Originally Posted by
ToiletDuck
I dunno my Air Force students got it handed to them when they went in. They spent hours on end getting ready for it every day. Best thing for them is they didn't have to "unlearn" something. I spent time in the program with them and it's unlike any training I've seen anywhere else. However training only gets you started and experience takes you the rest of the way. That's where I think the civil world actually ends up taking the lead. 90+hrs a month instructing and flying 135/121 builds a lot of experience in a quick mannor. There are many AF guys/gals out there flying heavies with less time than these regional guys.
TD -
No, no, no.......Not saying they don't work hard - oh they do! But for instance when I was first briefed on the AF grading system making it's way into the Primary VT at NAS Whiting (and forgive me because I don't remember all the details at all since it didn't concern me at the time), I remember something about a student was able to get a *down* or a *SOD* or whatever you want to call it nowadays and he doesn't even get remedial training on what he performed in an unsatisfactory manner before he moves on to the next flight. And as long as he doesn't do this a few times IN A ROW then he continues on.
Sorry to sound like one of those OLD GUYS saying that it was harder back when - but you got three strikes and then you were out (and that was THROUGHOUT FLIGHT SCHOOL). I sit on a lot of boards of all kinds in my position currently and I see that 99% of them are trainable and they get the extra training and they make good fleet pilots. But sometimes - one that you know isn't going to make it just won't go away because the head freds don't believe the guys that are flying with them day in and day out. they tell us to make the hard call and then when we do they tell us we aren't training them right.
Agreed on the TT on the regionals and the 121 and many other types of flying, BUT - remember also that flying from point A to point B has it's limitation too. Many of those military heavy flying guys are flying into places that take an extra portion of CRM to get into with other **things** to think about too. Heck - I'd have some more time too if so many of my flights weren't 0.9 (lots of sorties - few hours)
All flying is good flying....just some is better than others!
(that was told to me by a senior in high school when I was but a freshman - but the word flying was replaced
)
USMCFLYR