It seems like lately a lot of 135/91 guys are getting turned down by the regionals "Hiring Board."

We all know it... the brief phone call about "Let me ask you some basic questions before we can push your application through."

So you get asked all the fun stuff; hmmm did you party too much in college to get that one?, or whats with the lead foot? However, the big ones they are looking for seem to be check ride failures and employment history.... ok violations as well.

So Ill be honest; I have dropped three checkrides... but I have had 25, still giving me a 88 percent pass rate. Better than some one who is green out of Jet U. , ATP, Riddle or whatever, who brags about only failing one.

So out of the airlines I have applied to, always get the phone call, but never make it past the hiring screen. Others with a lot of 135/91 time have similar stories, perhaps a violation or termination years ago, get the phone call, but same result.

My point is not to bring down the regionals, cfi's fresh out of school, or perhaps the long time 135 guy who miraculousy never had a hiccup. My point is after the Colgan crash, the pre-screening for the hiring boards is "out of control." Too many people with great experience are being omitted, some times by regionals who are desperate to bring on people.

When you do something long enough, you develop risk. You will fail something one day; your human. Some other things also happen beyond our control. Is that fair to be bypassed by an impersonal screening process?

The Colgan crash was a result about two morons who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. So if we are desperate to bring on people, lets stop this witch hunt hiring process, and bring that person in to give them a chance. There are a lot of reckless pilots out there, but there are a lot who had bad luck. Let one on one human interaction decide that.

Fly Safe