Too old...

"A little more detail and insight concerning the pilot flying your airliner reveals the following: Historically the career path to a Captain’s seat took many years. After college a pilot would typically put in 6 to 10 years of military or civilian flying and then move on to the airlines. The pilot would then begin his/her airline flying in the Flight Engineer seat. Eventually the pilot would be promoted to First Officer. Often more than 20 years after s/he began flying, and literally millions of dollars worth of flight experience, the pilot would finally upgrade to Captain of a jet airliner. The FAA “minimums” were never the true “minimums” for the job because the “average” applicant far exceeded the “minimums”. A significant safety margin occurred as airlines sought out pilots with the highest level of education, training, experience and physical attributes available. Compensation packages were very attractive and the airlines could select exceptionally qualified individuals to pilot commercial airliners.

Today things are quite different. As self-inflicted financial stress and competitive pressures grew, the “race to the bottom” forced the airlines that once had the luxury of seeking out the best pilots money could buy, to find the cheapest pilots money could buy. In the United States the FAA determines the “minimum” qualifications to perform the duties of a commercial airline pilot. We are now seeing airlines put pilots in very complex jet aircraft who barely meet the “minimums”. The public unknowingly assumes the government provides adequate safeguards when they buy a ticket, and airline management feels secure they can point the blame to the FAA if something goes wrong. Excellent industry safety records have allowed deliberate reductions in safety margins to facilitate cost reductions. This is where morality collides with free market forces. A safety record is history. The thing that matters right now is the flight you are about to take. The obligation should be to minimize identifiable risk, and operate every flight with the highest level of safety, not the lowest level of cost."



The good old days. Unfortunately, since 9/11 there are a whole lot less kids in college earning a degree AND their commercial/multi/CFI/CFII/MEI, (tens of thousands in debt) just to spend the next 4 to 6 years living off of foodstamps to enter the airline world where year 1 pay you are on foodstamps (Continental). Furloughs and disgruntled pilots everywhere, why would any 18/19 year old want to enter into this misery? The military is providing no where near the pilots it used to. I know several fighter pilots and heavy pilots that have left at ten years of service to go to grad school or to pursue something else because they have absolutely zero interest in the airline world.

Friends at Mesa/ASA/Pinnacle, etc, tell me they are losing pilots like crazy to the airlines right now with little qualified pilots to replace them (some commuters are hiring 250 hour total time folks because there is no one else to hire!). AND lets face it (this should get you going), flying an airliner now is no where near as challenging as it was 20 years ago (Every RJ: glass cockpits, FMS, auto land, "Hey dude put down the magazine we just landed," We did? I mean, Oh, OK." "You need to pay more attention." "Why, I just sit here the whole time and watch the plane fly. Give me my $1,500 a month a leave me alone.")

Until jets start crashing left and right, nothing will change.

Hate to burst your bubble but the T-props and RJ's the 250 hour guys are being hired to fly don't land themselves. Automation costs money and most of the new jets arrive on the line without auto land or auto throttles. Even with that stuff you need to have a clue with what's going on. It's only a matter of time before the growing inexperience of flight crews bites this industry in the ass.

"flying an airliner now is no where near as challenging as it was 20 years ago"

I've flown Convairs and 727's, vintage more than 20 years ago. And I've flown 757/767's. I'd say the new planes are easier to fly and the workload is less, but I don't know if I'd say it's less of a challenge. It's just, different.....

Seaav8tor,

Are you a pilot? Most pilots I know, myself included, either can't (or don't have the attention span to) read this many words (I tried quoting it to make a point but my computer crashed).

Speaking of making a point, the word 'point' (as in get to the...) describes a small, relatively sharp surface. When painters, sculptors, doctors, etc.. try to create their masterpieces, they all use instruments with fine points rather than large, blunt, cumbersome objects like telephone poles and 1000 word forum posts.

I think you have a very persuasive argument, however I think probably 2 people actually read it. As with all my 40 page college papers, the same could have been said in one paragraph. You could have a masterpiece and attract much more of an audience... if you could just find a way to get to the point.

-yes, for the last 31 years

-airline management failed the industry

-they want you to pay for it

-here is your foe http://www.aircon.org/

-they do not care who lives, dies, or pilots the aircraft

-the MPL will be used when there are no takers for the job at minimum wage

Is that to the point enough?

Really?? I see the barriers to entry as going up. Smaller and smaller of military pilots are required and for those not lucky enough to military aircraft rentals are at an all time high. So it now takes more money to get started in this biz. Yes one can get hired with lower time than 10-15 yrs ago but we saw the same in the early 80's and mid 60's. Cyclical in nature it is. I haven't really seen the screening and testing go down and as far as I know check-rides are still required, at least the what my local Fed told me after my latest type ride last month. The astonaut physical is a whole other ball of wa. That wasn't required by the Feds but by the airlines themselves. I heard a story of the doc at AA admitting to the fact of he didn't like you when you walked in the door he would find something wrong and bounce you from the medical and thereby causing an unwilling applicant his career. Some doc huh.

Does that really shock you? Some check airmen & examiners have been doing it for years. That's NOTHING new.

Tom

I knew several MILITARY Flt Surgeons who were just looking for a reason to fail you... Hell I know an AME who use to practice near RDU that was the same way.

And for the record the Hercules was/is an awesome plane to fly..and no we didnt have glass... like the new J models.

Very good post I liked all the information. Thank you.