Originally Posted by
Mason32
So, please.... you can play devils advocate all you want.
I live, see, and hear it everyday. The FAA will allow you in the cockpit because they rely on the Capt to keep things safe... So, if that is what you really want to do, the go do it... but don't fool yourself into thinking it's the safe thing to do. If you can't go fly checks in a Cessna 172 by yourself, why should you be allowed to pilot a transport category jet by yourself? Now, before you point out that the Captain is there... I want to point out how often they are not. Frequently, human beings need to visit the restroom.... during those times, you are by yourself. AThe age 60 rule has changed to age 65, and nobody yet knows what the full ramifications will be. Last year a CAL FO had to bring a 73 in after the Capt went TU.... so, it does happen.
The point is, we can play what if games all day. The facts speak for themselves. IOE times are up, Capt's are getting stressed out from having to teach/babysit, radio etiquette has erroded, violation actions are up, ASAP reporting is at an all time high....
Again I am not condoning or rejecting it; I am simply playing by the rules that are in effect. I am not going to get into a ****ing match about my training either.
Being honest though, how many plane crashes have occured while the captain was in the forward lav? I understand your point though, and if some of these low-time guys are not up to standard then let them go.
I think that a large part of the problem are the pilot mills that churn out pilots way too quickly. Training in places with clear 10sm every day doesn't really help either. I have met some of these guys from these places who have 700tt and 1 hour of actual.
That being the said, I believe that the most important thing a pilot can do is never quit learning. When someone at ANY amount of experience quits or refuses to keep learning then they become just as dangerous.