Colgan 3407 crash...Chief Pilot Emails
#42
The aviation industry is all about luck and timing. Some bad people have good luck on checkrides and some good people have bad luck, that is not to say that skill isn't involved. Timing has everything to do with career progression in the airlines. Some will stay at the regionals for life, some will go on to the majors, others won't make it to 121 at all (if thats what was intended) I know people from all of the above categories. Just remember, I'd like to say its all about skill, but it seems to be more about luck and timing.
#43
#44
But if the examiner has that bad of a reputation, I would start to doubt the judgement of someone who doesn't learn from the mistakes of others. specially if he keeps going back to the same guy.
We had a student who was morally opposed to paying $450 to a DPE when the feds would do it for free. After getting jerked around with scheduling for weeks, he had a 6-hour oral (commercial ASEL) followed by a pink slip for the PRE-FLIGHT. Then he went back to the same guy and pinked again, on the ground. This was a fed who had never in recorded history ever passed a student on any rating checkride...he obviously did that to discourage people from bothering him. That student was too stobborn for his own good.
#45
Mistakes will be made, but never make the same mistake twice, that's a good rule to go by. There is always something to be learned. And if it's truly what you want (121) then you will not give up and figure out a way. Then after 6 months at an airline you'll miss being home, not having holidays, etc. But it's what all of us signed up for I guess.
#46
The general aviation playing field is certainly not level by any means, which is why I have a hard spot with employers holding 1-2 busts against someone.
But if the examiner has that bad of a reputation, I would start to doubt the judgement of someone who doesn't learn from the mistakes of others. specially if he keeps going back to the same guy.
We had a student who was morally opposed to paying $450 to a DPE when the feds would do it for free. After getting jerked around with scheduling for weeks, he had a 6-hour oral (commercial ASEL) followed by a pink slip for the PRE-FLIGHT. Then he went back to the same guy and pinked again, on the ground. This was a fed who had never in recorded history ever passed a student on any rating checkride...he obviously did that to discourage people from bothering him. That student was too stobborn for his own good.
But if the examiner has that bad of a reputation, I would start to doubt the judgement of someone who doesn't learn from the mistakes of others. specially if he keeps going back to the same guy.
We had a student who was morally opposed to paying $450 to a DPE when the feds would do it for free. After getting jerked around with scheduling for weeks, he had a 6-hour oral (commercial ASEL) followed by a pink slip for the PRE-FLIGHT. Then he went back to the same guy and pinked again, on the ground. This was a fed who had never in recorded history ever passed a student on any rating checkride...he obviously did that to discourage people from bothering him. That student was too stobborn for his own good.
#47
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2009
Position: B737 F/O
Posts: 425
I have friends who I've flown many times with who are safe, knowledgeable pilots who can't find a job because of their failed check rides. I had my manuals checked by a Fed several times in one week as a 'crackdown' on the regionals, showing how 'safety conscious' our system is. It's all window dressing, and is what happens when the 'legal' system, and the 'public' get in over their heads....
#48
+1, Agreed. Everyone wants to do well, but unfortunately it's human nature to try and find the easy way. I can recall someone in training just raised their hand and said..."yea, that's great but what's actually going to be on test?" This is when it really becomes sad; when people that consider aviation to be their passion, start to fall into this mindset. You really can't know too much or be too proficient.
#49
When I was going through my school, I chatted with a former grad who was pink slipped for not landing center line on a grass runway. No way to contest that, nothing could be done. DPEs fail people for things that they shouldn't be failed for. I failed the MEI ride on the first attempt because I used 8" MP and Prop back to the detente to simulate zero thrust, as described by Beech for the BE-76. Was busted because I was not "...able to see exactly where 8" MP is because the MP gauge only goes down to 10" ". Even pulling out the manual and showing him still did not allow me to pass the first time. Second time I went up, did it his way (13" MP) and received the congratulatory hand shake. I assume he needed the reexamination fee to help pay for his luxury SUV with the leather interior.
In my opinion, 121 operators should not even care about failed CFI rides anyways. I'm not wanting to go there to flight instruct, want to go and fly something else besides a C-172. They should allow people to get the jobs, then if they can't make it through training, or pass their checkrides as suggested previously, then be let go. All I want is the chance to be able to prove myself, I can do it and be successful.
I've flown with a lot of guys who never failed a ride, that are at the regionals and else where, that I would be scared to put the neighbors dog on board an airplane they are flying.
Besides, wasn't the FO on 3407 the one who made a configuration change (raising the flaps) without the Captain's say so?
In my opinion, 121 operators should not even care about failed CFI rides anyways. I'm not wanting to go there to flight instruct, want to go and fly something else besides a C-172. They should allow people to get the jobs, then if they can't make it through training, or pass their checkrides as suggested previously, then be let go. All I want is the chance to be able to prove myself, I can do it and be successful.
I've flown with a lot of guys who never failed a ride, that are at the regionals and else where, that I would be scared to put the neighbors dog on board an airplane they are flying.
Besides, wasn't the FO on 3407 the one who made a configuration change (raising the flaps) without the Captain's say so?
#50
When I was going through my school, I chatted with a former grad who was pink slipped for not landing center line on a grass runway. No way to contest that, nothing could be done. DPEs fail people for things that they shouldn't be failed for. I failed the MEI ride on the first attempt because I used 8" MP and Prop back to the detente to simulate zero thrust, as described by Beech for the BE-76. Was busted because I was not "...able to see exactly where 8" MP is because the MP gauge only goes down to 10" ". Even pulling out the manual and showing him still did not allow me to pass the first time. Second time I went up, did it his way (13" MP) and received the congratulatory hand shake. I assume he needed the reexamination fee to help pay for his luxury SUV with the leather interior.
In my opinion, 121 operators should not even care about failed CFI rides anyways. I'm not wanting to go there to flight instruct, want to go and fly something else besides a C-172. They should allow people to get the jobs, then if they can't make it through training, or pass their checkrides as suggested previously, then be let go. All I want is the chance to be able to prove myself, I can do it and be successful.
USMCFLYR
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