Question about AA instructors

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09-06-2012 | 06:31 AM

#31

texaspilot76

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Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Feb 2007

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From: Right Seat

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa73

The writing down of fuel between fixes is a VERY good thing. We've caught more than one severe fuel leak between 2 close fixes using this technique. Remember the A300's inaugural flight back in 1987 with the VP Flight, CA Ewell, as the captain? They caught a disastrous fuel leak between 2 close fixes thanks to this procedure. Almost had to ditch, but thanks to an EAL crew who told them to pull a fire handle, disaster was averted and they landed in Bermuda.

Otherwise, I agree with everything else you said. We do have a lot of long checklists, and the CA does a lot of stuff he shouldn't have to do. Hopefully this will change with a merger.

I will say that we have a highly skilled pilot group that still manages to fly safely amidst all of these antiquated procedures. 99.9% of the CAs actively set a very CRM-friendly cockpit atmosphere and recognize that most of our F/Os arehighly experienced as well.

I apologize. I guess my post sounded a little harsh, but it was in no way directed at the pilots of AA. I was simply criticizing the culture and procedures.

09-06-2012 | 03:26 PM

#32

fechic

On Reserve

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 19

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From: B-737 FO

Quote:

Originally Posted by texaspilot76

So, you don't use AA pilots for ground and sim instructors? That stinks.

I think that goes waaayyy back to the days when mechanics used to teach the ground school. Then is was the flight engineers who taught. (Just guessing, here).

15 years ago, when the only seat you were hired into was the back seat of the 727, they typically only hired former military flight engineers or retired pilots with big airplane systems experience to be ground school/sim instructors.

The ground school and sim instructors share a master seniority list, which is completely different than the pilot seniority list, so, no, it doesn't work like many other airline out there. Besides, the company can pay the instructors a lot less (at least new instructors, anyway) to teach full-time than they could a line pilot.