saab2000

Then don't take it out on the low-time guys. Take it out on the companies who hire them. I detect a lot of jealousy among people who had to 'claw their way to a CFI job'. I was hired at a major carrier in Europe with 260 hours and will stand up for qualifed pilots with low time anytime over a 9000 hour pilot who has no business with even a PPL. Like the tool I am currently flying with this month.

Yes, experience is a lot. And hopefully experience sits in the left seat and right seat. But good judgement, maturity and skill are not always the result of thousands of hours of flight time. Many times yes. But not always.

But I guess we have all voted for market economics and fewer regulations. This is the result.

If the market wants low-time pilots and fewer regs, so be it. Who is to decide the arbitrary number of hours that a pilot needs to be safe?

The knuckledraggers have no business in the airplane regardless of flight time.

To base hiring qualifications solely on hours is absurd.

IMNSHO.

de727ups

"I detect a lot of jealousy among people who had to 'claw their way to a CFI job'"

You see it as jealousy? I see it as disgust that the bar has gone so low. Call it what you want but jealous it most certainly isn't.

Anyhow, saying a 260 hour guy can do a better job the a 9000 hour guy who shouldn't even have a PPL? I'm guessing he's your Capt? You call him a "tool"?

Oh yeah...it's all starting to make sense now....

schoolio

I do agree that 300 hours is a bit low. I'm honestly surprised the insurance companies are allowing it.

That being said, I remember just one year ago when I was trying to break into this industry. I had 1000 hours, which was "low time", even tho most of it was military time. Unfortunately it's become a matter of supply and demand.

de727ups

"Unfortunately it's become a matter of supply and demand."

It has, and I agree it's unfortunate...

saab2000

The age old argument about flight time required to get a job is never going to end.

It is ultimately a question of market economics and this is where it is.

I guess my point is that we shouldn't blame the young and inexperienced pilots for the fact that they get jobs with low time. It is the state of the industry that means that the supply of high time pilots is dried up.

Was I a super pilot at 260 hours? Absolutely not. But that was how the market worked when I was hired and that is how it is working now.

Peace.

PS - I have thousands of hours now. All of it SIC because of market conditions. Unfortunately, it is the way the ball bounces sometimes.

flyfresno

I read an article that said that mins are just going to keep dropping, and pretty soon the FAA will be forced to adopt this ICAO training we have all been hearing about...just pass a few tests and go straight into a one year airline/aircraft specific training program and then straight to a regional...no prior flying experience necessary. You wanna talk about lowering the bar for the entire industry...

saab2000

That's how it's done in Europe. Except to 'just pass a few tests' is not easy. Those are not easy tests, I can assure you of that. It is extremely selective.

There are new-hire pilots in Europe flying Boeings and Airbusses and they are not falling out of the sky there.

Anyway, the sky is not falling folks. Besides, look at the bright side. Maybe the market conditions which have led to this will also allow the pilots to have some leverage to force improvements in pay and working conditions.

ghilis101

i would much rather fly with a jet trained "low-timer" than a 1500 hour CFI. the training is more tailored to airline flying. i would also rather fly with a 500 hour jet trained student than a 2000 hour single seat fighter pilot for obvious CRM reasons (hard to teach an old dog new tricks). that being said, decision making, maturity, and real world scenarios will come with time spent in that right seat.

it is what it is my friends. you can either try to do something about, which you most likely cant, or you can keep an open mind about it. bottom line is pay isnt going up at the regional level