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Originally Posted by
Larry
While you can't fly an airliner at 16, you can fly a civil aircraft, including multi-engine piston aircraft with a gross takeoff weight of up to 12,499 pounds.
I am well aware of that. I soloed the youngest girl to solo in South Carolina many moons ago on her birthday and then she got her private pilot's license on her birthday a year later.
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The ATP license requires a minimum of 1,200 flight hours.
More importantly, the ATP license requirements include:
To be eligible for an airline transport pilot certificate, a person must--
(a) Be at least 23 years of age;
(b) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
(c) Be of good moral character;
Note that last one!
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Copilots can have substantially less hours and do not require the same license.
That depends on the carrier and aircraft type.
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I know that it's necessary to draw the line somewhere, and it's clearly an arbitrary assumption by the SCCA that 15 is acceptable. I see the stewards having the same comparable responsibility in the SCCA, closely monitoring the performance of any 15-year old drivers--just as they do with anyone running on a novice permit--and intervening immediately if it shows any appearance of necessity.
I refer you to the same responsibilities regarding waiving of a student's second school so he/she can make the regional race the next day. I have seen some ridiculous waivers granted and I have stood up as the Chief Instructor and said 'No" to the frustration of the student and his instructor ("Don't worry, I know the Chief and he'll approve it.") I found most of the students arriving at the school for their first time assumed they would get a waiver. After all, everyone does.
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To continue your flying analogy, up until two years ago, the FAA mandated that airline pilots could not be over 60. It has recently been raised to 65 because there was no evidence that showed any difference in safety betwen 60 and 65 year old pilots.
I am quite aware of that rule change (December 13, 2007) as it allowed me another 5 years of work should I so desire. I would point out that we are dealing with an age extension in this case, wherein the individual is already highly qualified, having proven this over many years and countless hours of experience. I see this as fundamentally different than granting licenses based on an earlier age and no valid or prolonged demonstration of appropriate behavior.
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I'm not an advocate for 15-year old racers, and I can't understand how the SCCA would let anyone race that doesn't have a legal driver's license
I agree
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--but the SCCA made the decision. Now my job--and that of the other stewards--is to incorporate these drivers in as safe a manner as possible.
I disagree. Your job is not to incorporate them . . . . that implies they will be incorporated. Your job is to evaluate them based on a very limited amount of demonstrated ability, with no idea of how mature the individual is, and make a decision whether they will be able to start their racing career in a safe manner, taking into consideration the possible effects they will have on the racers with whom they occupy the track. Be ready for the irate father who has spent tons o' loot on his "next Ayrton Senna wanna-be" and will be all over you guys when someone has the bollocks to stand up and say "I don't think he's ready so he can not receive his fancy colored logbook." No pressure there.