View Single Post
Old 12-18-2015 | 07:14 AM
  #51  
knobcrk
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Adlerdriver
Hopefully your class is with a major airline. Go over to the major section of this forum and you'll find it's pretty rare to stumble on to a thread with these kinds of stupid blanket statements about mil guys.

That's because most guys coming out of the military have some common sense and apply it. If they've been flying single seat, they realize the crew coordination is going to be different. Since they still had crew coordination between aircraft and were highly reliant on that both during mission planning and actual flying, they usually adapt very well. Also, since the military operates a ton of crew aircraft, some pilots come out of the service quite familiar with a 2 or more person crew.

Finally, since most military guys bypass the regionals completely, the small number that these regional guys end up working with may be either problem children that couldn't get a recommendation or arrive with a chip on their shoulder. Either way, they're the exception to the rule, though you wouldn't think so listening to these guys. My guess is for every military guy who shows up and fulfills these bad stereotypes, there's an insecure civilian pilot whose looking for problems where there aren't, possibly washed out or never had a chance at a mil spot and is just happy to have a chance to criticize or validate himself. Most won't be that way, of course.

There are some new things to learn about company procedures and large civilian airports, new regs that now apply plus of course, the aircraft you're assigned to. Steep learning curve is all a matter of opinion, but it's not rocket science and not an issue for most guys who apply themselves. It's definitely easier than any military training you've done. So, you show up ready to learn and apply the same work ethic you have so far in your career. Keep an open mind, seek and take advice and be a team player. If you do that, things will work themselves out (even if you've never talked to ramp control or flown an RNAV arrival ). Good luck.
I agree with you "the steep learning curve " comment was very exaggerated. I'm totally for military guys and have 0 issues with them, however they do tend to stand out more than your average civ regional new hire. I think that's why we have these discussions from time to time. What I mean by that is either they obviously are new to flying certain concepts that civ guys already know but have good attitudes about learning them, or they are really really bad to the point where it makes you wonder how they even flew a military jet. There's no in between. Civ guys tend to be more low key and predictable. It's all about your attitude at the airlines, check your ego at the door and you will be fine. Like you said, the ones that were bad obviously had a chip on their shoulder. Probably because they're at a regional!
Reply