It looks like the balance between stick and rudders skills vs automation has shifted way too far towards the latter. This new FAA rule (pending) is, as I understand it, only for passenger carrying airlines. Not for cargo operations. There will also be requirements within these 1500hrs as to what kind of flying you have done, or another way of putting it; the quality of your hours. Staying in the pattern vs mountain flying wintertime, or such. All these little things which make the young pilot hone his/her skills, and get some experience to go with the flightbag. Once the airlines start hiring again, and it seems like they are about to do so, they will be forced to hire experienced pilots (1500hrs or more), which preferrably should be from regionals and part 135. Which will mean openings for, say, instructors to move to regionals and part 135 operators. Meaning openings for instructors for those fresh out of the blocks. You do your time and make the grade, and don`t bump the line or stab each other in the back by way of cash.
Europe, as someone mentioned, is going the opposite direction. The MPL seems here to stay, and EASA legislators are turning their backs to what the FAA is doing and why. Add to this their same response to the evermore liberate flight time "limitations" and studies regarding these. It seems obvious to me that the holes in the Swiss cheese model are lining up nicely for an accident. Then, and only then, will something be changed for the better. Maybe. But as long as people aren`t willing to pay more than a bus ticket for their airfare, and are oblivious to why airfare is dirt cheap, then nothing will be done. Media doesn`t seem to care, let alone spotlight the problem.
