Low Timer
09-29-2007 | 10:21 PM
#12
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Student Pilot
Prican, captains almost always ask what you did before coming to the regional (part of getting to know you small talk I guess) and some ask how many hours you have. If you are a good pilot, he will SEE it through your actions. Just let your skills do the talking. If he asks before you guys set foot in the cockpit and you tell him honestly and simply, "200 hrs" (or whatever you have) I'm sure most any captain will be cursing silently, but if you ARE good, he will be pleasantly surprised during the flight, and actually more so because he had such low expectations of you. dont be apologetic, but dont act like you have a god-given right to sit in that seat either. it does feel really nice when they ask you how many hours you have and they tell you that you are actually better than some 1500 hr guys they've flown with 
obviously you dont wanna reinforce their perceptions about 200 hrs wonders!
I don't know why people should be bothered that their captains judge and get upset at them for being low timers... I mean what do they expect?! but the captains wont care once they see your skills. (and obviously will remain annoyed if you are a horrible 200 hr FO... in which case it's the FO's own damn fault and he deserves to feel insecure.)
and about being "too modest"..I don't think there's such thing as being "too modest", I mean you dont want to be TIMID, but anybody would rather work with someone who is "too modest" than with an arrogant cocky SOB. I dont think you need to do anything to SHOW how confident you are, except do your job well and THAT will show your confidence. plus confidence grows with time and experience, you cant try too hard with it right now cuz it will show
obviously you dont wanna reinforce their perceptions about 200 hrs wonders!I don't know why people should be bothered that their captains judge and get upset at them for being low timers... I mean what do they expect?! but the captains wont care once they see your skills. (and obviously will remain annoyed if you are a horrible 200 hr FO... in which case it's the FO's own damn fault and he deserves to feel insecure.)
and about being "too modest"..I don't think there's such thing as being "too modest", I mean you dont want to be TIMID, but anybody would rather work with someone who is "too modest" than with an arrogant cocky SOB. I dont think you need to do anything to SHOW how confident you are, except do your job well and THAT will show your confidence. plus confidence grows with time and experience, you cant try too hard with it right now cuz it will show
09-29-2007 | 10:26 PM
#13
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Cessna 152 Captain
Ok so I have a question I would like to be addressed. I am a recent new hire with low time. I have proven I could fly in the past (CFI/Traffic reporting in Boston Class B airspace), but I will be the first to say that is way different from situations that may present themselves in everyday line flying (especially emergencies).
I am fortunate and grateful that I have had the opportunity to break into the industry at such a time. I also realize that I have a lot to learn, much more so than the 2000 hour pilot in my shoes (even though we are all constantly learning). I am not cocky but I do know that there are people who believe that pilots like me don't deserve to be in the position I'm in with the lack of experience. At the same time I feel you'd be a fool to not take advantage of the situation. How do I answer the big question when CA's ask me how much time I have? I don't want to not answer it, that can create greater problems in itself. At the same time, I don't want to seem too modest that I seem under-confident.
I am fortunate and grateful that I have had the opportunity to break into the industry at such a time. I also realize that I have a lot to learn, much more so than the 2000 hour pilot in my shoes (even though we are all constantly learning). I am not cocky but I do know that there are people who believe that pilots like me don't deserve to be in the position I'm in with the lack of experience. At the same time I feel you'd be a fool to not take advantage of the situation. How do I answer the big question when CA's ask me how much time I have? I don't want to not answer it, that can create greater problems in itself. At the same time, I don't want to seem too modest that I seem under-confident.
09-30-2007 | 11:09 AM
#18
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Heavies
When I got signed off of IOE, my checkairman is like Okay you have 40 hours in the plane... and i go "SWEET 100 multi, finally!" hes like Oh my god you.....well then let me say REALLY good job.... it was funny
Last edited by Paok; 09-30-2007 at 11:22 AM.
09-30-2007 | 11:10 AM
#19
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From: Heavies
One other thing speaking of low timers, in training my classmates and i were treated poorly by someone who had (GASP) 1500 hours and said she didnt like being lumped in with us low timers, so she didnt have to be nice... lets just say she never made it through training
09-30-2007 | 11:19 AM
#20
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From: Spartan
40 hours of IOE is nothing to be bragging about.
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