Originally Posted by
Sniper
Honest question for current Spirit pilots. Should Spirit be hiring pilots who've never commanded a crew or flight of aircraft when there are plenty of applicants that meet this very basic qualification?
If you don't have turbine PIC, then you never flew in the military (military AC time assures you exercised leadership and command of either an aircraft crew, or as a flight lead) or, as a civilian, you likely last exercised PIC leadership of a team as a CFI in a piston with a student, hardly the same. This civilian will be almost a decade removed from that experience, minimum, when they first have an opportunity to command a mainline jet with passengers.
Do current Spirit pilots really think that it is in the best interests of the company and the passengers for a pilot to sit left seat in an Airbus (minimum 150 souls on board) as their first attempt as an aircraft commander of a crew?
Here is a question. If somebody choses a quick upgrade, gets the magic 1000 hrs PIC time. Over somebody who has sat in the right seat for 3-4k hrs. He/She gets hired spirt with a 2,500 to 3000hrs. Over a thousand hrs less experience... Is that in Spirit's best interest to hire to the person of less experience? Most guys at Eagle that sit right seat have 8k in type. But, lets say you have 4k in type. You get hired, prob 5-10 hyrs to upgrade. No you 7k in type, 10-11k jet time. Lets face it, if you can't handle yourself as captain after 10k hrs flying jets your probably in the wrong business. Yeah it happens guys don't feel comfortable for whatever reason but, its a rare and not the norm. JMO, of course.. i'm almost there for upgrade and have 3k in type, I feel very comfortable. Airplane fits me like a glove. Captains have told me if you don't feel comfortable upgrading at 3-4k in type, you should find a new line of work.