Gardener,
They now only accept people with 750 or more. I see no real difference in a few hundred hours belting round in a light prop,non-complex a/c.
Well maybe they havent flown a Complex Aircraft by 750 hrs.
But here are some differences:
The guy wuth 200 hrs has just that 200 and no experience of the following:
1. How to handle Passengers.
2. How to handle Weather.
3. How to handle ATC.
4. How to handle Commercial pressures associated with Charter.
5. Local knowledge of certain Regions.
6. Probably more a/c TYPE handling confidence AND EXPERINECE.
7. Use in SOPs and Operational Requirements.
There are many others. And it all comes about from exposure.
An Airline isnt an abinitio Training Organisation nor needs to be.
Hiring low time guys means that.
Most notable Airlines that have Cadet Programmes , train their candidates in a Multitude of different types from Light Twins to Small Jets. This bridges the gap Im talking about but still has alot of holes, so these Cadets even when qualified are stringently monitored during there check to line. Which isnt cheap but is alot cheaper than unbogging an Overun A320 or such like incident.
Regards
Sheep