Doesn't the classification of PTF or not rather depend on the prevailing conditions in the industry at the time?
For example - I don't know if there was ever a time where employers would pay for ALL of your commercial training, but if there was - then to those who had paid nothing for their CPL, anyone who paid for that "basic" commercial training would be paying to fly.
Likewise even fifteen years ago, PTF would definitely have constituted paying for your own TR, whereas now I would argue that any newly qualified pilot should expect to pay - one way or another, be it reduced salary or cash up front- for their first rating.
Therefore in years to come given current trajectory, will the first 65/100/150 line hours become the accepted norm as first TR has now?
IMHO, 1 is expected, 2 is unfortunate but almost certain so 3 is the only one with any choice in it now. However if the airlines are savvy enough and actually attach a proper job at the end of line training then even that would be arguable. Unfortunately the two ongoing easyJet threads show that it's not affecting enough senior people just yet to force a stand to be taken, so in all likelihood should we not prepare ourselves for (3) being the norm?
Last edited by clanger32; 18th January 2010 at 11:39.
Reason: Stupid iPhone autocorrections making me look more dyslexic than normal