With lots of other factors influencing it, I'd agree with attitude. If you're a stand up guy/gal and really bust your ass, you'll get through.

 

When I did my IOE at a regional, I said to the guy at the end of day 4 (as he was signing me off), "man, on day 1, I thought you might as well fire me, I am never going to get this." He laughed and said, "yeah everybody thinks that." Then he thought for a minute and said,"actually, the guys who think that are fine, I can teach them. The guys who think they know more than me won't listen and have problems."

 

Yeah for my class it was three weeks after interview and then another 3 weeks into class they were STILL doing background checks. Doesn't make any sense to me to not do that before paying someone to start class but then again MANY of the things my company does don't make sense.

 

In my initial ground at Pinnacle... A guy got canned for stealing a couple of the instructors manual. He turned himself later when the instructor confronted the class. I know it's not common but some people will do stupid things like that. If I recall he's a member on here.

 

Agree with everything you said, except the LGA Expressway visual. For some reason, guys make it out like it's rocket surgery or you're trying to land on the freaking moon or something.

It's NOTHING more than a standard pattern with 45 degree entry point (DIALS/"the tanks"), a downwind (the expressway), and turn points for base and final (the TWO Home Depots in Flushing).

 

There are TWO home depots in flushing???

And what's a rocket surgery??

Those two are probably the hardest visuals. I could def see a new guy be a little intimidated. But do it 2-3 times and you'll be fine.

Having good attitude is most important. Not being a pain in the neck to your partner in training and knowing when to shine and when to shut up. We're all type A personalities so try to take it down a notch. The more cocky a person is, the more I see him/her struggle then blames everyone else for their inabilities to live up to their own stellar expectations.

 

Most common reasons have already been mentioned. However, the realization of making $21,000/year and moving into your mom's basement must also be factored into one's decision to opt out.

 

I've taught and checked in the sim and on line.

I've always thought, you can have great skills and a poor attitude and get through (although the attitude part doesn't give anyone a warm fuzzy about you one day being a Captain).

You can be weak in skills and have a great attitude and make it through.

If you have weak skills and a poor attitude, you're not going to make it through.

I agree with the above statement. I've had many pilots, both new hires and upgrades, tell me they're pretty nervous at the beginning of IOE or OE. I always told them, "That's good, it shows you have a clear understanding of the situation." I would also agree that the people that are smart enough to be a bit nervous rarely have any problems with the process.

The sim is all memory. Callouts, Flows, Profiles, Limitations and Memory Items are what you need to start the sim. Procedures, abnormals and applying the book are part of what you should be learning during sim training and on into IOE or OE.

 

Lots of people think that newhire class at a regional is college. They party, act like idiots, don't study, etc. Save that for the crashpad once you have your job and are done with training. Airline ground school is extremely important to the future of your career, take it extremely seriously.

Aside from that, paying $150,000 for flight school doesn't make you that great of a pilot, and nobody instructing you wants to hear it. You don't know more about flying an RJ than your check airman no matter how many classes you took at ERAU or what "jet prep" program you went to. Pay attention and go in with a humble attitude wanting to learn.

 

Well, there USED to be. Not sure anymore. I was based in LaGarbage from 2000-2002 and there was then.

It's an easier/facetious was to cover BOTH sayings of rocket science/brain surgery

I agree it's challenging for a new guy. Going into a high density airport, being offside, still trying to get used to the airplane, etc. If you CFI'd it's akin to taking a primary student to new airport the first time, etc.

But again, a GOOD LCA can make it A LOT less drama a micro managing type by just using the KISS principle.