H.R. 3371 Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009

[Skyboy722]

I flew with several new FO's at my last regional with less than 300 total hours. Good for them that they were given that opportunity, however, most of those flights were single pilot operations with the added complexity of undoing their mistakes.

I keep hearing this. I flew with a bunch of 250-300 hr FOs at my last job, and not in easy airspace. I really don't remember having any serious problems. The only issue I can remember was with one person with an attitude problem. (Unfortunately, because I hate to admit it, it turned out he flew one hell of a good airplane)

I don't recall any difference whatsoever between a new hire with 300 hours and a newhire with 2000. Everyone was just trying to learn a new airplane and new procedures. Can't blame anyone for that. And maybe I'm missing something, but has one of these low time FOs ever been found to be the cause of an accident, or is this all just political knee jerk?

 

[Old Crow]

Experience can't be denied in any occupation. That's all that is being suggested. To imply that one who has fresh ink on their certificate is a seasoned pilot ready to take on the resposibilities of the 121 environment is plainly lacking in judgement. Can it work? Obviously it can. Is it wise? I think not. and it seems the FAA agrees with me.

 

[labbats]

The issue is the reason for having an FO in the first place. It's to aid in decision making and take over in emergencies. A 300 hour pilot is capable of neither in a jet.

 

[bluesideup340]

As they should be...it's all about the experiance and they still may/maynot have it yet.

you got it.
Certainly it take 30+ years experience and 20,000 hrs before somenone can overfly the destination by 150 miles and then returns to land safely.
That is nothing a young low time pilot could ever pull off.