn't build time as a CFI, a "wannabe".

I am against 250 hour wonders in the cockpit as much as the next person, but have you considered the fact that some people just don't excel at teaching?

One can be an excellent pilot, and yet at the same time a very poor instructor. Or would you rather a person earn their CFI certificate just for the heck of it without regard to the quality of instruction they provide, just so they won't be labelled a wannabe?

Quality instruction requires the correct personality, which many people do not possess.

I built my time via a different method, but still "paid my dues" if you will. The point is that there are other ways to build a solid foundation of experience.


To address the original post, Rickair is correct. Currently there is no requirement, though this may soon change.

I was referring to folks who want to go straight from a puppy mill to a shiny RJ.

But don't be too afraid of teaching...those who simply can't learn to teach (or refuse to do so) will usually do poorly in a CRM or leadership environment (ie airline captain). If someone can't deal with other people, they need to stick with single-pilot work...nothing worse than a captain who considers his crew to be just another aircraft subsystem.

You don't have to get your CFI to build time, I didn't. There are plenty of jobs to do out there to get your feet wet; Skydive flying, pipeline patrol, banner towing, traffic watch, seasonal wild fire patrol, right seat 135 and others... If push comes to shove, you could always buy your own plane and fly the snot out of it.