Not sure the "military" arguement makes sense. Any military pilot can get 1500 hours in a couple years...except maybe the pointy nose types. It's one's choice to go that avenue, and it may take them a few more years to hit the 1500 hr min. ALPA should NOT support reducing the 1500 hr min.

The minimum to fly as a commercial pilot is 200 hours. ALPA has been the prime mover in trying to get the minimums raised. The Colgan accident gave the needed push to finally get it done. ALPA is in favor of raising not lowering the minimum. They have proposed a exception based on the quality of training. The could stick with the straight 1500 hour rule however the ATA would more then likely succeed in killing the rule and we would be stuck with the current 200 hours.

It's the "exception" I was talking about. Let's not water this thing down while there is an opportunity to significantly raise the entry level bar!

First, understand that there is a cut out already put in to the law that was passed earlier this year. ALPA, is not the creator of this cutout. It is law. It will be done and defined on way or another. ALPA is part of the process to define the cutout, not to create it. That part has been done. Unless you can get the Legislative and Executive Branches of government to rewrite the law, the cutout stands. How it is defined is what is being determined.

They've also been the prime mover in helping the ATA with the exemption.

You, or should I say I, get the impression that ALPA says to the ATA something like: "The FAA said 1500 hours is the minimum airline entry level. You guys (ATA) say that is too much of a barrier to entry and will drive pilot costs through the roof. We (ALPA) will recommend 500 with some training and it will sound like we compromised...when in reality we just want more bodies so we have more influence in DC.

Sailing -

I'll take the higher (certainly less traveled on this board) road of saying that I don't know exactly what is taking place with this in DC. You seem to always have some sort of inside knowledge, or insider perspective, that makes ALPA's most seemingly egregious acts appear justified. Again, I'm the kind of guy who's awareness to this issue comes from reading a USA Today article that illustrates how unions representing major airlines are for this - like CAPA. That is, unions NOT including the one who's receiving my dues. In fact, my union goes against these other, overly demanding unions, and proposes something less. I would imagine the lion's share of our pilot group is like me - not enlightened with privelaged acess to information like you.
But, what about these other unions? Do they not have access to the same info as ALPA? I know ALPA likes to brag how they are the only pilot union invited to the important parties on the hill, but is that really why an organization like CAPA has missed what ALPA sees so clearly? Sure, I'm just a little guy who reads the paper between my mil and Delta duty. But, these other unions - they gotta have a few sharp shooters with shiny pants and ties who know a thing or two. They probably have a few guys who have more information than even you. So, why the big disparity in support for what seems like something so obviously beneficial to pilots? I guess what I am asking is: How is ALPA (and you) so much smarter than everybody else on this? Why are all the other unions just not smart enough to see that 1500 hours will not pass? I guess I should just be thankful that my union is so much smarter than all those other dummy unions who clearly have no idea how things really work.

Think all Sailling is trying to say is that you try to get what is possible, not whats perfect...because we have a different definition of what is perfect vs ATA. Don't like it either, but that seems to be the world we exist in.

And, it seems that it's not only CAPA who is foolish enough to support the 1500 hour rule, bult also those silly guys over at American.

Allied Pilots Association: Senator Schumer is Right?New-Hire Pilots Should Have at Least 1,500 Hours of Flight Time - DailyFinance

I sure would hate to be sending my dues checks to those idiots, foolheartedly supporting raising the standard of our industrly entry level to unattainable heights. If only they knew what ALPA knows - 11,500 pilots could see their dues spent on supporting something more reachable.

Or, the schmucks over at SWAPA. Now, they clearly don't have the inside track like ALPA does. Maybe it's because their just too small to be invited to the important stuff. What have they really acheived in this industry anyway? Look here at their foolish support of this obvious pipe dream.....

SWAPA Praises Passage of Landmark Safety Reforms - SmartBrief

I understand you iceman, but I'm starting to think I'd like to exist in the world that CAPA/SWAPA/APA seems to think we exist in.........