So … essentially, we have some enraged family members pounding the tables at the governmental/congressional level – someone puts together something that sounds like it might be appropriate to do – and the regulatory authority is saddled with the responsibility of putting it all together and making it work. It will be interesting to see how it all turns out.
Ah so very very true. I have felt the 1500 hour requirement was just a “do something” reaction to the Colgan accident, as it has been discussed here.
Of course, simulators today do NOT completely represent every aspect of an operating/airborne airplane – but they come VERY close – and they do it in a manner that will not require those pilots to “re-interpret” what they’ve seen, heard, and felt in that simulator when they get to the airplane. This simulator capability, together with competently and completely trained instructors, provides the very best opportunity to acquire the very best in operating flight crew members.
Like so many other “systems”, this takes a complete buy in from management, finance, instructors, pilots, maintenance, and certification.