Originally Posted by
Gnadenburg
Here we have a small window where experience is of value and the hard lessons of other countries ( Coglan etc ) can be presented in an argument in favour of improved pay and conditions for pilots.
Colgan 3407 had nothing to do with the amount of hours each pilot had. It was caused by an incompetent Captain who had failed numerous checkrides who shouldn’t have been in that seat. And an FO who was severely fatigued, sick and who no proper training for poor weather conditions. Both had prior GA time before joining the airline.
The US 1500hr rule was one of the most knee jerk reactions ever. It’s caused regional airlines to basically recruit anyone with 1500 flying hours and a pulse to occupy the right hand seat of an E-jet (even people with previously disqualifying conditions like drink driving convictions are being snapped up) and then upgraded to Captain at the bare minimum 1000hrs FO time (just over a years flying) even if they believe they are not ready/competent enough for a Captaincy. If I was in the US frankly I’d avoid flying on one of their regional carriers. Not worth the risk.