I have 6 type ratings, they are all difficult! Seeing how my partner performed in the checkride and still passed, AWAC can be one of easiest depending on who checks you. I have never seen so much checkairman coaching or redoing a manuver during an ATP/Type ride. To be honest, there is nothing to be proud of.

 

How do you know your "discret contact" wont be mistaken for "whinning and complaining"?

 

He's been around a while and knows how PP runs his ship?

 

Exactly, and it's not to late to help.

Please respond to my PM and I'll make sure it gets in the correct hands. I'm just offering to help the next guy.

 

Hoping to get offer from AWAC, but somewhat concerned about getting through training. I'm not sure if its due to hiring low hour pilots but in one recent class, out of 12 pilots only 1 got signed off for a ride after 10 sessions. The rest of the class is being sent home, some to return in a couple of weeks for additional training and some I guess told not to bother.

Is this just a fluke, or does it indicate an ongoing problem?

 

It seems to be an ongoing problem...... But it is not a problem with AWAC or any other regional's training program. I have had this discussion recently with retired as well as current airline pilots.

I look back to 2006 when I got hired at Comair. Only one out of my class of 16 didn't make it. We were the last class hired at 1200 TT and 200 Multi. We were all flight instructors......Fast forward to 2015 I am on my 3rd regional. Nothing has changed with airline training. The last regional I was with had major problems with failures and I saw my share at AWAC. Between CPT and Sims I had 4 different partners. My biggest problem was unlearning how I flew the CRJ at Comair. Both programs were essentially the same as what I saw at Comair in 2006 as a newhire flying my first jet. I went from a Seminole to a CRJ like many others before me.

You are expected to memorize a bunch of stuff and when you get to the sim you are expected to show you have memorized all that stuff and be able to recite while your engine is on fire and every bell and whistle in the airplane is going off. Just the way it is.

I call it the "GPS" generation. Seems Cessna's are more advance then the lowly CRJ these days. I learned to fly with a 6 pack and ndb's. Not saying I am billy bad a@@ but the last conversation I had about this we came to the conclusion that GA airplanes nowadays seem to have made flight instructors not as sharp vs the 6 pack generation and when they get into the jet it becomes over their heads.

First time I ever used an autopilot was in the CRJ. Something is up in the GA world and I don't know why pilots can't pass a regional airline training program. This is an overall problem that I have noticed. The new ATP rule hasn't solved the problem. Nothing has changed but all of a sudden it has become an epidemic! I am wondering if too much automation early on is making pilots coming into the regionals "lazy?"

That being said just show up for class and be ready for the fire hose!

 

This is true. The candidates coming through now are not as sharp as years past. 80% need more training and 18% fail out.

 

I wouldn't say it is that bad... Sure there are some outliers but for the most part I think the 1500 hour CFI types are doing just fine. My class was about 1/3 low-timers and except for 2 or 3, everyone made it through ground school in okay shape (of course sims will definitely weed a few out). There was a lot of comradarie in my class though. Everyone was helping everyone else.

 

Exactly what is it that folk struggle with or have problems with (the speed, the multi-crew CRM piece, the IFR rules, multi-tasking, etc. etc.)?

How do military guys do?

 

All of the above and basic instrument flying.