MartinC08

Anyone else see the rumors on the Gojet thread about them getting 7-9 CRJ900s? Could they be the ones that were slated for mesa?

24/48

Totally agree, and most of it is common sense or it's clearly outlined in the flight manual or ops manual. Sure experience plays a role, however, taking ones time and following company procedures will result in a safe operation. Experience may very well teach patience and adherence to procedure, but I've also seen experience move some in the wrong direction and away from procedure based on what they experienced in the past, and sometimes safety was compromised as a result.

24/48

Actually, that's exactly what we have on all of our airplanes. We have a de-ice checklist that we follow along with a cold weather ops card that has all the info one needs. I've been on the 777 for over 2 years now and I've never been de-iced in the thing.

Cold weather ops is not like flying a shuttle mission or something. Coordinate with ops, taxi to the pad, follow the checklist to configure, write down the pertinants when given, finish the de-ice checklist, taxi out, check holdover time, and launch if you haven't exceeded or do a pre-takeoff contamination check if permitted.

deltajuliet

Always appreciate and respect your input on these things.

If you don't mind my asking, I'm just curious how much seniority an FO needs to be awarded a widebody at UAL.

Coneydog

Lol..FB you never disappoint. And I think the rest of you are missing the point. No one is talking about de-ice procedures and checklists specifically. It's all the other 'out of the norm' situations that happen in real time that one has to rely on experience to make the best decisions. Expecially when flying with a new FO. I thought it was common sense that one should gain adequate experience before moving over to the left seat. Apparently not. 1000 hours PIC in type is barely enough time. Doable for some...definitely not for others. And this is for all airlines....not just Mesa.

RB211

You all do realize that many South American, and even European airlines put 250 hour wonders in the right seat of 737's and A320's right?
I've taught over 100 of them, some are flying 777's right now with far fewer hours than I have.
To be honest, this 1500 hour rule is absolutely stupid. I'd rather have a kid fresh out of ATP with 250 hours with a brain like a sponge. I can show him one time how to do something, he'll get it down perfectly. They are much better to have in the cockpit than a 40+ year old person who has never flown a jet, but accumulated his 1500 hours over 20 years flying out of uncontrolled airports in his C152.
The only supposedly good thing about this 1500 hour rule is the affect that it will "eventually" have on our paychecks... Geez, we screwed over the new guys for a supposed bigger paycheck! Talk about hypocritical!!

flapshalfspeed

^^^THIS...........

flapshalfspeed

I thought I was ready to upgrade when I had about 3-6 months on the line as an FO on my first jet like all these zero-to-hero folks on this thread. Then, after a 4AM showtime, I was shooting an ILS to mins in a -200, in a 27 knot crosswind in blowing snow, broke out, and kicked the crab out too early, right as we got hit with a decent gust/gain of airspeed. We floated upwards 10-20 feet and started moving laterally ever closer to the side of the runway. I made a "uhhhhhh" noise.

Smiling/laughing, my Captain said "my controls" and smoothly regained the centerline and put it down.

THAT is when you're ready to be a Captain--when you're not only "one with the airplane" but when you're also able to take the airplane from some FNG who has screwed it up royally, make a gut call to either fix it or go around, and avoid ending up in a ditch on the evening news--all in a matter of a few seconds (or less).

You're not at that level with only 500-1,000 hours of 121 SIC at Mesa. You probably are if you have previous 121, military, or 135 time--but if you just have 1,500 hours flight instructing in light GA planes--in easy weather--and 1,000 hours sitting shotgun on a 700/900--you have NO business in the left seat at all--you're a liability to me and my job (and yourself) and I don't want you there.

Coneydog

Great post.

gr8pe ape

Yea they do real well at Air France and Malaysia!