Originally Posted by
Blackbeard
Well....there are indeed invitations to apply. I know. I received several with encouragement.
You miss the point. Although someone might have told you "You should apply", that doesn't change the process in place or the requirements to become a Flex. Additionally, you weren't told you should apply based on your 'excellence in your previous life' as he said. You were told you should apply based on your performance in training or on the line.
Originally Posted by
Blackbeard
Well.... Actually, that place is a political vortex. Seems stroking for command is an underlying mission. By the way, how long have you been an instructor there? And, does anyone know the average tenure of the MD11 flex guys and gals?
I've been in two school houses here and aside from just a few people, noone wants the top jobs. Since I've been here and seen that, your comment about everyone 'stroking for command' is way off base. What does it matter how long I've been an instructor? Long enough. How long have you been bidding B Res or Tulsa O&Bs? As long as the Association takes care of us via the CBA, we'll have plenty of opportunity to go fly... Ooops.
Originally Posted by
Blackbeard
1) Squirrelly sims --- agree!
2) LCA duties vs. Flex duites --- HOLD ON! Here may be a very fundamental and serious issue. We must take a more serious approach to stick and rudder skills in the school house. The line between a flex and an LCA SHOULD be blurred!
We do teach 'flying' basics and aircraft specifics as best we can within the limitations of a simulator. Regardless, you really learn to fly in the AIRPLANE with an LCA, NOT in the sim with a Flex. Apparently even the FAA recognizes this, ergo the requirements for IOE and consolidation.
Originally Posted by
Blackbeard
<<Hang on, I'm writing this down: "A V1 cut is a rudder maneuver..." Any more gems like that would be great and I'm sure we'd love to incorporate them in our training curriculum.>>
But it is a rudder-first maneuver.
That, my friend, was sarcasm. You think we don't teach that already? Or controlled rotation rates or crosswind techniques or a host of other items?
Originally Posted by
Blackbeard
<<The job of a Flex Instructor is to teach you proficiency in procedures and maneuvers delineated by 121 App E or the applicable AQP syllabus. We will teach you to the best of our abilities to 'fly', but it's just the sim. The real 'flying' instruction is on the line. Again the confusion between Flex and LCA. Also, that rather enormous chip on your shoulder against military guys is showing just a teensy-weensy bit...>>
Sorry.... "...but it's just a sim" doesn't cut it. I seriously hope we are not uncovering what may be a raw component of what's going on. By the way, I have a military background.
Again, you can take guys to the boat in the sim a thousand times, but that don't mean they're getting aboard the real thing at night. The instruction in the sim is no less intense just because it's a sim, but it just ain't the same...