Isn’t the biggest issue airlines are facing is the shortage of experienced pilots? So how will the MPL fix this? Airlines need Captains now, not in 15 years time. What about pilots for regional airlines. Flying a jet ILS to ILS is vastly different to flying a Dash 8 or Saab in to some sh@t hole using an NDB at night. How will the MPL teach this, when all the MPL sim training is done on a jet? Experienced gained in GA (via instructing or going bush) is where 90-95% of our current regional captains have come from.
Comparing the two Paths
GA Path:
1st Year: Gain CPL, IR and ATPL subjects.
2nd to 3rd Year: GA experience (Go Bush or Instructor rating).
4th Year: First Airline job or perhaps small regional or night freight. Gain More experience. If you are lucky FO position with a major airline.
5th Year +: FO position with major airline, spend 12 months in the RH seat, gain 700 – 800 hours FO time and provided you are suitable, it’s time to move across to the LH seat.
So in less than 6 years an airline has pilot they can upgrade to command.
MPL Path:
First 2 years: Gain MPL, but no real experience.
3rd to 8- 10th year: FO position, command slot maybe in sight, and he/she still hasn’t made one command decision in their flying career.