Originally Posted by
cruiseclimb
One of my best friends from the Navy walked out of their training just before the checkride (three others walked out with him). He was going to be a quick upgrade to captain right after the IOE (he 20 yrs in the Navy and over 4,500 hrs). He said it was the worst training and the most unprofessional aviation experience he's had. He would of rather sat right seat at a good company then fly as a captain with PNCL. Some of the guys were good, but he said some of the pilots were the bottom of the barrel and he wouldn't want is family flying on the planes with the experience he had with them. Looks like a good opportunity though for quick PIC time.
I on the other hand know several pilots at 9E I would trust with my life with any day--former corporate G5 pilot, military and 135 guys there for upgrade, and a few marines who take their job extremely seriously...
There are bad apples at every operation on Earth. The system is imperfect everywhere. PLUS--your buddy didn't stick around long enough to actually see if those "bad apples" passed the checkride--which most of them probably didn't.
Honestly, I trust 9E a whole lot more than many other regionals b/c of what you just said--many many of our FOs are very high time, and very experienced pilots here for the fast upgrades...I'd trust a guy w/1000TT and 500 SIC turbine over a CFI with 800 hrs 172 time in the right seat...wouldn't you?
Why was your 4500+ Navy guy at a regional in the first place? Why didn't he get on with a major? And was that the reason he walked out of school--he got hired elsewhere?