I started flying E190s after 500 hours, some of my classmates had 200 hours and are flying E190s or 737s today, its not the hours that make you a good pilot, its a wide range of skills and the ability to read situations and make decisions that will determine if you are a good pilot.

I agree with what some people say, it is ultimately the PIC that crashes the plane, but this DOES NOT relieve us F/O from our duties to ensure safe operation at all time, and this is why i think that this law IS a good idea, as hypocritical as it may sound. I was blessed with an opportunity most people never dream of, but I cant be blind to the fact that nothing beats experience.

Emery Riddle wants to protect it's business model? How DARE they?

Tens of thousands of commercial pilots have gone through schools just like this, and are heavily represented in every corporate, regional, and major airline. My gosh, planes must be falling out of the skies everywhere!:eek::eek:

Except America has the safest commercial aviation in the world, and it's the safest form of travel in the history of mankind. It is truly "Six Sigma". HOW CAN THIS POSSIBLY BE?

Short answer: CRM. Statistical data makes it eminently clear that the number one factor that caused accidents only 10-15 years ago was PILOTS, no matter what their background. United to its eternal credit remade the aviation world after it instituted mandatory CRM training after utterly unnecessary Flight 173 crash (erroneous gear indication + pilot who wouldn't listen + 2 more pilots afraid to speak up + fuel starvation = pointless loss of life).

I think you could present the argument that pilots from flight schools who are indoctrinated from day one in CRM principles have the best attitude BY FAR to safely conduct commercial flights. There is no "fighter pilot" mentality, there is no "I've saved the ship 1000 times from the student pilot in my C172" ego.

Thank goodness Congress is here to "fix" this incredibly safe form of transportation.

I graduated from ERAU. I have seen some things that were definitely not ethical, and then I see this which adds to the list.

After being an instructor for a year I support the 1500hr requirement. I've seen kids going to an accelerated flight school and getting 800 hours in a year, and when I check them out in airplanes they may know how to takeoff, but don't really carry the decision making skills at a private pilot level.

Just curious,

What are your credentials? Don't pull a Tim Martins please...

I'd like to hear your opinion of the "fighter pilot" mentality. ;)
The military has always had a pretty good training program and have supplied the P121 airlines with competent pilots since before you and I were around. In today's environment, and for years past, each military pilot (I'm sure all branches, but I'll only vouch for USN/USMC/USCG) is indoctrinated in CRM from the very start of flight training.

USMCFLYR

EDIT: I'll even edit the question to a less agressive posture and ask for the poster's opinion of such a mentality.
iPilot - then the poster's sentence as well needs some massaging. At this point - this poster's statement is a derogatory indictment of a fighter pilot's mentality and I'd like to hear the poster's thoughts on the subject.

I think he wasn't referring to real fighter pilots, just pilots who think they are.

Thats the, fighter pilots SUCK! because i'm not/can't be one, mentality. Coupled with the, pilots of my background and experience level are the most competent, mentality.

While you don't have as much experience calling in-range for 3 wheelchais and a lav-sevice, i'm confident that with proper training you can reach an adequate level of competency in the 121 world.:p

By excluding fighter pilots and flight instructors he is basically insinuating that the most competent airline pilot is a Riddle-grad or similar.

Thats why i asked about his credentials. I wonder what they are...

Yes, please do tell...

Where?

Not in the U.S. i would assume...

I'm not sure about other people's experiences with foreign students' training and military training but in my opinion they are held to much higher standards than any flight school or FBO out there. I instructed both Japanese and Chinese students. They did not have the option like Americans do to fail check rides multiple times. The ones I taught, if they failed twice, they packed their stuff and were sent back to their country. I know people who failed their CFI checkride 5+ times, but they eventually got lucky and passed so they are teaching now. Same thing with the military, you cannot fail and not perform to standards as a habit.

Its not easy comparing the way the foreign airlines train to the way we train because it is very different. Americans have trouble telling someone they suck at flying and need to go find something else to do. The foreign airlines have no problem with it.