He was FO on the RJ and went to upgrade on the Brasilia.

 

I didn't know you could upgrade from FO in the RJ to a CA in the brasilia.

 

Yes, you can. But you had better be prepared...

 

The Bro (EMB-120 Brasilia) is a tricky airplane. Much more difficult to learn than the CRJ. I know because I taught system & FTD training on the CRJ for over 1 1/2 years.

The Bro is more archaic, very temperamental, more switches, more going wrong and the EEC (Electronic Engine Controls, it’s like auto lean) fail almost monthly (Causes you to think you lost an engine at first). But, the transition upgrade is common at SKW. Although, several times new EMB CA with no prior experience (Former CRJ FO's) have scared me. Flap 45 landings can be very tricky; you have your hands full and can take a turn for the south real quick (high power, high drag, slow airspeed around 110 knots which RJ pilots aren’t use to, the a/c flies extremely heavy because of no elevator and aileron hydraulics and weighs about 26K). At SKW only CA’s can make ILS Flap 45 landings in actual conditions and that's where they have scared the $hit out of me.

They have a fraction of the experience as I do, they try to land it like an RJ, and they lack confidence. None of this is their fault but it makes of an H*E*L*L of a ride down . But as with any pilot, they learn quickly and improve. If they are just off of IOE I pray for no actual 45 landings.

Someday, when I leave it, I will miss the Bro. As do most Bro pilots, it's a special airplane we get to fly during a special time in our career.

 

Yeah, from what I hear, it's not easy

 

you think the bro is bad, try the systems on the SAAB, although the SF-340 is very easy to fly

 

When I had my interview we had 2 Saab pilots (ex Mesaba). They showed me the electrical system, I couldn't believe my eyes. 30 buses and all though transfers, what a maze! I think that most all Turboprops are bad when it comes to systems, they’re old and from another era.

The Bro was far beyond it’s time when it was designed. It’s amazing that 25+ years after it’s introduction and there is only one commuter turboprop that climbs and flies faster (Q400). We BLOW by Saabs, Dash's, DoProps and ATR’s.

 

No way any Bro-zilla is passing a Dork...

 

And no way any of those props is passing a SAAB2000. TAS 360 was an every day thing at FL310.

 

My bad, I forgot about the Saab2000. You don't see those much in the US.