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1. In your opinion who determines Spirit Airlines' min qualifications?
2. At what point should we let anyone fly a jet airliner as a PIC? . . .So where is the line? 70 pax? 120?
Bonus Q:
How does flying an F16 for 2000h prepares you better for part 121 multi crew into ORD on your initial OE vs a CRJ guy who has done 3000h of that in the last 4 years, sometimes 7x a day.
This post (yours) is the reason for my post:Originally Posted by Normann
I seriously have no clue how your post fits into this thread. But two honest questions for you:1. In your opinion who determines Spirit Airlines' min qualifications?
2. At what point should we let anyone fly a jet airliner as a PIC? . . .So where is the line? 70 pax? 120?
Bonus Q:
How does flying an F16 for 2000h prepares you better for part 121 multi crew into ORD on your initial OE vs a CRJ guy who has done 3000h of that in the last 4 years, sometimes 7x a day.
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1) Spirit's minimum qualifications are determined by management, though mainly flight ops management. Spirit's CP is certainly a pilot, and I believe the COO is to.Originally Posted by Normann
There are guys [with no turbine PIC] in the last class.
2) At some point, everyone has to get their first hour of crew command time. Given that Spirit has plenty of applicants with this experience already, Spirit is not in the same position as the regionals, who must place pilots with no previous command time into flight positions because these regionals don't have the luxury to draw from a pool of pilots with previous crew command time.
Bonus question - That's a joke, right? Our military pilots are supremely qualified and experienced leaders and aviators. If you made it to 2000 hours in a Viper, you can certainly handle the radios in ORD.
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In reference to your second paragraph, Its not fair to generalize like this. You don't know somebodys true background and experience until you ask.
DC-3 experience, would that count?
I said "likely" for just this reason. Most pilot applicants at Spirit without turbine PIC are 'likely' regional FO's with no command time. A few are pilots with significant crew command time, just none of it in turbines - such as DC-3 drivers.Originally Posted by JUG47
Sniper,In reference to your second paragraph, Its not fair to generalize like this. You don't know somebodys true background and experience until you ask.
DC-3 experience, would that count?
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Yes. Recommendations count. When you recommend a guy with no previous command time, you endorse the idea that previous command experience isn't something an applicant should possess.Originally Posted by skybolt
Honest question for Sniper. Do you think Spirit line pilots have the slightest input into managements hiring criteria or standards?
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Exactly. Being a CA (civilian) or AC (military) is not about flying the plane, it's about responsibility, leadership and the decision making process. Until you've actually done it, nobody (including you, the guy who recommends you, or Spirit) will know if you're capable of doing it well.Originally Posted by skybolt
Time in type has absolutely nothing to do with commanding an airline flight. There's a bit more to being Captain than flying the jet. In my experience, most Zero PIC/high time FO's could easily command a 121 flight as well or better than I, but until they've actually done it all bets are off. IOW, your first few months of actually signing the release will likely test every skill you have, except flying.
I'm sorry for the thread hijack. I just think that those Spirit pilots who did get hired at Spirit without any previous crew command time should realize how lucky they are, not see themselves and their career prior to Spirit as the ideal and/or typical experience for an applicant for FO of an Airbus.
Returning to my previous comments: didn't Spirit have a recall class in early January, and then a new hire class in late January as well? Just trying to see how many folks were hired, and when, to read the tea leaves of Spirit's future.