Originally Posted by Bucking Bar (Post 1003311)

Are we still taking a little trickle of new hires?

Sorry to hear some folks are having problems. The DC9 / MD88 is a anachronistic jet that would be a rather harsh change is the new hire had gained nearly all their experience in modern, well designed, well functioning equipment. In our class the single seat guys found the MD88 to be very challenging, but they had the right mind set, knew where to focus their energies and when to be humble. All but one made it through. The guy we lost also ended up at Southwest and I hear he's doing great on the 737.

For the civilians, time in an older turboprop would likely be of more value than RJ time. The recent generation of regional jets are very well designed and easy to fly. Aviation has advanced a lot in the half century which has elapsed since the Douglas engineers drew the first design sketches on cave walls.

Certainly our skills on EP's were sharpest on the E120. That thing broke in some of the most dramatic ways at least one a month.

Originally Posted by TANSTAAFL (Post 1003358)

So lack of basic airmanship is now the aircraft's fault? Wow. I guess you are also saying today's crop of pilots are not as good as their predecessors?

Glass is a great tool to aid, but not substitute for SA. Flying it now, but would not hesitate to fly left seat in the DC9 or MD.

Originally Posted by DeadHead (Post 1003464)

I think it's not so much a matter of "basic airmanship" or being a better pilot, but I do think that our predecessors in some ways faced alot more challenges then we do today.

Technology has improved to the point where it has made cockpit management more efficient, cleaner, and user-friendly. Pilots who first flew airliners did not have the years of technology advancement, accident/incident investigations, and human factors research behind them.
These pilots had to think on the feet with technology that was no where as near as reliable at it is today.

In the long run, I think it's apples and oranges, I think as far as cockpit management on behalf of technological advancement has come, managing resources can be as difficult as mismanaging the resources.
Bottom line, I never placed much stock the better pilots flew this plane versus that plane argument, the way I see it you can have a bad pilot or a good one in any plane.

Originally Posted by acl65pilot (Post 1003198)

Believe it or not people can disagree and keep it civil. :eek:

What matters is how you interact once a decision has been reached that is not in your favor.

Originally Posted by Roadie85 (Post 1003473)

Some good news. I moved up 3 numbers this month!

Originally Posted by Timbo (Post 1003498)

Yeah but...how much did you move up in your category? That's what really matters when it comes time to bid. :eek:


And oh bye the way...it's time to bid.

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 1003466)

Pilot 1: We need to go back to flying jets like our forefathers did!

Pilot 2: You mean drunk?