Why is my flight delayed or cancelled?

[Mik]

You guessed it. federal regulations.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/john-stossel-government-s-dumb-law-delays-flights/ar-AAXOFfy?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=7058c0683b234473a3cf9bcb3a7461b0

[Horace]

I wonder who found it politically useful to create this law. The article admits that current pilots and their unions profit from it, but doesn't blame them for the law.

[Copper]

Yes, I passed basically all the tests needed to get an airline pilot certificate, except I was a couple hundred hours short of the minimum 1,500 hours. I have no reason to get that certificate now, but if I did want it, I would have to meet a new requirement for expensive simulator training that would cost at least another $25K+. Of course I am 2 years past mandatory retirement age so it is unlikely that I would do this.

To get the needed hours now for a beginner, the cost would be $250K+ just for the airplane rental. Throw training costs and other requirements on that and the cost is ridiculous. Of course there is a shortage of pilots.

There are ways to save some money, but it never gets cheap.

[Jolly]

A couple of questions:

1. How many hours should a pilot have, before meeting minimum standards for commercial jet flight?
2. Many pilots used be military trained. Is that no longer the case?

[Copper]

@Jolly said in Why is my flight delayed or cancelled?:

A couple of questions:

1. How many hours should a pilot have, before meeting minimum standards for commercial jet flight?
2. Many pilots used be military trained. Is that no longer the case?

Many are still trained in the military, but not enough. That is of course cheaper, but there is the time commitment and sometimes people might shoot at you.

The minimum for the ATP (airline transport) certificate is 1,500 hours, unless you have a 4-year degree with a related major, in which case it drops to 1,000 hours. I believe some airlines will let you fly as a first officer (co-pilot) with only a Commercial certificate, but only if you are working on an ATP and close to finishing. I don't remember all the requirements off the top of my head, but you can fly in command of a smaller (I think less than 29 passenger) plane with just the Commercial certificate.

It has been a few years since I left the flight school, these numbers might have changed.

[Jolly]

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/thousands-holiday-weekend-flights-cancelled-161150587.html