They are also the result of an ab initio program.

 

I disagree. After 19 years in the military, it's anything but ab initio. I joined the military when I was 17, I busted my ass to get a college degree, in hopes of flying for the military. I was enlisted 8 years, and now officer for 11. I fly for the military and for Jetblue. unlike an "ab initio" program, the military requires you serve regardless of if you make it through pilot training.
Make no mistake, I see your point, but they are hardly the same.

 

Military pilot training is nothing close to an AB Initio program flying around a 172. Now that's just funny.

 

I was selected for flight training in the USAF based on my grades, interaction with my ROTC cadre, and various aptitude tests and programs designed by the DoD to select candidates with a high probability of success. At no point did I get into an airplane and demonstrate an ability to fly, interact with a crew, or solve a problem. Doesn't that sound like an ab initio program?

I'm not drawing a line between SUPT and gateway 7, I'm just pointing out that ab initio isn't as foreign to many of us as we imagine it is. Guys are going kinetic in theater with 300 hours of flight time. Is that not perhaps at least a jumping off point for a discussion about guys at 1,500 acting as a F/O on a 100-seat airliner?

 

I guess you really just don't get it. Military flight training turns out guys in which most upgrade on a heavy complex airplanes with around 800 hours total and do flights with a mission in between point A and B. Most are instructors by 1500 hours. The training of the two programs are completely different and not comparable. Is JB using a similar selection process? Yes. At 1500 hours will you be the same as a military guy with 1500 hours or a regional guy that has 5000 hours flying up and down the east coast dealing with busy airports, delays, diverts, weather, passenger and mechanical emergencies? No.

Do what you want. If you want to do this program go for it. Congrats on being selected.

 

Well said, well said

 

I'm not sure what your problem Is but you are lying at your ass. MOST pilots are dead set against this program. It lowers the bar just like cleaning the back of the airplane. You are not in touch with the real world boy. This will not be the standard at United delta American etc. We have 3300 pilots with thousands of apps on file. There are thousands of experienced pilots trying to get on here every window. We have less than 100 pilots retiring in the next 10 years. Where's your shortage. It's jackwagon like you that lower the bar for the rest of us. Tell your daddy thanks for paying for your 100k ruddle degree for us. We are so privileged to have you here. Your such a tool

 

First off, I've vehemently opposed to Gateway 7. Second, it's not the military. We are not conducting assault approaches, dropping bombs, or aerial refueling. For the most part it's a monitoring job. However there are times - like say last week in FLL when I needed to disconnect the AP and hand fly a short, visual approach to 10L in the bus because a line of convective wx sitting on the marker precluded any type of instrument approach. Strong crosswind, shifting to a tailwind at touchdown. Conditions going bad in a hurry and the path to the alternate - which we changed twice - was getting sketchy. That's what Gateway 7 does not prep you for. As far as "mechanical" skills under normal airline circumstances- again, not dropping bombs - they're probably there.

Can they program the FMS? Probably would leave me in circles. Decision making is what will come up short. I was not a military pilot but I cut my teeth flying single pilot freight at night in the MU2 out of downtown Detroit then the regionals. Of course after experiences as the one described, I usually look over at the Captain and exclaim, "Whew! I'm thankful gateway 7 prepared me for that." It gets a good laugh.

 

[QUOTE=grim04;2173761]...We have less than 100 pilots retiring in the next 10 years.[/QUOTE

In the next 10 years there will be 408 retirements or 12% of the current seniority list. 33% over the next 15 years. Still not much compared to the legacies.

 

It's called foresight.

How many JB FOs, on that list with very little retirements have apps out to legacies?

When the majors all take the next necessary step in the flow through, and take all flying in house and start hiring directly into the regional jets, what happens to JB's applicant pool?

American is signing up flight instructors currently, then regional flow. C152-777. They will gradually tweak this program until All attrition is eliminated within the pipeline to American. The other legacies will follow suit.

JB will evemtually need this program to survive.

Quote from senior South West manager

“That is one of the things in my job I get to worry about every day and when I go to bed at night,” said Greg Muccio, a senior manager at Southwest Airlines Co. “The biggest problem is a general lack of interest in folks pursuing this as a career anymore. That’s what puts us in the most jeopardy.”