Originally Posted by
snippercr
Cool story bro?
But I then think the question is begged - how does one GET experience? It's like the entry level job or even internship that says "requires 3-5 years experience."
Also how do you quantify SUFFICIENT or APPROPRIATE experience and for WHAT PURPOSE?
Do you want a guy with 3,000 hours towing a banner VFR along LSD in Chicago? Do you want a 1,500 hour pilot who did night IFR single pilot box hauling?
The fact that this except says that risk is inversely proportional to experience is the most naive, simplistic and most likely useless statement. Even in my pre-coffee stupor, AF447 comes to mind and I am sure there are millions others.
Thank you for your observations, snippercr.
There are number of ways to gain experience. Some are costlier than others but the value of the experience gained is set by its usefulness to an employer. Experience can be direct or indirect, general or specific, internal or external, high-grade or low-grade, expensive or free, etc. Unfortunately, there's just not enough space here to elaborate.
I don't understand the basis of your question, how do I “quantify SUFFICIENT or APPROPRIATE experience and for WHAT PURPOSE?” I don't. That's the prospective employer's job. I simply stated that what matters to him is how much and what specific type of experience a pilot has, which he will then compare with his expectations or minimums, whatever that might be.
I can accept that my supposition, risk is inversely proportional to experience, might be the “most naive, simplistic and most likely useless statement” to some. I can only hope, it's thought-provoking and valuable to others. It certainly is to insurers - among others – who routinely rely on the relationship between these two factors to assess risks.
I don't see how the AF447 example might relate to your opinion. Pilot experience is not a guarantee flights won't be lost. It's a factor in calculating the odds they won't be (lost). AF presumably looked at facts, calculated risks, made some judgment calls, accepted the odds, and in this case, lost. It's that simple.