Originally Posted by
squawkoff
I don't think you can do a check ride that last about an hour and get a good picture of the skills and judgment of a pilot, or in my last career, a controller no matter how much experience they claim. I was an instructor of controllers for 20 of my 25 years in ATC and argued that a check ride for controllers should be a two or three day process. Maybe the controller/pilot had a good day or a good hour during the check ride but what happens when the doo-doo hits the fan? I hope that's what IOE is for. How many crew members that you know has failed IOE? I would say it is very rare but I think IOE for flight crew members is the last layer of safety to keep those out of the left seat that aren't ready. I think everyone has flown with the "how have you stayed alive" crew member. Thoughts, Experiences??????
3 day checkrides for pilots ?
It could be many of the check pilots themselves aren't so hot. On one hand, everyone seems to be running around in a state of fear and has forgotten just how safe this industry has become. But that being said, these latest events ARE a byproduct of the need for minimum cost and minimum experience by the entities that should be holding a higher standard for entry. The 60's -80's had plenty of accidents attributable to pilot error and these were experienced pilots. Now, the cheapest buck spent rules, and you've got 26 year old 3000 hour airline jet captains out there and 500 hour co-pilots with wet MEL tickets, where it used to take 2000TT/500MEL to get an interview. An RJ is no different operational wise than a 727 and years back how many 727's had 3000 hour 26 year old captains and 22 year old 500 hour co-pilots ?
One would expect a problem with this level of experience and maturity in command of these aircraft in such increasing levels. The FAA has fumbled this ball just as they fumbled the controller replacement ball, all in the name of the almighty buck.
The REAL problem has 3 simple letters.......
F-A-A.
Maybe we should follow their desie and just install cameras in the cockpit and download the FDR/CVR after a flight and quanify pilots mistakes and if too many fire them. Same for controllers - cameras and tape recorders at their work stations and if too many errors, then terminate. After all, what better way to deflect the problems cause away from its true source.
You know, there's got to be a way of making this a flawless world where imperfect humans become perfect. Maybe it's time we just handed everything over to machines and admit we're a hopeless species.
HAL (9000), what's you opinion ?