Monarch man,
So a 2500hr LCC FO is experienced, but a 2500hr Dash 8 pilot isn't? I cant follow your logic?
I used the term relevant experience. 2500hrs of loco time on a minibus or 737 is more relevant, 2500hrs on a Dash or ATR is much less so. I'm not saying the TP person is a lesser mortal, far from it, hence my comments relating to training etc, I'm pointing out that I personally feel far more confident knowing the person next to me is comfortable and experienced in the general environment. When things go wrong, things like muscle memory and training come into play, it doesn't matter if it's harder to fly an ATR, what matters is that there ARE significant differences, these differences worry me if it is now considered an acceptable risk without the previous caveats of relevant training, rather than just the usual box ticking.