Lots of interesting discussions here.
Let's be honest here about a few things. First and foremost, ALPA has a lot more to focus on than the hiring requirements at the regionals and the schools our nation's pilots are training at. We can all agree that we want to see the best and most well-trained pilots getting hired to fly with us, and that may or may not be happening. ALPA would need to apply a lot of time and resources into changing the hiring requirements at the airlines, which is something I just do not see happening. There haven't been any accidents attributed to low-time pilots at this point. How does ALPA have a leg to stand on with no empirical evidence that low-time pilots are dangerous? We do have evidence that fatigue can lead to accidents (reference Corporate Airlines flight 5966, American Airlines 1420, etc.), but rest and duty rule changes aren't even a consideration. Why? Like Doug said, money. Mainly, political pressures from the ATA and airline management.
Now facing the realization that the hiring trends are not going to change, what exactly can we do? Can we immediately force wage increases across the board to all regional pilots to entice quality individuals? If you believe that is a possibility, pass the pipe over this direction... I want a hit. It is going to be a long, drawn-out process to get regional wages and work rules anywhere near where we'd hope them to be. "Taking it back" is not going to happen in a year, two years, or maybe even five years.
So if we cannot force the FAA to implement hiring requirements, and we cannot convince management to raise compensation to attract quality individuals (aren't we getting quality pilots already? We are seeing no accidents), what exactly can we do?
I think the only thing we can do is instill a strong work ethic in the student training atmosphere, and renew a sense of responsibility for the CFI. If we attack the problem at the root, it will spread up the tree. Go to the schools, meet with the students and instructors, and convince them that applying themselves and learning the right things will not only help them achieve their goals in aviation, but will also ensure they maintain career longevity and competitiveness against their peers. Teach the CFIs about their responsibility to their students, and why putting one-hundred percent of themselves into their instruction will help them at the next level. Explain to student pilots how applying themselves and taking a "one step at a time" approach to flying will give them a better foundation to build upon when they do become a professional airline pilot.
You all know I was a low-time new-hire pilot. I had to put forward extra effort to ensure that I would get through training and be an effective pilot on the line, not just another "low-timer" that couldn't pull my weight. It takes hard work, determination, a lot of self-study and no ego. Now that I've been around here for a while, I still hold the opinion there is nothing wrong with hiring a pilot with low time. I just hope that said pilot has paid attention in their student training, and is ready for what lies ahead. They need to have a good attitude, and know their limitations. I have flown with guys with very little time, and they do a fine job. The guys who don't do well are the ones who think they know it all, and don't open themselves to constructive criticism. I may seem like a "know-it-all," but I've always been very open to criticism. It is the only reason I have gotten to where I am today: I had some great Captains who offered a lot of advice and constructive criticism to mold me into a better pilot. I think many of our new-hires are getting hung out to dry a bit in that regard.
Like I said, the only thing we control right now is the hearts and minds of those at the most basic level: Student training. At the airline level, there is too much pressure from the politicians and management, because an airline is a business. It is air commerce. The training atmosphere does not have the pressure of supplying air commerce. The success of a training business depends on how well their students perform. Are the students of today just getting by to pass the checkride, or are they really developing into the effective crewmembers of tomorrow? No, I do not mean learning to run a challenge and response checklist or learning to find their location when lost on a G1000 GPS glass-cockpit. I mean being real, effective pilots. How are we doing?
