Originally Posted by
Sink r8
I think that's just the problem... many never willingly go when it's time. And as things evolve, they just gradually fade further and further into the past. Consider that we're experiencing an extraordinary amount of change, and that there will be a wave of new changes once the N/S guys finally agree on Best Practices through mutual experience... And we'll be stuck with guys that are still talking about the autothrottles on the L-1011, or how surprising easy to land the 747-200 was.
I prefer to be taught by people that have to perform the same tasks on a routine basis.
This is just another form of outsourcing that is taking away mainline jobs. Quality of instruction aside, DALPA should be pushing for the return of line pilot instructors to the training centers.
This falls in the concessionary category of PBS, pay no credit vacation, RJ's, etc in that all negatively affect the # of pilots needed.
I think the above post hit the nail on the head. I had a great experience with a non SLI instructor who was RECENTLY RETIRED and still knew most of the procedures. However, you could already start to notice the IRU drift between where he was and where we were. In another few months/years this will become even more noticeable. I envision hearing "you'll get that on the line" more and more.
All around this is a bad idea, and we ought to be looking for ways to recapture this.