I come from a single seat background and this 'crew concept CRM' is about the easiest part of the whole transition. Giving up half of what I used to have to do is not hard. I will admit to still hanging onto the throttle quadrant and the flaps in my mighty KA!

Going from a *high* ranking officer to a line grunt has also been a huge welcomed relief. JUST flying for the most part? GIVE ME MORE! (Edit - I do still have paperwork, but I don't have 10 additional duties outside of flying).

 

I dunno, I'm not sure that is an actual representation of former mil pilots at the regional level. Over a third of my class at Whisky was mil of some sort and none are dbags nor feel like they are entitled to anything... May be the case at the majors, don't know because I'm not there, but I don't think there is any higher level of mil guys having problems (flying or personality wise) than anyone else.

 

Why do these threads even get any attention. Show up, study, fly the plane and you don't "wash out" if you can do the job you are applying for. Such an entitled crowd of people these days. Baby boomer's babies I guess.

 

So, what's your solution? Lower the standards and let everyone pass regardless of their performance?

Good grief, most guys don't seek employment as a professional pilot based on who has the lowest wash-out rate. They go where they're hired and they man up, bring their A-game and land the job.

 

When I played youth soccer, I got a trophy just for participating, even though our team didn't come close to winning. I think that since the shortage of regional pilots is so dire, we need to be more flexible in the standards new F/O's are held to. Otherwise regionals risk turning away younger pilots because they might not make it through training and they don't want to be traumatized with a training failure hanging over their head.

 

Some peoples brains are not wired to function properly in a jet aircraft, these people cannot be let loose into the working environment, turning the operation into single pilot IFR. People who blame others for their own shortcomings are quickly let go with no second chances. They are not trainable.

 

I seriously hope you're being extremely facetious. Otherwise here's another participation ribbon.

 

Haha, that's funny right there, coming from a guy who was a UND instructor just this June, and who only started at a Regional not even two months ago. Have you even finished training yet?

I'll suggest that you keep your uninformed, naive opinions to yourself and learn from the 45+ year old pilots you'll likely fly with who REALLY know their stuff. Most of those guys have been through countless airline training programs on more than a few aircraft types, both as FO's and CA's.

Personally, I'm 51 years old, have flown with the airlines for the past 24 years, have trained on 7 different aircraft while there, to include 3 different turboprops and 4 different jets, and was an IOE Check Airman while at my former Regional. I have 5 type ratings, including all four jets - the last three after age 48. I have never received additional training, nor had an unsat. Ever.

At American Airlines, every Captain I have flown with has been over 48, with most between 53 and 57, and these guys are GREAT pilots. Many came from the Regionals, while others came from the military.

So, your bold pronouncement that the guys who have trouble are those who are over 45 and "only half the men they used to be", is pure bull**** at this level in the game, unless your Regional can't seem to hire any decent pilots over 45.

 

Manage a four-ship, one guy with an emergency, in the weather and come back to me about CRM.

GF

 

How about being a mission commander for a Red Flag/Green Flag or any other large force exercise? Leading a 12-ship pond crossing, coordinating tankers/weather/diverts/etc? The list goes on! The false notion that fighter pilots can't understand or execute good CRM always makes me laugh.