Originally Posted by
tnkrdrvr
Dera,
No tanker guy flys 737s. Our formation flights are usually more relaxed than our pointy nosed friends, but hardly as easy as 121 world. As a 121 guy I’ve never been asked (and given) to give away so much gas that I’m below bingo for the only airfield I can land at. I’ve never been so low on gas over a hostile country that I can’t make it home without a successful air refueling. I’ve never lost an engine over the arctic while flying a jet home with a cracked main landing gear on a one time flight waiver. Finally no RJ driver has ever been told to loiter for hours within the engagement envelope of a hostile nation’s (we were bombing they) SAM batteries because their gas is needed and the CFAC is willing to gamble their lives that the hostile nation won’t take the shot.
RJ guys do benefit from experience in the 121 world. My new hire classmates from that world did great and have nothing to apologize for, but the FAA would never let a 121 pilot be deliberately put in scenarios that are routine in military operations. A pilot from an exclusive 121 background may or may not be able to handle the things military pilots have been through, but they haven’t proved it.
Yeah the tanker comment was left there by mistake, I edited that post a few times before I hit submit.
I don't see how those experiences help you in 121 world. Actually it's the opposite. I don't think accepting sub-bingo fuel shows good decision making. That's what really matters in the 121 world, not how much pressure you can fly under.
One of the big reasons why airlines prefer military pilots is, that the hiring pilots are mostly military, and they appreciate those treats even though they don't really help you much in your day to day operation.
And yes, partly because some of the CFI "bros" are pretty awful pilots and people.