Boomer for the win.

Same at PDT. There were cases of F/O's flying with captains hired at the company before the F/O was even born. But remember kids, it's a regional. Pilots must be inexperienced and the scary little planes must be deathtraps! Too bad there are so many people in the world who are both judgemental and lack critical thinking ability.

Not really... those are extreme exceptions...

Totally agree that they are extreme, but still valid. It's fashionable for people to stereotype and bash on regional pilots for 'lack of experience' but I'd say there's much more experience and flight time at the regional level than many want to admit. The majority of people I fly with have been at multiple regionals, myself included. Other 'regional' guys in my crashpad, 'who look young', have international widebody time.

I agree with lolwut's premises about the quality of operations/maintenance/support we see at the regional level, but pilot experience in a stagnated job market is, IMO, low down on the list of problems.

Actually, not extreme. Captains at American Eagle average over 15 years of service. That's approximately 1500 pilots, with more than 10,000 hours of 121 experience. Extreme? More like the norm.

consider the majority of regional airlines have now a 5-7 year upgrade, with a large chunk of 'senior' guys, its really not a newbie field. Only places with quick upgrades are Silver/Great Lakes/ Gojetz and maybe Compass.

Also in the last 10 years, yes the regionals have had their share of mess ups, Colgan being god awful, but they are not alone. I can think of one major that has taken more than 1 airplane off the end of a runway in the last 15 or so years, ripped the tail off another, and flew another into a mountain. Mistakes are not limited to just the regionals. Also complacency can be just as dangerous as inexperience.

just a fact check, and you can come up with how you want to define average. Captains are about 1700ish on the FULL (mq/ex) seniority list. 15 years is 1997, that puts you at 670. Over 1000 were hired past that date.

Wow, thanks for the math. Have you met your wife? JK. If I change the sentence to be 14 years, that would make it more average. Does it change the point that regional pilots are not necessarily inexperienced?

If ya got it (F/O) flaunt it. If ya don't (capt), FAKE IT!

TW that's Captain TW

Lots of authority, no responsibility. I like it. No more FSAPs! Been looking for a good excuse to get older.

TW

BINGO! Well said!