Does anyone know what the basis for the 500 hours of Part 121 PIC time is? This requirement was never there a little less than 2 years ago when I was first furloughed and exploring where to send resumes. So now since this requirement change at AirTran, I'm sorta stuck on the outside looking in despite all of my other qualifications far exceeding their other requirements.
The ONLY explanation I can possibly come up with is perhaps an insurance related change in policies tied with them recognizing the potential for rapid advancement from new hire to the captain's seat? In other words, the insurance folks changed to a much cheaper policy which in turn has some strict parameters on the requirements of who can actually act as captain? Then they looked at the rapid expansion and the real possibility that a potential new hire who met all their other requirements, (but theorectically with 0 Part 121 experience in any seat) might be able to hold a captain seat with far less then 500 hours even as FO. So some non-pilot person in charge decides to cover his a$$ by making a blanket requirement that far exceeds the insurance requirements, and in turn removes all logic from the equation?
I know I'm just one example of many, and of those, a GREAT deal with far more experience than I even have. However, in my case I have 4,500 TT including 1000 hrs turbine part 135 time half of which is as PIC, and nearly 1,700 hrs 121 time as FO at a major. Can't AirTran do some logical math to realize that if I were hired, I would in all likelyhood exceed 5000 TT including well over 2000 hrs 121 experience in the right seat by the time I could hold Captain? Would even this example not meet their insurance requirements?
I know they reserve the right to set any requirement they wish, and in the current climate of well qualified applicants being readily available, more power to them. I am by no means bashing AirTran because I think they are a fantasic airline. In fact, I would likely not fly for any other airline if I am to get back to flying at all. I'm just partly venting some frustration after being out of flying for nearly 2 years, as well as hoping someone can shed some light on the reasoning behind this odd change in requirements.
Lastly, does anyone have any first hand knowledge (and be willing to actually share it) of someone getting hired at AirTran since the new requirement has been in place who did not meet that new 500 hour 121 PIC requirement? I mean is there any indication that AirTran looks at the over all big picture of the total experience of their applicants in an effort to apply logic to it? Or is the requirement truly a hard steadfast rule that cannot be over looked no matter how logical or illogical it may be?
Just a curious and frustrated pilot searching for useless answers. LOL. Not looking to be flamed. Thanks in advance.
The ONLY explanation I can possibly come up with is perhaps an insurance related change in policies tied with them recognizing the potential for rapid advancement from new hire to the captain's seat? In other words, the insurance folks changed to a much cheaper policy which in turn has some strict parameters on the requirements of who can actually act as captain? Then they looked at the rapid expansion and the real possibility that a potential new hire who met all their other requirements, (but theorectically with 0 Part 121 experience in any seat) might be able to hold a captain seat with far less then 500 hours even as FO. So some non-pilot person in charge decides to cover his a$$ by making a blanket requirement that far exceeds the insurance requirements, and in turn removes all logic from the equation?
I know I'm just one example of many, and of those, a GREAT deal with far more experience than I even have. However, in my case I have 4,500 TT including 1000 hrs turbine part 135 time half of which is as PIC, and nearly 1,700 hrs 121 time as FO at a major. Can't AirTran do some logical math to realize that if I were hired, I would in all likelyhood exceed 5000 TT including well over 2000 hrs 121 experience in the right seat by the time I could hold Captain? Would even this example not meet their insurance requirements?
I know they reserve the right to set any requirement they wish, and in the current climate of well qualified applicants being readily available, more power to them. I am by no means bashing AirTran because I think they are a fantasic airline. In fact, I would likely not fly for any other airline if I am to get back to flying at all. I'm just partly venting some frustration after being out of flying for nearly 2 years, as well as hoping someone can shed some light on the reasoning behind this odd change in requirements.
Lastly, does anyone have any first hand knowledge (and be willing to actually share it) of someone getting hired at AirTran since the new requirement has been in place who did not meet that new 500 hour 121 PIC requirement? I mean is there any indication that AirTran looks at the over all big picture of the total experience of their applicants in an effort to apply logic to it? Or is the requirement truly a hard steadfast rule that cannot be over looked no matter how logical or illogical it may be?
Just a curious and frustrated pilot searching for useless answers. LOL. Not looking to be flamed. Thanks in advance.
