Originally Posted by M80
It's not a controversial question. Especially when you pose the question in such a biased manner. The alternative to an MPL or low hour CPL ME/IR low houred pilot isn't a 1500 hour GA pilot flying a C172 in circuits, as you would have us believe. There exist many pilots who fly charter in the bigger piston twins or turbo props looking to continue their careers in airlines via the RHS. You're then talking about 1000-3000 hour pilots who've been exposed to busy airspace, poor weather, storms, and in general being the only pilot on board. I can promise you that these pilots, having done the hard time, will also be eager and keen, grateful for the step up and have some understanding and respect for the responsibilities that lie on the shoulders of the guy in the LHS.
Originally Posted by MungoP
Spot on... those are the people I want next to me on a dark and stormy night...with no second officer program in place the regionals should be looking at these guys to fill the right hand seat... but of course they don't want to pay them... because the SLF down the back want to fly for the price of a bus ticket and so the free market kicks in... Only if the FAA/CAA revise their requirements for crew experience and force the airlines to conform will anything get done. The newbees think it's all about flying the plane.. it's not... it's about surviving while flying the plane.
There is little doubt there ARE these folks out there - and they would likely make for excellent airline entry first officers ... but are there enough of them to supply 400 pilots a month, every month, for 12 years? And that figure is just for the US ... Europe is likely to require somethig similiar - and the Pacific Rim ... at least the same ... perhaps more. And IF (you make the call) those numbers cannot be supplied by whatever source you name, from where are those pilots going to come?