I've flown with 4000 hours F/Os who still can't fly a stable approach on a regular basis. Oh, they probably can, but they think they're too cool to do it.

And I've flown with a bunch of brand new shiny F/Os who are less than 1000 TT who are sharp as tacks, know their stuff, are motivated to learn, appreciate their responsibilities, etc.

Guess which one I'd rather fly with?

This job ain't rocket science and it's not the Space Shuttle we're operating. Some people need to get over this and grasp reality. Just sayin'...

 

Cheers to 18$/hour .

 

Ours are paid more than $18/hour by far. Industry leading in fact. Not that it's much to brag about, but it is better than many others.

Pay and good airmanship are really not connected. Or at least they shouldn't be.

 

I got hired at eagle with 1400 TT, I still thinking less than 1500 is too low.

I flew bank papers and flight instructed too for almost 3 years before getting my total flight time. Even with almost 1500 when I got hired, I really think 1500 person don't have the experience to be flying a jet or a turboprop with people in the back. I had more experience flying outside the flight instructing environment that the 85% people in my class.

We can't think about in TT, we have to think about the reality of our jobs and how lack of experience can get you in trouble.

Is not that the 121 is hard, or can't be done, but if is calle ATP is for a reason.

Everybody thinks "how would I get there?", "ahh we can get the job done with only 500TT". Of course because at the time you get 1500, 3000, 5000 hrs TT you'll see back and will say "I really was inexperience when I started 2, 3, 4, or 5 years back".

 

All you whiners listen up, this guy KNOWS it.

Sir, if perchance our paths ever cross, I welcome the opportunity to fly with you.

 

This is such a strange argument, with people picking extremes to rationalize an argument. It's like saying I know a guy that didn't even graduate high school, and is extremely rich. But I also know a guy with a graduate degree, and is waiting tables and Denny's. Therefore, going to college is a waste of time. In other words, the exception does not make the rule.

Sure, there are high time guys that suck. There are also low time guys that are awesome. But for the most part, pilots with more experience (especially if it is varied), are going to be significantly more prepared for airline training and flying the line.

 

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not against raising the bar of entry to the airlines. I'm just saying that a metric of just hours does not necessarily equate to quality. When I flew in Europe I was hired with far fewer hours than is normal in the US and this is probably why I say it's OK. But there is no question at all that I look back with horror at how great I thought I was and how sucky I really was.

I guess I don't know what to say. The ATP requirement, if/when it ever happens, is not a bad thing. But it may also have unintended consequences. There WILL be a need for pilots in this country in great numbers over the next 10 years and the traditional path of instructing, flying Barons at night, etc. will not produce the thousands of pilots needed. I fear what the airlines will try to do if there is a shortage of qualified pilots to fill seats - contract pilots from outside the US? Don't say it can't happen. Other parts of the world do it all the time.

 

Contract pilots from outside the US? From where? Most places outside the US have a MUCH greater shortage than we do, not to mention better pay and QOL. We are the cheap labor.

 

Plenty of military guys who are going to call it quits in the next few years.

 

Source?

And also, who says they're going to the airlines?