I wanted to clarify a few things:
This is NOT a 1500 hour rule. It will not matter if -121 airline pilots, including new-hire FOs, have 1500 hours.
What IS required is an ATP (a full, PIC ATP):
So, if a pilot has 1500 hours, but can't pass that ATP checkride, they are not eligible to fly -121. In fact, the FAA is proposing that some categories of pilots will need less than 1500 hours...but will still have to have a full ATP.
The new-hires will NOT need a type rating, just an ATP-Multiengine Land.
Pilots CAN still fly for the smaller carriers that have 19 seats or less, as they are able to operate under regulations called -135, which are less stringent than -121 (-121 is Delta, United, Freedom, Colgan, SkyWest, etc.).
From what we have seen the carriers in the US are not doing much to get ready for these regulations to start, which is 1 AUG 2013. It does not seem to me that they will be able to recruit enough pilots, and massive flight cancellations will occur. Maybe they are just hoping to lobby Obama and get his administration to change the regs-that is what FedEx/UPS did with regards to the new Flight/Duty/Rest regs.
cliff
VCP