To further add to the quantity vs. quality debate, the USA Today did an interesting article covering the topic.

How much training should an airline pilot get? - USATODAY.com

 

I can say I completely agree with the arguements against 1500hrs. Unfortunately, "measuring" someone's experiences is impossible to do on a massive scale. There's always someone that figures if they can cut $XXX in training cost, it will pay off in the short term, but this is where I do feel some gov't oversight should take care of that problem, but once again finding competent Gov't folks to oversee these is another issue.

 

Our "experience" problems in the industry right now have less to do with basic flying skills and more to do with judgement and maturity...both aeronautical and life.

The 1500 hour rule doesn't automatically provide good judgement, but it ensures you won't have an airline CA who has never been PIC outside of a rigorously supervised training program. Think about that...a kid who has never held a supervisory job and never been PIC in the real world can realistically be in charge of a 90 seat airplane at age 24.

I think there are three traits I'd like in my CA...

- Aeronautical skill: This is not hard, and our current 121 training "should" guarantee a minimum here as long as the colgans and mesas are not allowed to push people through who don't belong. Unfortunately a lot of that is up to the FAA...I heard stories of 80 hours sim and 100 hours IOE when everybody was desperate and hiring wet commercials. Maybe the FAA should limit the additional training allowed (kind of like the military). They also need to ensure that airlines are not ramrodding people through training...basically enforce the existing standards.

- Aeronautical Judgement: You get this from flight hours. You get more of it in 91/135 than you are ever going to get as a 121 FO (unless you have a REALLY bad 121 day). A really smart entry-level pilot who is self motivated to study can learn from the mistakes of others. But many of the folks we get in the regional biz need to learn a few lessons for themselves. This is where the 1500 hours comes in. Personally I think it should 1000 PIC...buying an opportunity to ride along in the right seat of a single-pilot 135 airplane isn't exactly cutting it here.

- Life experience/Leadership: Major airline pilots have this because they all had ten years in the military or civilian aviation first. 1500 hours might help a little bit, if you have to work for the flight hours and it takes some time. But ultimately entry-level regional pilots are probably going to be a little short on this unless they are ex-military or career changers. The regionals have to institute CA leadership/mentoring programs, just like the military does for junior officers.

That's my perfect world...but I'll settle for 1500 hours, if that keeps wet commercials out of 121.

 

How much training should an airline pilot get?


My favorite part:

"Historical data suggest that most accidents are caused by captains with extensive experience. A 1994 safety study by the NTSB found that in accidents between 1978 and 1990 caused by the crew, more than 80% occurred when the captain was at the controls."

How much training should an airline pilot get? - USATODAY.com

Does anyone know when the 1500 hour minimum is supposed to take effect?

Skyhigh

 

Makes sense though, the CRM concept was still new back then, so FO's were probably scared or lacked the confidence to speak up.

 

I'm guessing the reason the captain is at the controlls is in 80+% of those cases the captain was the most experienced person in the plane and took control. Perhaps at a point that nothing could be done but still took control and skewed the numbers.

 

Possibly, but complacency is a huge issue with some "experienced" pilots also....

 

Complacency and arrogance are more dangerous than low time pilots. Both of the buffalo pilots had more than the suggested minimums. The real problem is low wages and the ridiculous lifestyles that pilots have to live.

Skyhigh

 

Then when pilots get to say 10,000 hrs we should cut them off?

 

No they didn't. At the time of the crash they had more than the suggested mins. When they started their airline careers however they had significantly less. That is the problem. The fundamentals have all but been eliminated from a professional pilots repertoire. Hind sight is 20/20 and I don't like knocking on pilots who paid for their mistakes with their lives but the fundamentals weren't there. Pilots need more experience before moving on to the airlines. Low wages and ridiculous lifestyles do play a role also.