Originally Posted by
Locke
The training department won't teach you the basics (instruments, jepps, performance, 121 regs, etc). If you show up weak in any of these areas they aren't going to be happy with you. They focus on company specific stuff, international procedures, and getting your type.
The sim profiles aren't basic by any means. They like to get you out of your comfort zone and then pile on a ton of little gotchas. So you'll be flying a plane you don't know how to fly into a city you've probably never been, and god forbid you don't know which NADP it is depending on which direction you're going. Oh, and don't forget your second segment climb profile is different because you have a DMI that requires you to hang the gear longer. Oh, and your performance data isn't working in the box so you have to read it from the TLR which you've probably never seen before. Watch those speed limits on the turn, and the NG box will have a ton of anomalies that will get you in trouble. But have fun out there.Originally Posted by GatorHog View Post
Hmm. I have no 121 experience, no heavy experience, and I don't know what NADP, DMI, or TLR are. Sounds like it would be a peach of a time!
Perhaps these posts represent a very good analysis as to why some, (less than 1% fail) pilots have a problem in training. Gator Hog does not know the answer to what a NADP profile is, and instead of looking it up, indicates through his writing, that a the average professional pilot, would not know that it stands for Noise Abatement Departure Procedure. I am sorry to offend you Gator Pilot, but I can hazard a guess that you have never looked at the Jeppessen Airport Reference pages before. Other countries frown on you operating your Aircraft at their airport against their rules when they are clearly written.
Next, let's take a look at what Locke has written. I have types in several "big boy" airplanes. Kalitta' AQP Initial course is definitely in the middle of the road on a level of difficulty scale. Some facts about the Kalitta course
1. All FTD and Simulator lesson instructor scripts are on the training website,and most instructors even go as far as to print out the scripts, and the flight release documents for you to use for studying.
2. All students have access through the company website to the Jeppesen program.
3. All students are given paper copies of all manuals and have access to electronic copies of said manuals.
4. All students are signed off on programming the FTD (a level C equivalent sim that does not move.) so that they can do self directed learning on their off time during Indoc,systems, FTD's and Sims. Best FMS and systems trainer in the world.
5. ICAO Airports used in training are JFK, SFO, LAX, CVG, ORD, AMS, HKG, TPE. ICAO Airports meet the same standards around the world except for those items listed in that pesky Airport Reference Section.
6. Most pilots flying 121 today have at least heard of if not used Aero Data Performance Software. I hope those pilots know what a TLR is. (Takeoff,landing report)
So my Question for Locke. How is it that when you have access to all of the above material INCLUDING the actual script that the instructor will use, that a Professional Pilot could be "taken out of his/her comfort zone? How is the instructor piling on when he is following the script to the letter? God forbid you don't know the NADP profile for the direction you are going that day? Do you mean the one that is in the Airport Reference Pages or one of the exceptions that the Instructor went over with you in the briefing?
Rest assured, Professional Pilots are welcome here, will do well in training, and the instructors will spend as much time as needed to train a pilot who shows up prepared and is ready to learn. Additional training is given freely here.
Kalitta is not an entry level job where we train First Officers. It is an Airline where ALL pilots are either Captains or Captains in training. When you fly you make ALL the decisions. The Captain retains last word on all matters of course but you will be expected to fly the plane.