Gonna get fried for this....
 

So here is a thought provoking, somewhat of a fire-starter question, that I think could have some useful points to it if answered seriously.

The question is posed to the real senior guys, regardless of background:

What are the biggest flaws with the younger breed of pilots trying to work their way thru the airline world? In particular, discuss flight skills/techniques, personality traits?

The biggest flaw? The idea that they are "entitled" to:

-A big/turbine/shiny/new/insert adjective aircraft-
-Respect of their peers
-Instant upgrades
-Instant employment
-Instant gratification

There are many talented young and low time pilots. Many of them are great to fly with, but just as many need attitude adjustments and lessons in professionalism.

Impatience. Some will take jobs at non-Union carriers who undercut Union contracts thinking they'll get in that left seat faster.

I wouldn't say that particular group has any more flaws than the rest of us, we all had to learn and if we were smart we were able to learn from the experience of others. Just try to remember that old guy in the left seat has had to go down the same tough road you have and he has been at it twice as long.
Many who made it that far have done so because they not only had the requisite skills and experience, but also a fairly good understanding of the human condition.

I'll second FlyerJosh. I remember in newhire class, people talking about how they're going to make it to CAL with no time in the left seat.

All of the young guys can fly ok....hey! it`s not brain surgery...here`s my gripe...You youngsters are in love with automation...get your heads out of the cockpit and fly! All of the new machines can fly really, really well without the magic. As an example...copilot flying, cleared for an approach to 17L at DFW (wx was vfr) just as we crossed the marker, tower changed us to 18R. Bubba immediately started typing in that damn box. I said " there`s the runway..land on it"...well...that`s my gripe for the day...

i agree with the obsession with automation that you allude to RIAP, but in all honesty, there really is no choice on that one. yes, its one thing if the newbie is infatuated with the FMS and all the glass and uses it as a crutch (much like your example), but in the modern era, there is very little choice left sometimes with the advent of fly by wire. in the corporate arena, i think the new Falcon 7X is an amazing airframe, but would never want to sit in either seat in it because the damn thing flies itself.

as a young'n, i wouldnt mind flying steam gauges and handflying IFR approaches, but reality doesnt play itself out that way.

back to the main question: is there a clearcut difference in technique between young and old (although you could consider fly by hand vs. fly by wire to be different techniques)


lastly, are airlines not "allowed" to fly with AP off for entire legs?

IMHO...

My humility was earned plumbing in the 727 way back when. You had no choice but to sit down and start flipping switches in the right order. The heck with automation, I just wanted to face the front of the airplane.

I think I'm a better, fairer captain for it.



My .02

Sad thing is............................... they probably DID/WILL

The CAL internship results in an interview with the airline when you hit a certain amount of total, and/or multi-turbine. I forget what the number is, but it's pretty low. We had an FO leave here after less than a year to go to the right seat of a CAL 757.