bigD said:
But an ATP isn't required by the government to act as SIC, right? So by your argument - an airline should never require an ATP unless they plan on hiring you directly into the left seat. Now you had your ATP paid for by your employer, which is uber-cool - but is that the norm? <---- this isn't a rhetorical question...I don't know...
Airlines hire with the expectation that the person in question will upgrade and oneday be a Captain. The ATP certificate is the real measure of what will be required for that position, because it sets the standard as far as experience, overall knowledge, and perfomance are concerned, not just system knowledge and stick-handling. This standard doesn't vary, no matter what aircraft you are flying or which seat you are flying from. A non-type rated SIC who holds an ATP still has to demonstrate flying proficiency to ATP standards, same as the Captain, even if that aircraft requires a type-rating to act as PIC.
On the other hand, anyone can bebop out there and get a type-rating added to a private pilot certificate, but all it proves is that they can fly to private pilot standards in something that might happen to be a jet or large aircraft, and nothing more.
So you are a 737 employer and two guys show up to apply for one job. Upgrade to Captain is estimated to be 18 months. They have equal time but neither have any real 737 experience. One of them has an ATP with 3 type ratings. The other has only a Comm/instrument with a 737 type he got during a two week course, demonstrating Comm. Instrument proficiency.
So who would you hire? Someone who simply needs to tag on another type rating to his ATP by learning a new aircraft while maintaining the same level of performance, or someone who must aquire a higher certificate by demonstrating a higher level of performance and knowledge through practical, written, and oral tests than they have had to in the past? In the meantime, as SIC the ATP will still be expected to fly to ATP standards. When upgrade time comes, the ATP will simply do what he's done before, but in a different aircraft. For the non-ATP, even with his type-rating, his check ride will be a much greater hurdle.
As far as my employer paying for my ATP, yes it is the norm in the corporate world, where I got most of my experience. It normally comes through the normal progression of training and because most corporate operators have full-service contracts at one of the training companies, you simply set it up during one of your twice-yearly training events. You of course take the written exam on your own.
Also, to make the point about a type being required at SW contrasted with corporate flight departments. Most will type you fairly quickly after being hired so they have two type-rated pilots up front at all times. There are also a few of them who DO require a type rating to get hired, but WITH experience in type to go along with it. I've never seen an ad for a job that reads something like:
"Gulfstream pilot needed. Requirements: G-lV type rating. Zero time-in-type."
I mean, that would be as senseless as SWA's, which is why you never see it.
