Low Timer
 

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.

If you are ashamed about your flight time, why are you there?
To answer your question:
I would tell him after you fly with him, maybe make him guess. Have some fun with it.

BTW, I'm not trying to be a jack@$$. I just know that I wouldn't want to be at a place where I am ashamed to tell people how much flight time I have

I'm uber-new to the industry myself, but I haven't had any CA's ask me my hours. Every one just asks what you did before, and you'll have a much better answer than "I graduated with my aviation degree".

Be truthful and let your flying do the talking. He'll only care if you can't perform you duties safely and efficiently. After all the industry is what it is, this isn’t the first time they’ve hired low timers. Dating back to the 30’s the Regionals, Majors and Legacies have all had periods were they hired low timers just like there were times a 3000/2000 hr pilot couldn’t find a job.

I am not all ashamed of my time and I am confident in my abilities. I personally have not experienced anything negative from other people. I know what is required and haven't gone into brain dump mode. I have just heard tons of stories from my friends about how people have judged them before they have even taken off and are upset that we have the opportunity to be where we are now. I guess I was trying to find an answer that could show my confidence without being cocky at the same time.

I guess it's not as prevelant as I've been made to think it is. Btw I am trying to get my posts up. Thanks for the responses.

Like JetJock said, let your flying do the talking. As long as you are safe and standard, h probably won't say a thing. Not being cocky is 100% of the battle.

Good because I'm not, but I know that my flying will do the proper talking. Thanks guys.

No problem, good luck and blue skies!

Who do you fly for ehaeckercfi?

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 :)

I tell every new captain I fly with I just got off of IOE and this is my second trip and I just grad from a quickie pilot school., You should see the look on their faces, Priceless ok ok lets be serious just let your flying speak for you after a few legs they can figure it out. or just let them guess I dont think a captain will refuse to fly with you if you dont answer, Bottom line is you went tru Indoc, Sim, IOE, The company think you are safe enought to take their MultiMillion dollar aircraft and put the life of others in your hand so to speak so if the captain want to ask just tell him/her I just got my commercial multi matter of fact I still have the paper copy.....

I think the captain has a right to know your time in the aircraft.. Other than that it is up to you if you want to tell him...

Only for the first 100 hours.

Agreed....

ASA We are fully of cocky low timers. It is nice to meet one who is not cocky. Congrats

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

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

40 hours of IOE is nothing to be bragging about.

How am I bragging, I made that comment because someone above said how if you do well and are low time the captain will be pleased....my checkaiman didnt know I hardly had any multi and was low time and said good job... relax... and as for 40 hours of IOE, when they schedule almost everyone for 2 four day trips of IOE, it ends up being about 40 hours.....not rocket science to figure that out buddy...

Still haven't told us your TT, prican1121

It really doesn't matter how much time you have. If you made it through the sim, it shows you can fly....somewhat...
I've seen 3000hour pilots who can't fly the RJ for Sh!T...and I've seen 600hr pilots that do an awesome job.....(and I'm not bragging that I'm the Sh!T up there!:D)

prican: Kind of off topic as to your original post but do you still instruct in the general KBOS/FIT/BED area?

I'd like to finish up some ratings and rather give my money to someone in your shoes vs some of these FBO's with bad reputations. Btw: my friend was hired on as a very low timer at tsa 3 years ago. He was CFI, experience in the BOS area, and graduate of a flight program. He honestly did just fine and is upgrading to Captain after 2 years. The most annoying part he says is apparently pax come up to him and tell him hes too young to fly. From reading on here it seems like this stuff happens a lot.

It's always funny when you respond with a "and I'm just learning now too!"
haha:D

"For all you ladies and gentlemen complaining about being on this small airplane for the first time, don't worry you're not alone, it's my first time also."

If you can fly OP i wouldn't worry about it that much, during my first few months i got the "oh no, when were you hired" just based on being new. Did have a check-airman riding in the jumpseat ask after landing in IAD how many hours i had. when i told him, he simply said that i flew a much better approach than most of the guys with 1000 hrs in type....what was sad, is now that i have close to the 1000 hrs/ type...i can't fly those nice beautiful approaches anymore either....guess it fades.

an xjet fo told me that at xjet they are avg like 100hrs for ioe

No I don't instruct there anymore. PM me and let me know what places you are looking into. I can ask some guys for some more guidance. I worked out of BED. As for the too young to fly, I look young (especially now I'm not allowed to have my goatee). I got the too young to fly when I was a friggin Private Pilot. I'll be getting that into my thirties, but I'll take it as a compliment.

And btw everyone, I'm low time but not a 250 hour fresh commercial pilot. Then again to me, anyone who doesn't have 1500 hours is low time. I guess you can tell I've flown with some more experienced pilots.

I'm torn between :eek: and :rolleyes: