Originally Posted by
ROCKETM8
I would be one of the sponges. 74/767s have a way of handling rookie arrogance I would imagine. I heard this before about guys going to parts of the world they have never been in before. Now, I haven't flown airplanes in much of the world apart from Aussie and USA. BUT, I have lived and worked in a great chunk of it in other professions (Europe / Asia / Oceana mainly). Would that kind of experience help in any way- even if it wasn't flying?
Yes...first dollar made as a PIC will be in a heavy jet. That is quite a thought. European and Asian carriers do it routinely with ab-initio training schemes. Do you know any people whom this has been the case? What kind of captain do/did they make?
The issues in different parts of the world come down to culture, so yes -- a general understanding of the local culture would be a big help. But the biggest thing is to be wary.
There is nothing magic about a heavy jet operation, other than they are closer to the limits a lot more often than a 737 shuttling around a legacy network. So on average it is not as forgiving (though every operation has its "bring your A game" days).
I have no doubt in my mind that a regional FO can come to Atlas and in time make an excellent Captain. But he/she needs to focused on preparing for it. Most of them are going to do a good job (and are a pleasure to fly with in the here and now). But this hiring cycle seems to have a larger minority of passive, uninterested new hires than existed in past cycles. Those are the ones that are going to have a very, very hard time. And, frankly, be dangerous. I don't think that this is just an Atlas phenomena.
When I look at the ab-initio airlines that you mention I see more established cultures, operating philosophies and route structures. Atlas is much more....dynamic. There is not a lot of hand holding in the day to day operation, to be diplomatic.
My advice, which may not be worth much, is to get around as you get near upgrade. Bid the weird lines that get out of your base when they show up. Bid reserve and bug scheduling to send you off the beaten path. Whatever works.