Originally Posted by
Aldo Raine
A member a whole lot longer than you might imagine. Language that stops upgrades and prevents vacancies below them is neither creating jobs, nor upgrades.
We can do better in areas like this, our reserve system, etc. We are either constantly improving, or we are getting worse.
I’m in favor of minimum time to experience an operation before being able to upgrade to captain. It protects our pilot group and the airline. There are many examples in the regionals of “Street Captains” stepping on their d!@ks. There is really no substitute for experience in our occupation. 500 hours and not being on probation is an example of protecting both the pilot and the airline.
If a probationary captain makes a mistake, they could very well be terminated without protection from the Union. Not only that, but if said mistake makes it on the news, it protects the airline from being accused of not protecting the public because of lack of pilot experience.