Read files on instrument 101
 

Is this a function of training? For instance we are route qualifying every special qualification airport with one flight to any airport.

Or is this a function of hiring a bunch of pilots that have only flown radar vectors in glass in flat land since they got their instrument ratings?

I know at xjt we cut our teeth in Mexico on multiple flights a week. Usually full non precision approaches.

Just to be clear I’ve never had an issue with a captain or FO not knowing how do execute something like was described so I’m wondering what’s up. Seemed odd

This is what I saw on almost daily basis way back in the day when the company I worked for (in the EU) cut a deal with one of the legacies to take their cadets (158 hours TT and a frozen ATP)until the legacy would start hiring. They were ONLY trained for radar vectors for the ils, we were doing non-radar, non-precision approaches in old turbo-props.their first year was a pain for everyone. There is definitely a few people here that never have gone south and avoid going there while FO. maybe we need some currency requirements for international?

If you're based anywhere other than FLL you'll most likely never see Bogota or anywhere else south of PR. They need to mix the international flying into the other bases to keep guys current so you're not seeing Bogota for the first time during your Latin America qualification during upgrade.

‘Scuse me? I’ve seen south of the 15th parallel more times lately as an ORD CA than I did my last 5 as a FLL CA

I would add too that seeing bogota doesn’t make you proficient at all of our other complex airports. Knowing how to do something is one thing but knowing what to expect with a language barrier is another when neither of the pilots have been to said place. I never understood how bogota route qualifies you for San Jose.

I didn't realize ORD got a bunch of South America flying. DTW doesn't I know that for sure.

I agree. That's why I wish I had done more of it as an FO rather than just thrown to the wolves when I upgraded. You can read the different airport briefing pages all you want but nothing is more useful than going down to those different airports a few times.

Not true at all!

ACY has SJO trips from time to time and last year/this year even a few LIM trips. (Even DTW and DFW has a few LIM trips from time to time)

DFW a few months ago started to do GYE trips and time to time will get SJO and CTG and a bunch of MGA

ORD has tons of PTY trips

LAS does SJO some times.

I’m sure there’s more I’m not thinking of.

Um, yeah he is right. Ok so maybe a base like LAS gets a few SJO flights every few months, so what? 95% of people in that base will go YEARS without leaving the US. I know LAS and dfw pilots who haven't been down south in more than 5 years.

I have had a few months where every trip I flew was redeye to FLL followed by redeye jungle turns. LAS

No one says you haven't. I would have to imagine those must be junior CA reserve trips if you find yourself going from LAS to FLL for jungle turns. That said though, Most of the people in LAS don't go south, ever. I did jungle stuff when I was in FLL, but in 1.5 years in LAS I have never seen it.

Not everything going “south” is a red eye turn. Maybe for guys in LAS, but I’m not just talking about LAS I’m talking about the other bases too.

I like going down south. I do it all the time. ;)

What's his name?

You guys talk about doing international trips to south America like if it was sooo complicated.

For most of them it’s all they know so they think it’s difficult. Some of the dumbest **** I’ve heard come out of someone’s mouth has been from FLL captains on international legs. God forbid we get any real international.

Maybe I'm wrong and everyone except me is hanging out down in South America all the time and all the bases are getting their fair share of it and I just missed all those trips.

All I know is that when I was an FO in Detroit I went to Cancun maybe 3 times and San Juan twice. Maybe a San Pedro Sula once out of Houston. And San Juan and Cancun don't even really count as they may as well be domestic. Now as a Captain in FLL I'm down south multiple times a month. It's not hard or challenging, in fact I enjoy it, just wish I got to do more of it as an FO.

It’s aparently an issue if we are getting read files about it. Also I don’t think it’s knowing how to do something it’s more of knowing what to expect and it seems we don’t know what to expect at some airports. That’s why most airlines do special qual to indifidual airports not fly to one and get qualified for them all.

You win the Internet today!

It's a bit insane that we are "qualified" to go to any and all with ONE destination on OE. Throw a guy one turn, then years later have him end up "qualified" to go to AXM.
Great idea. It's all a matter of cost.
God knows if it costs money, we won't have it.

Oh come on that was too easy tho lol

Agreed!

Thanks anyway QOTSA