I'd say less than 10% at SkyWest do not have ATP mins but they will soon since all had at least 1000 hours when hired.

I think Piedmont and PSA could both fall in that category. They may have higher published mins (don't know what they really are) but are they sticking to those minimums. I was hired in 2004 at PDT with less than the published mins. I wasn't a Perdue or UND guy either, just one of the few with turbine time in the logbook.

It shouldn't be too big of a mess when this thing hits if the airlines start requiring more time now. Someone hired today with 250 hours could very well fly enough to qualify for the restricted ATP before the reg hits.

My favorite part:

"The only place you can get experience is in the cockpit of an airplane experiencing all that goes on," Kuwitsky said. "Now you can get 3,000 or 4,000 hours of experience in a crop-duster — that has no translation to our operation."

My question is; how does 1500 hours of touch and goes from the right seat of a 172 going to help one to fly a transport category airplane either? Most of the things that a new pilot does to build time do not apply to airline flying at all.

The best way to build time to become an airline pilot is to serve as one. The flight deck is a system of mentor and apprentice. It only takes one guy to fly the plane. The other is there as back up and to learn. Not to be a second captain.

Skyhigh

There are transitional jobs from fresh commercial certificate to an RJ. It's dangerous, to introduce a pilot to his first ILS on a 70 seat RJ in icing conditions. If I were captain, I would like someone in the right seat that isn't worthless because he's too nervous to actual assist in a critical phase of flight.

I want a guy next to me to be the pilot MONITORING and CHALLENGING, not the pilot WATCHING.

No dude it takes two qualified pilots to fly safely, not even talking about legally. But would you know?

Stick em in a 1900 first then off to the RJ.

Looking at the path I took to the right seat at a regional, I instructed for about three years before I got hired. I will say that I would not have the same caliber of skill in the cockpit if I didn't spend that time teaching. I gained very valuable experience instructing, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I look back in the mirror at my experience level right out of my commercial multi check ride and I get goosebumps thinking that at that point I could be in the right seat at a regional.

Going straight from being a student to right seat FO with nothing in between you never develop responsibility by having to manage and run your own show, nor the confidence in your own skills and judgement to offer anything to the crew environment, like challenging a potentially bad decision.

I think they are referring to an ATP. In the bill the FO's will need an ATP and 3/4 of current FO's do not have an ATP. I didn't read anything about hours.

Edit: disregard I am a moron. It is hours

No Problemo...