Following on from this, it is not just one airline but many jumping on the same bandwagon. There is no need to be pouring 200 hour "experienced" pilots into the right hand seat of a jet airliner. Although this has happened to some degree for quite some time, it seems now to be
de rigueur for all airlines to adopt this as a widespread recruiting practice.
Traditionally and sensibly, the bulk of First Officers in such an operating environment were recruited from the military and smaller turboprop operators etc. Given the state of the market at any one time, these requirements were either tightened or relaxed depending on supply. Some larger companies offered a limited number of courses to selected candidates with very low experience on the acceptance that there would be a longer learning curve and more intensive training requirements. Such was the status quo.
Then in recent years it seems that one or two companies wondered how to save costs with their newly ordered large fleet of jets. One way was to do away with one of the pilots altogether. Too complicated, and anyway the regulator, manufacturers and insurance companies wouldn't stand for it. Next best suggestion find the bodies who will work for poor wages, pay for their own training, uniforms, even to have their CV's read. Great idea if only it would work, but the military pilots and turbo-prop pilots are not going to jump at this with outstretched arms. No problem, look lower down the food chain at the newly qualified pilots with no real experience. They will jump at the opportunity, and sure enough they were right !
So doesn't this lack of experience merely increase the workload on the captains ? Answer Yes but so what. The calculated odds of an accident or incident that can be largely attributed to this factor is acceptable, so lets take the risk. Another upside is they can then introduce a whole new wage and terms structure that will start with these newbies and gradually work its way through the entire company ! As for the military and turboprop pilots, no problem. They are now in competition with the 200 hour-ers. If they want a job they join on the same deal, like it or lump it ! As for the existing Captains, well gradually over the coming years they will leave, retire and die just as it has always been, and they can then be replaced with our brave new world pilots who of course are much cheaper. Win Win win !!!
But what if there is an accident one day, and the lack of experience on the flight deck becomes a high profile factor ? Well that might be a problem, but the
PR guys can deal with that as and when it happens. The problem might come from the regulator ( ha ha !) but more likely from the Insurance companies who have to shoulder this risk. It is a bit of a wonder the LLoyds aviation market hasn't already rumbled this, but they are not the sharpest pencils being far too busy trying to short change the victims of their policies, so in the meantime ... In any event if you look at some previous accidents the insurance payout can actually generate a net profit ! There is nothing like the "free market" when you are in the game early enough to have the ability to distort and manipulate it.
Does any of this strike a chord ?