Here is the way I see it.


The type of Airline Pilots that I have a lot of confidence in are the types of guys that used to hang around airports at the age of 10 worked at the airports at the age of 15. I used to work for an Aeriel Banner company out of (BLM) as a kid, it was great my Dad dropped me off bright and early Saturday's and Sunday's and I worked my A$$ off setting up the banners and rolling them up etc. I did this for a few reasons, most importantly I was fascinated by airplanes and loved the airport. I worked for $10/hr towards flight training and worked my tail off to pay for training and soloed right after my 16th birthday. I think I am somewhat of an airplane geek, I always look up when I hear and airplane and envy the 152 flying overhead in the summers. Some of the best sticks I have flown with have multitude of experiences from gliders, to Stearman's,Cubs etc..... These guys grew up admiring aviation and airplanes and it only seemed natural to become an airline pilot. Hell..... you would think being I soloed at the age of 16 I would be a CA by 23 yet here I am 28 and a regional F/O. I can't say I wouldn't like being a CA now, but I wouldn't have traded the $250 hamburgers with good friends, or trips down to Bader field in Atlantic City, or teaching someone how to fly a 172. It was all life experience and really taught me how to fly an airplane......... some airplanes are heavier and have different tendencies but an airplane is an airplane is an airplane. (Some of these guys can't land an airplane in a 10kt crosswind!!!)

Now, you take the guys who are in their second career and never really thought about aviation until they see some ad online, or some silly commercial telling them how they can be an airline pilot is just 6 months time. Now before I get flamed I am not saying guys from ATP, or one of those factories are not good pilots, but a lot of them just rushed through it and missed out on experiences that you could only get from trying to teach someone how to land a 172, or scaring yourself silly, or do hours upon hours of spin training. The ATP mentality, as well as some other factories is DO THE FAA MINIMUM to get done as cheap and quickly as possible.............well how does that create a competent pilot? I spent $$$$$$$$$$$$$ to go out and fly around aimlessly going to grass strips (Trinca), tiny runways (Buttervalley), International airports to be overwhelmed by approach lights (Stewart, NY). My roommate at Colgan instructed at Spartan down in Tulsa and he would tell me what type of students they would turn out, he said it was unreal that they were letting these types of guys get through................THESE types of guys/gals are going to be flying people around for a 121 airline, and have never seen ACTUAL IMC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been babbling for a while and I don't mean to discredit those that went from Insurance Broker to Airline Pilot in 6 months but the type of Pilot I like to fly with are the ones that have had aviation as a part of their life since they can remember, those that have some close calls in a 172 etc........

I dunno I just think as of late (past 10 years) these places pump out FAA Legal Airline Pilots, but poor aviators.......


Sorry for the rant guys,

SAAB