I don't know anything about ACA's requirements or practices, but I feel the need to say something on behalf of the helo pilots as well as the low-time civilian guys/gals.
I've never flown a helicopter and only ridden in one on two occasions (both scary). However, over the last 20 years or so, I've had occasion to fly with a great many pilots with backgrounds in military helos and very little fixed-wing flight hours. Without exception, ALL were outstanding individuals and airmen. Not only could they do the job, but they did it well in everything from light twins (25,000 #) to 4-engine jet transports.
Of course they weren't perfect, but neither am I. In the beginning they made "mistakes" in ATC jargon in congested airspace, but no more mistakes than those made by B-52 Wing Commanders, F-15 "tigers", F-18 "top guns" or Harrier stand outs. What's more, they knew they weren't "experts" and were less arrogant by far (more than I could say for many of the other types). They understood the aircrafts systems as well as anyone else, were disciplined and professional in every way. It's been a privilege to fly with them and I wish we could hire them all.
[Not to mention how grateful I am for their very tough and dedicated service to our country, which applies to all military airmen, regardless of branch of service.]
In my present job, I've also flown with many very "low-time" civilian pilots, from places like ERAU, FSI, FIT and of course, the infamous Comair Academy. Those young people were alert, eager, bright, knowledgable, interested and above all compentent. They work hard, study harder, are often "challenged", but do a good job. Most are so "willing and eager" to learn, that its a real pleasure to fly with them. I never asked how many "hours" they had and frankly, I never cared. Whatever their flight time, or which "kite" it was in, it was enough to get hired at the moment, they got through training and they could do a good job. I say, bring 'em on.
In my opinion, WHO your company decides to hire is a lot more important than the hours in that pilot's logbook. The QUALITY of the training your company provides, is also more important than the hours in your log. Your "attitude" as a professional is also a key factor and perhaps even the most important.
If I had to find fault (and I don't) with the new low-time civilian pilots, it wouldn't be with their flying. It would be with the fact than many are more interested in how much money they make, how long they'll be on reserve or how fast they will "upgrade", than with how well they do the job. However, that's a societal problem, not a flight-time problem. If you chose this profession in search of the "big bucks", then you're probably in the wrong profession, in my book. Be a business man, you'll do better. And no, that does NOT mean I think pilots should not be well paid. I just don't think money is a reason to become a professional pilot.
Although I've logged more than 20K hours in command of a variety of T-category aircraft, I still make frequent mistakes and I learn something every time I fly. If you're flying for a living and you're not learning all the time, then I recommend you do something else, like get a good day job. We all make errors and the only thing that changes with lots of "hours" is the type of error that we make. There is no place for pride in the cockpit of an airliner. Save the pride for the time you spend between flights and you'll be ahead of the game.
In the few times I've had difficulty with another "new-hire" crew member it has always been with those who had more "hours" and were "experts" at everything before they came to the airline. It's much more difficult to modify bad habits picked up who knows where, than it is to instill good habits in those with relatively few flight hours and a desire to advance. The self-discipline evident in most former military helo pilots is a big plus in this regard.
So hat's off to the helo pilots as well as to the young pilots from the flight schools and ab-initio programs.
Good luck to all of you. Once you get the airline job you want, you will have joined a club like no other. It's the most frustrating, exciting, boring and rewarding job you could ever hope for.
Fly safe.
