PP1,
Your statement:
"This is why we don't put 350-hour Robbie pilots in Bell 430's...or in *any* commercial job for that matter."
I stand by my response, that "I do, I have, and I will continue to do so". I failed to elaborate, posting mid afternoon over a cup of coffee, but, mea culpa.
I've had the priviledge of putting one low time (c.200+hrs) piston only helicopter pilot into a JetRanger, after much assessment, discussion with our insurers (QBE Aviation, who have always been extremely supportive), and supervision. She is doing well, and moving steadily along a progressive path of more complex operations as her skills improve. Other helicopter pilots with <500 hours have started with a modicum of turbine time, but have progressed to eventually move on, to such as EMS, Police, etc. They are excellent pilots, and I am pleased for them.
On the fixed wing side, generally our pilots start with as little as 3-400hrs TT, and are able to fly well maintained machines, day & night, building up experience under good supervision, until they can move on to multi/IFR ops. Some have gone on to airlines, some to RFDS, all have gone with as sound a background of practical aviation as we can give. The alternative for too many young hopefuls these days is to be a hangar rat, taken advantage of by less scrupulous operators, and with a slim chance of getting to their chosen career.
Without some of us "older" f*rts giving back to the industry that which we have been lucky enough to get, there will be a dearth of good pilots coming through. I cannot see the advantage of denigrating a low time pilot simply because he or she has less than 1000 hours: some have developing skills which will put them ahead of you or I, given half a chance. None of us is perfect, but it behooves us to help the next generation, not hinder it.