Evening Professor.
The debate over Experience vs Training etc... has raged for years, and will probably do so untill aviation no longer exists! People use statistics and their own brand of logic to put forward their opinions, and depending what side of the debate you're on usually determines that opinion.
But here's where the real issue lies, and Sunfish and Redjet have hit the nail on the head. The destruction (or inexorable dismantleing) by unscrupulous airline managements of a viable long term career path for their professional pilots is, IMHO the greatest threat to air safety that has ever occured in the modern era! Have a read of the Colgan tapes (if you're game) and if you can see past your beancounter arrogance, ask yourself why didn't those pilots have their minds on their job? and why, when the **** hit the fan, didn't they react in a proper and decisive manner? The combined incomes of those poor pilots (pun intended) and their terms and conditions of employment were significantly less than the wage of the Kitchen hand at most Australian mine sites! If the Bruce Buchanans of this world have their way, Australian pilots will become the new working class poor, just like their counterparts in the U.S.
The American Senate has taken a blunt stick to the issue. Much the same as the Reserve bank does on interest rates. You can relate to that right? There is no point trying to tweak training, add an extra few sessions in the Sim, or refine scrutiny at the interview stage. The real issue lies elsewhere. The Americans have realised that the primary reason for the situation they are now in, is the destruction of the profession of Airline Pilot! By mandating minimum experience requirements for all Airline Pilots, They have made pilots valuable again. The average punter may have to pay a few dollars more, but what do you think the victims of the Colgan crash would say to that (if they could).
Let's say we follow the path that Jetstar have embarked upon. A path that will flood the pilot market with Gen Y wannabees that would otherwise not have bothered. What sort of professional pilots will these people ultimately become? Flying an A320 with nearly 200 fare paying passengers in the back, whilst earning $42K P/A, saddled with massive debt, and locked into the most draconian terms and conditions. What sort of stability of life will these people ultimately have? What sort of attitude will they posess when the novelty wears off and the grim realisation of their situation becomes apparent? All this so Bruce and his mates can crow about extra profit, pocket obscene bonuses, and as a sweetener, put it up those "Experienced" pilots who are over-rated anyway. What sort of people are we going to have occupying the flight-decks of our domestic jet airliners?
ARE YOU INSANE!!!
