New ATP Written Requirements, (what people are missing)

[bailout]

I think we're all aware that taking the ATP written after July 31, 2014 is going to become a lot more difficult. But I have yet to see anyone key in on this little dagger, buried down deep at the bottom of the FAA's Advisory Circular: http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_61-138.pdf

If you look at Section 19 B, (see below) you'll find that prior to taking the ATP written test, an applicant will be required to complete an approved ATP training course, including a requirement to have 4 hours of training in an FTD AND 6 hours of training in an FFS, ("Full Flight Simultor"), Level C or higher having a minimum MTOW OF 40,000 POUNDS.

Clearly the CRJ and ERJ regionals can incorporate some of that training in their standard new hire training program. But what about the Dash-8-100/200, Saab, EMB-120, and 1900D operators? This is REALLY gonna make it hard for them to recruit pilots.

Yes, we have covered the weight issue here already, but the part you're missing is that the ATP program CANNOT be part of the standard new hire training. It has to be done BEFORE and separate from that. So how many regionals are going to shell out the extra money for that program? I can tell you that FlightSafety already has a program set up for this so I would guess that it will be a requirement for a potential new hire to get this on their own to be qualified to even apply to a regional!

 

[3GRNDWN]

And the orals are a joke. At least at my last and current gigs

You're company may have different standards, but my ATP oral was such a "joke" that the captain going through the process with me received a pink slip for not knowing his $h!t. Either he didn't prepare properly, or he shouldn't be in the left seat to begin with. Based on my observation, I'm going with the latter.