Every FO is low time their first day on the job...it's the way they act when they hit the line that determines if they get left in the hotel room at night.

 

While I can say that I am ALWAYS learning new things as a pilot, I can say that the number of things you will learn going around the pattern as a CFI for 2000 hours may not necessarily make you a proportionately better pilot than you were at 700. It'll make you better, but perhaps not so much that it's worth the time it takes.

There is a certain breed of young, low-time pilot being hired as a result of the current hiring climate that offends some folks. Speaking very, very broadly, the stereotype of which I speak have never had a non-flying job (or maybe ANY other job), and are difficult for those of us who are a little older, sadder (and yes, maybe a little wiser) to get along with. Part of it might be jealousy, but I think most of it is a straight-up difference in maturity (no matter who you are, you're not the same person you were 10 years ago, and most of us don't want to go back).

When a young guy on career month #4 sits down in the right seat of a jet and bitches about how life's hard, they are running the risk of annoying people who have lived and worked and sacrificed for a while to get where they are. If an FO does his job well, gauges the cockpit climate properly, and listens before talking, he or she will almost never be perceived as "low-time." If you are young and low time and have given something like the "cockpit climate" some thought, you're probably not the type to set off discontented grumblings.

If you run into a captain who's bugging out about low-time pilots (they are rare), keep your mouth shut. If you just can't do that, ask them sincerely if they had been given the opportunity to go to a 121 operator when they had 700 hours, would they have turned it down on principle so that they could acquire additional Cessna 172 experience? Be good at your job before you say anything, though.

 

The new guys, as long as they can pull their weight on the job, are golden!

Supply and demand got you hired with low time, the fact that you can pass training and do the job on the line is a testament to your ability.

When I was hired at my current airline, I couldn't buy a beer, coffee, food etc. I had so many former Pan Am & Eastern pilots tell me that as long as I had a half wing (union probationary year) that my money was no good. I felt like part of the team from day one, and knew that as long as I brought a good attitude and exepcted ability to the job that the Capt's had my back.

So there are two types of people - those who can make your first year hell or those who can help you celebrate arriving at you're new job.

I was overwhelmed with the welcome that I got as a new hire - and I can't let a new hire pay for anything & I go out of my way to welcome them. For me, new hires are an asset, not a target.

We're labor, and if we don't take care of each other - who will?

 

Its all attitude. If you have a good one you'll be fine. There will always be a certain amount of friendly "harassment" no matter what amount of time you have. There will also always be a few jerks in any career field that want you to be as miserable as they are. However if YOU are the jerk or have an abrasive personality then you may be given more than subtle encouragement to take your attitude elsewhere. Remember that in this business everyone generally loves pilots who are junior to them unless they are given a strong reason not to.

 

I like where this thread has gone - Attitude IS everything. Be humble, appreciative, and respectful - You'll be everybody's best friend and asset.

There are a few super-arrogant new-hire LTP's out there that just give all of us a bad name. Don't add to the problem and you're golden ;-)

Enjoy!

 

Agreed. This is what I wanted to hear.

 

Attitude is everything...but don't suck either!

 

Haha, yeah - Don't forget to fly the Airplane fairly well too - or atleast don't give your coworkers anything to talk about in the crew-room ;-)

 

i'm with the last posts, the only people i normally hear complain about low time pilots are the ioe check airmen, and they typically only talk about things when people simply can't fly the airplane. they understand the learning curve is large, and the line isn't the sim, but they do expect that after 25-30 hours in the plane that you can reasonably fly the airplane and actually assist the captain if things got bad.

Just show up, do your best not to complain to much, and try to play yourself off the captain and flight attendants personalities, and you should be set, and you won't find yourself getting ditched on the overnights, you'll just ditch that complaining, 68 year old flight attendant who keeps saying "This isn't as fun as it used to be when i was at TWA"

 

spending a little too much time in "charm school" are we? just kidding. thats good advice.