In the civi world things can get more complicated than that. And I'm sure that the issue I'm about to explain is unique to the one company. But in the case I'm using, there are two things that record "flight time" as it's measured from block out to block in, depending on whether it's the company keeping track of it for pay, hourly time used to track MX issues, whatever. 1) The baggage door, 2) The main cabin door. At times it can be common to park the plane, set the brake, rampers pop the bag door, clock stopped. Meanwhile, you're waiting 10-15 miuntes with an engine running, people on board, waiting on a gate agent to 1) Get to the gate, 2) Get the jetway up to the airplane to pop the main cabin door, where the ACARS clock is hooked to. Imagine this happening between 2-5 times a day.

Now, this scenario doesn't happen ALL the time, but I did notice a discrepancy when doing my YTD totals between what I log in my book (acars time) vs. what the company keeps track of in the amount of about 5%. Now, if somebody really wanted to give it the full court press, question my flight time, and call my employer and go through EVERY SINGLE time for EVERY SINGLE leg, they would question why my times don't match up with what the company keeps track of. Now, I would be able to explain that, along with all the legal issues my MEC has had the pleasure of going through with management on the issue. But that's not a situation I want to find myself in.

 

Good explanation forumname - thanks. It does sound a little complicated.

USMCFLYR

 

Unfortunately, more complicated than it SHOULD be if you ask me.

 

Oh man! Are they still going to be around?

 

Thats exactly what I was/am trying to say..

 

Yeah I am sorry, I meant to say that they can recieve instruction toward their MEI. There can be two students in the front seat each with their multi certificates. The MEI giving the instruction can sit in the back seat and log PIC time from there. I should have been more clear on that.

 

When I got hired at the regional level (1987) I needed 1500TT and 300ME just for an interview, most had 2500TT and 500ME that got hired though. Starting pay was below $12K........

 

That seems so unethical. when I teach I better have access to the flight controls and I know I cant do that from the back seat

 

I had a student pilot once that came to me with a request to get his commercial, instrument and multi-engine within a month because he just got hired at a local regional airline. He totally lied about his experience and background. His attitude was that he had nothing to loose and was not going to blow the money on training unless he had a job coming. He had 400 hours as a private pilot and made it to ground school with a temporary commercial license.

Embellishing a resume is an accepted practice in most areas of the economy. Some like to extend that approach to aviation. We all know that telling a lie to the FAA has some serious consequences, but I have never heard of someone getting in trouble for falsifying experience to a prospective employer. If caught most will live to lie again another day. Eventually they will get a job.

It isn't limited to the logbook either. One guy I know of was having his home raided by immigration on the day he interviewed for a major airline. Upon completing ground school his new employer got him a visa extension until he was able to marry someone. I really don't know how he pulled it off but it was a magnificent piece of manipulation for sure.

Cheaters prosper in aviation. We live on a system of trust. If someone has no morals they are free to abuse the system to their own benefit.

Skyhigh

 

How does that seem unethical?