Originally Posted by
BoilerUP
I thought my initial training 9 years ago was fantastic...paper tiger (gasp!) and all.
Obviously, things have likely changed since them.
Long breaks in the training process, however, are VERY tough when you are trying to learn a new airframe...especially if it is your first exposure to 121 and/or turbine operations.
While an individual needs to commit themselves and utilize time off wisely, long breaks are a recipe for training issues even with experienced candidates.
I don't think the training has changed, just the quality of the applicant. When I'm down in CLT doing CQT I still see the same guys running around there. Paul, Dirk, Grant, Clint, etc. etc.
We had the paper tiger too. It was great, you had to really know the switch position. "10th stage bleeds...out an off". You had to come into it day one knowing the preflight chapter pretty much cold. There was ZERO spoon feeding.
No fancy touch screen needed, just good old fashioned study sessions.
I still keep in contact with a couple people there in the training department. They are smart, knowledgeable people who can get the motivated applicant through without issue. Key word, motivated.
When I came to mainline we have touch screens as well, guess what, all of the commuter guys got together and taped our cockpit posters on the wall and ran the flows the exact same way. We had study sessions just like back in the commuter days, peppering each other with questions.
The CRJ is a surprisingly simple aircraft to fly.
In my pad recently there was an AWAC new hire. 5 trips of OE and still not finished. They finally cut him. I can't imagine having to give people 100 hours of OE! That is very generous of the company IMO.
Some guys aren't cut out for this job. I completely disagree with the ATP in terms of increasing the quality of the applicant, it has not done that and in fact might be doing the opposite.
The top highest time, highest experienced guys in my class were cut, guys who had been flying 121 prior to coming to AWAC. The youngest, lowest time guys all made it through with zero extra sessions or OE.