My sim partner is a "300 hour wonder," so I can answer the question quite honestly.

He would land the plane. You see, duck, both of us are taking the same checkride, and have to fly to the same standards.

You seem to forget the two months of training were getting. ALL of us.

 

Big difference between flying the canned sim profiles and flying the line!

 

Two months of training + 300hrs doesn't equal much. There are many factors true. But history doesn't lie. Low hours equal much higher probability of failure regardless of training.

 

I agree that getting though the sim, even IOE, doesn't create a competent jet F/O. Outside experience, brought to the table, is a huge asset the low timers don't understand or want to consider.

In any case, I challenge Capts getting to fly with 300 hour wonders to chime in on this. Hearing a bunch of low timers tell me I'm full of crap hardly sways the opinion of this UPS Capt.

Glad it will never be my problem, in any case.

 

Don't confuse stick and rudder ability in a new jet solely off of experience. The key about experience is developing those decision making skills and CRM skills that develop over time.

You're right that you can't judge solely based on time, but that's the only real measureable means we have.

 

Comair Pilot Recruiting- Since December, our goal was to hire 156 pilots, and we hired 149. 2007 Average new hire total time-1386hrs, average multi-engine time-467hrs. The bulk of this hiring is to cover attrition. Twelve-month attrition average is 28; 4-month attrition average is 23. The staffing model plans on 31 per month.

 

That's Comair.... And I bet those numbers will be changing a bit now. We're talking mesa.

In any rate I bet you'd make more ground yelling at the insurance companies to up the mins then at mesa.

 

If my partner can fly a single engine missed IMC out of aspen, into a hold and then shoot a VOR appr with a 25 kt crosswind down to mins, then I'd trust him to fly my family anywhere.

 

Great! Let us know when he does it in the real world...

 

I've flown with some 300hr wonders. Some have been pretty decent and dare I say better than the 1000hr CFI. My biggest complaint on AVG with the 300hr wonder would be a complete lack of skill on the radios!!!!!!!!!!! and second crosswind landing and t-off abilities! as for decision making skills................ it's rarely an issue part 121, the flight gets cancelled before pilots have a chance to screw things up. And for the jet the capt has a min of 2500TT.

Props to the 300hr wonder who passes dash training I believe at one point we had the highest failure rate in the industry.

With all that being said my concern is for the 300hr pilot who makes it to the left seat eventually. Having skipped out on all the outside experience that comes with CFI or 135 ops. There mettle has yet to be tested and if required to fly outside the automation envelope I wonder if they could improvise. Oh yeah I think it's a great program if they go to the b-1900 1st and get some stick time, ice time, navagation time etc.

Finally for all the mesa bashers keep up the good work. We are starving for pilots and management might have to award a real contract. Course I hope I'm not still here by then.
My .02