Regionals "out to get you?"
 

It seems like I hear or read of so many instances where regional FOs upgrading to CA are failed. Or fail recurrent.

Yet at the majors this doesn't appear to be a huge issue-
Of course it's challenging and intense, as it should be- but it just seems at the regional level there's a sense of "out to get you" unlike the majors.
Maybe I'm wrong (?)

There is a higher common-denominator for major airline pilots. Most major FO's have previously qualified and served as crew/turbine PIC's.

Regionals are hiring anybody these days... it's one thing to have seat-meat in the right seat, but I'd be really worried if regionals weren't filtering CA upgrades right now!

A healthy failure rate at the regionals ensures adequate staffing for the airline.


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With regionals hiring almost anyone now a days. The quality of applicants have kinda taken a dive. At my company their upgrade Fail rate hax skyrocketed, and not for stick and rudder skills, a lot has to do with just how they operate and decision making. A lot of guys are upgrading so fast without actually taking a second to check out how the guy next to him is doing things and how he came to those decisions or asking questions.

I'm no checkairman, but I have been trying to encourage my newer FOs to get involved. Hand them the weather and ask about it, notams, give them the mx can and ask if they see anything. Involve them in decisions about weather, delays etc. I guess I am hoping to "groom" them into being good or better captains when they upgrade.

I'm pretty impressed when I see an FO do any of the above without me encouraging it. I would hope that my peers are doing the same.

Disclaimer: I am no 20 year captain and I am not perfect, but I do feel it is my job/duty to help educate those following my footsteps to the left seat, as the "old timers" at my company did for me to the best of my ability.

And for as many CAs who like to see FOs do this, I’ve flown with just as many who do not like this.

If you are a CA anywhere and do not like the FO looking into the wx, Notams, logbook, etc... you are doing it wrong

Yeah, the only thing I can think of in the flight deck that is off limits to them is my volume control.

Does that pay extra?

Amen to this one brother!:D

This is really nothing new. I was at the regionals 10 years ago and all of the same things described happened back then. I think the majors just reject hiring people that they feel would not be good captains whereas the regionals give them a chance.

Eff 'em. Perform the duties of the certificate you're exercising. Print you own release, PDC, etc if that's what it takes.

Keeps you from getting violated, fired, or killed. If you accomplish that, you can retire as a major airline CA, which does in fact pay better.

I’ve been fortunate to never experience this.

Most regional FOs (lately) view this job as ‘padding their logbook’ and most don’t even consider upgrading and what it means anymore. The big D is about to call any minute...

Twenty years ago you just didn’t see this mentality. The golden egg *was* the regional turboprop upgrade and you had to be ready.

Sounds like you’re one of the more interested FOs which is why you probably get more interaction from the LHS. Kudos.

I'm sorry if that has been your experience, but that has not been mine at all. Almost every FO i've flown with has been sharp, eager to learn, and a valuable part of the team.

But it's so much fun to turn the other guy's marker beacon volume all the way up when he least expects it!

:D

Hahahah gets em every time!

Or switch the acp to pa and turn on the pa.

Also activate the mic in the observer mask and turn the intercom to on, watch how they look around for the constant static source.

I like to reach up when theyre not looking and turn the ELT on. I cant stop laughing when they report an elt to center and its us!

Sometimes the 20 minute turn gets in the way. But there is a few minutes in cruise (unless you're doing Allentown turns out of Philly) for some learning to occur

121 ELTs transmit to satellites, and identify the AC hull number. You'll get an ACARS from company minutes later.

Back when ACARS was a new thing, some CA (who knew it wasn’t yet operational) typed in a nasty remark about the CEO and pressed the button.
But it was operational. :eek: :p

I dont really do that.

121.5/243 isn't monitored by satellites any longer due to all the false alarms and never had beacon ID. Don't sweat it. And don't do it again.

I liked to repeatedly squeeze the the thrust reverser levers during engine start. When the fo asked why I told them I was priming the engines


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SKW ELT's most definitely will flag the tail number and will get a very fast response from whoever monitors ELT's, via the company. I've proven that empirically...

121.5/243 are obsolete, but still in use by GA. Big boys use 406MHz units which are in fact monitored by satellites... CFI's might not know that.

Some new Captains at envoy don't know how to come up with bingo fuel.

Because they didn't go to that overpriced institution of student debt servitude you went to, right? Maybe you can shine the light on their lack of knowledge, oh wise one. :rolleyes:

He must be kidding. There is no way in heck that someone could pass upgrade without being able to demonstrate that they can divert.

Unfurtunately Im not.

Nice, FlyGuy, that’s exactly what captains should be doing. This bit about “does it pay extra” is laziness in action.

GF

We've got a crotchety old captain where I work that really isn't well liked by any of the FOs for a variety of reasons, but just one of the reasons is that the guy insists on keeping the dispatch release hidden over on his side of the cockpit, instead of in the middle within reach of both pilots like every single other pilot here does.

You want to take a peek at the release enroute and double check a notam? Ask for permission. You want to verify some aspect of the landing performance data in preparation for your approach briefing? Ask for permission. Gets old real fast. To top it all off, during our scheduled 26 minute turn-around that we blocked in 5 minutes late for, he'll read the release painfully slow, putting pen marks all over this and that, leaving you with very little time to check the release yourself and finish your departure preparations.

Most of the captains are great. Yet some of them are really great at demonstrating how not to be when I upgrade.

must be envoy!

No I believe him 💯 percent. I've seen same (at another wholly owned I won't mention) and Captains not knowing definition of ceiling, how to calculate max daily duty wheels up time and how to divert around a thunderstorm. It's getting clowny out there.

...That is insane. It's only a matter of time then before the sh!t hits the fan because training departments are growing lax!

Ummmmm 406 and the id number and lat/long it transmits?

Yes take in the good and bad from all your pairings. You will develop your own professional manner that way. As a CA, my favorite part of the job is sharing what has worked for me and the "why" behind some of what I do or the way I like to do certain things. We are mentors, whether you like it or not, whether you are paid extra or not.

As someone looking to make the career change into the airlines with a regional, as an FO. This thread is troubling. Not because of all the prank you CAs will play on me (I'm well versed in my current job), but because of what you folks are alluding to.

Do you think age has something to do with it?

I don't consider myself the greatest pilot that ever lived. None of my flying skill have ever come easy. I've had to work hard at every step of the way. It seemed like I had to study harder than the other students around me at the time. I reached more learning plateaus than anyone reading this, probably. But I made it. I fly professionally, but I still have to work hard to stay proficient, it seems. Don't get me wrong, I like the hard work. And I'm confident in my abilities. But I fly about 15% of the hours you do right now, most likely. But I'm acutely aware of the responsibilities I've accepted by acting as PIC. So I'm still working hard.

The people I work with are not pilots. But I work closely with them and I see many younger new hires not working out. I really think it's a work ethic thing. Seems like nobody wants to work for something. Not all the younger folks, but calling out most of them as being a bit lazy Is not an unreasonable notion. Is that what you all are saying? I'm a question asker. I want to know what I'm doing. And if I'm not asking the right questions, I want to know about it. If I'm flying with you guys and I'm not measuring up, I need the criticism.


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(null)
Please disregard to poor grammar.


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