I actually did after 5 years of practice, including two here in the US. I was finally able to afford flight training and to fulfill my passion. I come from a country where standard education is almost free but flight training as you know it here is prohibitively expensive and only affordable to very wealthy individuals. As far as medical practice, no regrets whatsoever. It was just hell.
So can I keep flying my RJ Captain?

Skull

Yes but the general public doesn't see his comments that way, in other words they can't read between the lines. In order for the paying public to understand this it's going to need to be posted in front of their faces every time they buy a ticket.

Warning

You have purchase a low fare ticket that has one or more connections on a regional carrier. Due to the ultra low cost you are willing to pay these carriers have been forced to hire ultra low time pilots who are willing to work of low wages. After all you get what you pay for.

Thank you Joe Moran and best of luck in your travels!

Seriously? Did you finish your residency? You were a fully licensed, board certified surgeon in the United States and quit to become an airline pilot post 9/11?

Sounds about right.

Does it scare anybody else that doctors call what they do "practice"?
:p

Deez340,

I came here through an exchange program and the intent was to complete residency and to take the board examination at the end. Then a private medical device company offered me a full-time research position and a path to permanent residency. I then started to work only 50 hours per-week (huge improvement in QOL believe me) and did all my initial flight training part-time over several years.
Now, back to the initial topic. European commuters generally hire pilots fresh out of flight school with an average total time of 300 hours. They usually fly with 1500-2000 hrs captains. Interestingly, european pilot students exposure to IMC, congested ATC area is significantly less than here in the US, yet PTS are exactly the same. So far, their safety record is almost unremarkable. Additionally, airline training at the commuter level is almost identical to ours. Overall, just looking at the most recent accidents involving commuter airlines, I do not see a clear pattern of inexperience as being the primary factor in these accidents. Your take on this.

Skull

I love the media.

So let me get this straight. They want more pilots with 2500 hors of experience to fly for a regional. And how should people get the 2500 hours? By flight instructing for 3 or 4 years and living below poverty line? But wait!!! It's worth the sacrifice because once you get to work for a regional you get to make a whopping 20K a year!!! You get what you pay for...

I agree.....

Although I don't agree that they should carelessly quote false information, you have to remember this is the MEDIA!!!!!

Actually, they specified on their website that they received the information from airlines/pilotjobs.com, which I take to be pilotjobs.com (atp's job site) and it in fact says 1000 hour minimum. 2500 competitive.

http://www.pilotjobs.com/default.las...line&airline=8