Originally Posted by
f1yhigh
Minimum requirements to join airlines, that is. Having a look at the Virgin min requirements for the ATR, and even the jets, 10 years ago no one would have dreamed of joining these Aussie carriers with such low hours.
Sign of the times!!
For over 40 years BEA/BOAC now BA have recruited cadet pilots straight out of Flying College. CPL (Frozen ATPL subjects passed) with 250 ish total hours, direct as P2 onto B737/Trident/B757 and now Airbus A320 variants. (There is no S/O cruise pilot, position practised in the Airline, all joiners are fully trained for two crew ops after Line training)
There was/is now, no big GA/Military pool to recruit from.
A high education standard and rigorous selection/aptitude procedure is followed by 2 years flying training and airline Type rating.
50 or so route training sectors with a Training Capt., and then rostered only with experienced Capts for the first six months when released on two crew Line flying.
Many of the initial trainees have now retired with an unblemished safety record, as Concorde/Wide Body Capts. This recruitment path continues today, also with a mix of ex Airline /Military, with no safety issues. It's the selection and training that is important, not pure flying hours.