It will give politicians the perfect excuse to "offshore jobs" via cabotage. The MPL is the biggest threat since Ab Initio. Not only could there be foreign crews flying US domestic routes, the F/O will have a few hundred hours without a real pilot's license.
They will use Chinese pilots...wait, forgot that China is MASSIVELY understaffed and hiring foreigners.
They will use Indian pilots...wait, forgot that India is MASSIVELY understaffed and hiring foreigners.
They will use African pilots...wait, forgot that the Africa is MASSIVELY understaffed and hiring foreigners.
They will use Latin Amerivcan pilots...wait, forgot that Latin America is MASSIVELY understaffed and hiring foreigners.
So, where will these foreign pilots come from???
Furloughed American, United, NetJets, Midway, ATA, Aloha, Midwest, Independence
American will have all their pilots recalled and be hiring off the street this year.
UAL will have all their pilots recalled (they would have already if it wasn't for the merger) as soon as the merger details are finalized.
NetJets DOES have guys furloughed, and some will return (most will probably not return, as they will have another job they like better).
Many of the rest of the furloughees mentioned have other jobs, and many of them are in other aviation jobs and therefore already in the system. Some will return from overseas flying to fly back here (further increasing the MASSIVE overseas pilot shortage that is now occuring).
Yes, the 1500hr and atp rule which doesn't even go into effect for another 2 years, is nothing more then smoke and mirrors to appease the public. There will be tons of exceptions in there, I believe 4 year colleges are exempt. If fact, the pilot factories are already setting up programs to qualify their the students for rule exemption.
NO one is exempt from the ATP LAW! Could the LAW be changed? Theoretically, but it is NOT as easy as the FAA changing one of their rules.
Hahahahahaha. Wow.
If the airlines paid for training, they could be just as selective.
No, they could not, as there are not enough US residents at a high enough intelligence/physical level who would be willing to enter and complete flight training. They would have to lower the mental and physical qualification quite a bit below what the military is getting, to get enough bodies to fill the future seats.
And yet interviews are scheduled and classes are full...go figure.
Many recent regional classes were 1/2 full or less.
Near-term, the Flight/Duty/Rest rules that will be in effect prior to 1 Aug, will make a difference, especially at the Regionals who abuse their pilots.
cliff
GRB