LeftWing

What's the problem? Much of that article is too true.

TPROP4ever

The answer the average "Joe" would give is something like this: I want a round trip ticket in first class from NY to LA for $99, and I want to be able to carry 600 lbs of luggage, 4 carry-ons and those damn flight attendants better wait on me hand and foot. Oh wait I forgot my kids medicine can you get my checked bag from below so I can give little Joey his Riddilin, oh never mind, Ill just let him be a little hellion during the flight. Oh and if you dont give me what I want, I'll talk to the WSJ and tell them what a horrible airline this is??? What did you ask about pilots again?

JustAMushroom

I think it is a well written report and I can't find any big errors.

It does, however, give the impression that the majority of regional pilots (except Eagel??) hired in the last 5 years had less than 300 hrs. I believe that is an exception rather than the norm. One large regional I know has over 3000 pilots and not one of them was hired with less that 1000 hours. I believe the low time hires were selected at a few (2 - 4) carriers, certainly not the norm. BTW, I personally know 2 pilots at UAL who were hired with 500hrs!

SmitteyB

Name the one who never hired under 1000. Skywest and Horizon BOTH hired under 1000TT as I friends at both who had 800ish.

And there were MUCH MUCH more who hired with low time.

ExpressJet
ASA
American Eagle
Gulfstream
Colgan
TSA
GoJet
Comair
Piedmont
PSA
Air Wisconsin

The Juice

The article was written by Andy Pasztor and just about every article from the WSJ that has an aviation theme is by him.

After 3407 I admit I was angry at his reporting, mostly because I was still upset about the accident and could not look at his reporting objectively. I have emailed him a few times about his fact finding and information he uses for his articles and I do have to say, he is pretty well researched as far as the media goes. I has happy to see his accuracy on Colgan's new FO training (PC's every 6 months and line checks) and impressed by the overall accuracy of the article.

It was a well written article and can not disagree with what he says, the facts speak for themselves and we as a regional group can not be upset when outsiders require more from us. The public will always want to pay the lowest price and untill our companies and codeshare partners stop the 20,000 year FO practice, it will always be this way

Ziggyfuzz

My Father In Law was hired at Pan Am in 1967 with 600 hrs and NO multi time! (I do suppose it helped that HIS father was already a captain, #107 on the seniority list and was a Naval Aviator prior to)

iPilot

And the public should always want the cheapest ticket possible. They just assume that all pilots are well trained and compensated for their services. Just like we just assume there are proper safe guards when we go out to dinner or buy a new TV from Best Buy.

The problem is the deck is stacked against us with regulations and the economic structure of this business. We need to focus on changing this structure if we want to end this madness. Getting the public informed is our first step.

Big3win

The difference is your father in law would not upgrade with as little as 12-18 month's on the property! Big difference sitting 10-18 years prior to a Capt. checkout.

3GreenKSNA

Speaking of Commuting, hearing right now on capitol.

Aviation safety committee, is holding a hearing on pilot fatigue and commuting. Feed is avail on cnn.com. I could not find a direct link. I found it by first clicking on the live video link and then it was listed in the side tool bar.

iPilot

First off he was a Naval aviator, so those 600 hours were much more action packed than someone who went to ATP or ERAU and flight instructed for 6 months.

Secondly, as was posted by someone else, he didn't upgrade very quick. Chances are he sat sideways for several years, then to the right seat. And probably countless years after that until he took command. All that time he was learning from the seasoned vets in the Captain's chair. Regionals do not have that kind of mentoring structure any more. So today's captains only learned from other regional captains. This is not just a problem with safety or good piloting but mainly a professional problem. If you "grew up" in aviation around guys who have been in the business for 30 years then you'll have a very different perspective on how to behave as an airline pilot.