Yeah ironically the only guy in my class that almost washed out was the only former airline pilot in the class, and did he let everyone know that day one! My plane this my plane that. They gave us limitations to memorize for day one and when it came to him he started spitting out limitations for the plane he was previously on...I believe he had a target on his back from there on out haha. I don't think someone with no previous 121 time is at THAT much of a disadvantage. Just study and keep your mouth shut, doesn't matter where you come from.

Is there really that much to OE? I mean it took less time than that to get a commercial ticket for both single and multi along with an instrument rating. What are those folks tripping up on?

ETA: Wow, on re-reading that, it sounds arrogant. It's not meant to be - I'm sincerely curious and have no frame of reference for what a "normal" OE should look like.

If every part of your first 5-10 hours of 121 IOE isn't enlightening, you need to open your eyes. After that it's understanding the airline. In the first 121 op, the first 100 hours is a pure learning experience. If you ignore it, you will get bit. It's far different compared to any 91 operation or previous rating training. Open your eyes to everyone involved and everything going on outside your direct control.

But how does that square with the comment above that if you don't get something in 50 hrs of OE you probably won't ever get it? Sure, learning continues far beyond that - but what number is "enough" versus "too much" for OE? I was under the impression from previous comments, for example, that 100 was too much. I understand from your comments than 10 is far too little. What's normal?

I did ~20 landings and 10 Instrument approaches on IOE. How many did it take you to first solo or get your instrument ticket?

The hours seem high initially but depending on leg length there is only so much opportunity to fly the plane in every phase of flight.

His problem was attitude, not his prior 121 experience.

Statistically you are. Folks with prior 121 (or certain 135) experience are almost assured to complete training if they approach it correctly. If they screw up, they have no one to blame but themselves.

Light piston pilots are at a higher risk because...

1) It's all new, and there's a lot of it.

2) Not all of them have the ability (in some cases work ethic) to do it.


Safest approach.

Everything should "click" in 25-50 hours. Beyond that there has to be a clear reason for more, or the pilot needs to be let go. That's my position.

Stuff happens. Not picking on cessnas in particular, that's where I came from too. But folks with turbine/121/135 experience are a better bet than ASEL. Military experience is a much better bet.

Ahh yes, got it - makes total sense. I got my instrument ticket in 40.2 hours, but probably could have done in less if legal due entirely to my instructor who was awesome (lots of actual, for example). But that was doing 4 approaches an hour etc. Thanks!

I can teach you how to fly a CRJ, I can't teach you how to study and prepare. If you can't do the latter, there is no hope for the former! It's as simple as that.