Originally Posted by
marmitage
The point Captain Phipps was trying to make was that the amount of training required of pilots to qualify for sophisticated airplanes and for advancement in their careers has significantly decreased over the last 30 years.
In addition, Captain Phipps has a right to be proud of his acheivements. While he pointed out that he was the the youngest pilot ever at Midwest and a 24 year-old mainline Ozark DC-9 co-pilot and a 24 year-old co-pilot for Republic he achieved that status when a higher level of training was required.
Okay, what specific training would that have been for a 24 year old co-pilot then compared to now? There were very few commuter airlines then, so not there. Military? Maybe there, but the military can not begin to fill the increased ranks today.
So, what would it be?
Indeed, Captain Phipps has the right to be proud. And --today--a 24 year-old co-pilot of a major or commuter airline can equally be proud. I am just surprised that Captain Phipps seems to lament that fact.
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flyertalk!