During an OPC check once, I asked a well known examiner about this subject and he reckons using the insurance excuse isnt always the truth but a way of saying no to an applicant easily.
He reckoned that if he thought someone was suitable, having given them the chance to prove themselves, he'd employ someone without 1000's of hours.
Yes we all learn from experience, and you wouldn't send someone off with minimum hours and a careless attitude, but I just wondered why ads always seemed to ask for the same hours. 3000TT is common. 500multi P1 is common. They ask for ATPL(H) yet nearly only offshore bods (and yes, some onshore guys too
can get and maintain the ATPL requirements.
(ie Hours multi pilot, IFR, night, etc etc)
Is it true that those who held an ATPL pre JAR now only hold a CPL if they have only flown single pilot, non IR since gaining the ATPL under the old system or is there grandfather rights on this?