Public demand for more experienced pilots
03-07-2007, 03:48 PM
#111
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,286
You simply cannot argue how much you learn from getting your commercial ticket, to about the 600-750 hour mark.
I am just shy of 1000 hours now, and I really do feel as though I'm in a stagnant position. I finished my commercial with 212 hours, and got hired for this photography job. My second solo flight with the company (I probably had around 220 hours), I was shooting revenue down near Long Beach, south of LAX...lost my alternator. Our camera system has a huge electrical draw, and my battery was dead within 5 minutes. First call was from ATC reporting radar coverage lost (transponder goes first most the time), notice the low voltage light, radios cutting in and out, etc. I report to ATC that I'm going to return to SNA.
No clue if they heard me or not, cause right after that everything was dead. I instead went to Torrance and landed...did the procedures great, and thank goodness I had just been drilled to death on light gun signals.
It really was kinda scarry to be a newly commercial pilot, flying around SoCal not talking to a soul.
Anyway, when I got on the ground, I called the tower and he said that approach had heard my call to return to SNA, and that next time if I say im planning to do something, to follow through with it...cause I guess they started clearing traffic at SNA. Lesson learned =)
But anyway, back to my point...I learned soooooo much from that 212 hours, up until about 600 hrs, and now I am definitely ready to move on....fly something more complex, and begin learning all over again.
Could I have gone straight into a regional after getting my ticket, and been fine....probably. Am I an extremely more competent pilot now? Most definitely. My decision making, scan, radios, navigation, knowledge of systems, confidence, and comfort level in an aircraft are all 100x better than when I had 212 hours.
There is simply no substitution for experience, and to be honest, a large jet with paying pax in the back is not really the place to learn these basic yet necessary aviation experiences.
As far as DMEarcs thing about requiring 500 dual given...I dont believe that instructing is the only way that you gain valuable skills in aviation.
I am just shy of 1000 hours now, and I really do feel as though I'm in a stagnant position. I finished my commercial with 212 hours, and got hired for this photography job. My second solo flight with the company (I probably had around 220 hours), I was shooting revenue down near Long Beach, south of LAX...lost my alternator. Our camera system has a huge electrical draw, and my battery was dead within 5 minutes. First call was from ATC reporting radar coverage lost (transponder goes first most the time), notice the low voltage light, radios cutting in and out, etc. I report to ATC that I'm going to return to SNA.
No clue if they heard me or not, cause right after that everything was dead. I instead went to Torrance and landed...did the procedures great, and thank goodness I had just been drilled to death on light gun signals.
It really was kinda scarry to be a newly commercial pilot, flying around SoCal not talking to a soul.
Anyway, when I got on the ground, I called the tower and he said that approach had heard my call to return to SNA, and that next time if I say im planning to do something, to follow through with it...cause I guess they started clearing traffic at SNA. Lesson learned =)
But anyway, back to my point...I learned soooooo much from that 212 hours, up until about 600 hrs, and now I am definitely ready to move on....fly something more complex, and begin learning all over again.
Could I have gone straight into a regional after getting my ticket, and been fine....probably. Am I an extremely more competent pilot now? Most definitely. My decision making, scan, radios, navigation, knowledge of systems, confidence, and comfort level in an aircraft are all 100x better than when I had 212 hours.
There is simply no substitution for experience, and to be honest, a large jet with paying pax in the back is not really the place to learn these basic yet necessary aviation experiences.
As far as DMEarcs thing about requiring 500 dual given...I dont believe that instructing is the only way that you gain valuable skills in aviation.
03-08-2007, 06:38 AM
#112
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: 170 babysitter
Posts: 417
Is that right. Well you've caught me! I have aspirations to be the King of the World and you've heard the announcement right here in this thread!
I've got a little story for you, more of a narrative I guess. My main character is say "Joe S". He has a wife named, oh... Mary. Joe's nemesis is um.... Starman.
Mary enters the room to find Joe in his boxers and T-shirt, a prominent grape juice stain on his right leg. Mary is feeling frisky and nuzzles up to Joe. Joe says, "not now honey, I've got to flame a newb!". Joe cracks his fingers and begins to type. Mary asks, "what does flame a newb mean, honey?". He answers, "that's where someone says something dumb and we that know better call him names and stuff. Here, check it out!"
Mary reads the thread. She smiles occasionally at the wit and charm of Starman. She lets herself fantasize about a romantic liaison with Starman. She looks at her husband's eager face.
"Do you realize that in your haste you've been flaming him for making points that you actually agree with?" she asks.
Mary watches as her husband's eyes glaze over.
"I mean, he says it right here, and again here, and then you counter with the same point? And here, you actually admit it in print!"
Mary looks at the man she married, hoping for a glint of recognition. Joe thinks about cheese.
"Did you see here where I called him "kid"?" he says.
Mary shakes her head and leaves the room. Joe plays Europe's Final Countdown to get in the flaming zone.
I've got a little story for you, more of a narrative I guess. My main character is say "Joe S". He has a wife named, oh... Mary. Joe's nemesis is um.... Starman.
Mary enters the room to find Joe in his boxers and T-shirt, a prominent grape juice stain on his right leg. Mary is feeling frisky and nuzzles up to Joe. Joe says, "not now honey, I've got to flame a newb!". Joe cracks his fingers and begins to type. Mary asks, "what does flame a newb mean, honey?". He answers, "that's where someone says something dumb and we that know better call him names and stuff. Here, check it out!"
Mary reads the thread. She smiles occasionally at the wit and charm of Starman. She lets herself fantasize about a romantic liaison with Starman. She looks at her husband's eager face.
"Do you realize that in your haste you've been flaming him for making points that you actually agree with?" she asks.
Mary watches as her husband's eyes glaze over.
"I mean, he says it right here, and again here, and then you counter with the same point? And here, you actually admit it in print!"
Mary looks at the man she married, hoping for a glint of recognition. Joe thinks about cheese.
"Did you see here where I called him "kid"?" he says.
Mary shakes her head and leaves the room. Joe plays Europe's Final Countdown to get in the flaming zone.
Mildly (and I do mean that losely) entertaining but I guess if I was such a boob as to argue the same point as you for post after post (apparently SO unaware that my wife "Mary" would then fantsize about you) then you, KNOWING you were are even more of one???? Again, clouded with what you think is rapier wit you've failed to see what my argument was, is and will continue to be. Good luck with the airline pilot search as I feel this has become a total waste of my time and yours. Oh I see Wikipedia is calling.....
03-08-2007, 07:21 PM
#114
Banned
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: Right Seat, EMB-145/140/135
Posts: 84
Or it could just be a sword.
Or comparing the collective works of Vanilla Ice and Lil' Jon.
03-08-2007, 08:44 PM
#115
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: 170 babysitter
Posts: 417
Hahahaha, Dumb and Dumber III anyone???
03-08-2007, 08:59 PM
#116
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Cessna 172
Just how is 1000 hours of Cessna 172 time suppose to help a guy in an RJ anyway? The FO is there mostly to sit on their hands and learn anyway. They might as well start out in a jet from day one.
SkyHigh
SkyHigh
03-09-2007, 04:38 AM
#118
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Clarification
My point is that regional airlines only require a meat sack to fill the right seat that meets the FAA minimums. Until now the only reason for the experience requirement was to cut down the number of applicants.
It is better to have a pilot with only airline experience from day one. Their expecatations will be low and they will not be confused by outside information.
SkyHigh
03-09-2007, 05:16 AM
#119
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: Body at sea level; heart at 70,000+
Posts: 1,349
Why we don't need pilots ???
Reminds me of that Boeing 7XXXX ultramodern airliner that will have no pilots. As it rolls out on the runway the recording reassures the passengers, "Sit back and relax nothing can go wrong, nothing can go wrong, nothing can go wrong, nothing can go wrong, . . . . . . . . . ."
03-09-2007, 05:24 AM
#120
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,927
The First Officer is a superfluous entity on the flight deck that is there to serve as a redundant system and to build experience. Procedures and busy work are created for the FO to remain invested in the flight but the position is otherwise unnecessary. Just ask any single pilot IFR night Piper Seneca cargo pilot. Two pilots especially in a modern fully automated jet airplane are not needed. One usually spends his time sitting on his hands with a blank stare out the window.
My point is that regional airlines only require a meat sack to fill the right seat that meets the FAA minimums. Until now the only reason for the experience requirement was to cut down the number of applicants.
It is better to have a pilot with only airline experience from day one. Their expecatations will be low and they will not be confused by outside information.
SkyHigh
My point is that regional airlines only require a meat sack to fill the right seat that meets the FAA minimums. Until now the only reason for the experience requirement was to cut down the number of applicants.
It is better to have a pilot with only airline experience from day one. Their expecatations will be low and they will not be confused by outside information.
SkyHigh
I'm glad you don't work for the FAA.
Single pilot night IFR Seneca pilots have a higher accident rate than 2-pilot cockpit Part 121 jet aircraft. Just search the NTSB records, and see for yourself.
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