I keep my CFI current and rented a 152 from Perry airport. Not only did I keep announcing myself as "Spirit 1234, uh, sorry Cessna N1234 sorry", but probably deserved a 709 ride from my basic GA airmanhumanship. On a positive note the controller will probably only fly JB from on, which is good for new overlords load factors.

The point is valid, but it’s also a moot one because it doesn’t take 18 month to figure out radio work

Probably got CFIs saying “he should probably worry about the basics before climbing into an airbus” :p

We were there in a piston. We learned to speak on the radio prior to going to an airliner. Regionals included. I don’t remember ever having a problem when I first got into an RJ. Speed was an issue yes. Radio not so much.

Uhh, the 121 world is not the place to figure out how to talk on the radio.

Maybe one day, when you're all grown up in the left seat, you'll get to see what it's like to get a last minute departure change while taxiing out in LGA with a FO who's brain is still back in the hotel shuttle.


"Help them out and move on..."

Give me a break

You're going to type this with a straight face? Are you seriously going to say that flying a 172 prepared you to speak with the controllers from Chicago, New York, and LA with proper verbiage used while on a star? Last I checked, you don’t get a descend via clearance in a 172.

121 radio work is different enough for someone to have to learn it while on the job. Regional FOs don’t magically learn how to read back a descend via clearance while in a 172.

The complaints of this pilot group with regards to a handful of FOs struggling on radio is stupid tbh. Is it annoying? Sure. Is it a new? No. Again, it happens all the time at the regional level and corporate level. You help them out where they’re weak is keep it moving.

Because for every new FO who’s still back at the hotel van, there’s a CA who doesn’t know how to connect to the wifi (I’m not joking). Both pilots are at the helm of a transport category aircraft.

For the August bid: 2/6/23

couldn’t agree more. It’s a moot point. There’s new things to learn at every level and like it or not spirit just like every lcc is an entry level 121 job. New FOs are going to lack in one area or another. It might be a pain for some captains but it’s the new reality. Continuing to complain is a waste of energy.

If you flew at busy airports and in busy airspace in a 172 it does prepare you. If you flew around a corn field then no. It’s an about speed and complexity. Being able to process a complex instruction quickly enables you to read it back quickly and usually correctly.

Descend via didn’t exist when I started btw but that has actually made it easier bc less comms are required.

it’s when you’re on the ground at busy airports or on departure or approach and/or with weather the newbies are really struggling like all they did was fly at an uncontrolled field for 1500hrs or worse they lied and don’t actually have 1500hrs.

I was based in EWR as my first airline job and while the jet was a big jump I can say without a doubt day one was not an issue with the radio. Knowing who to talk to when took maybe a day but what and how to say the words wasn’t. That shouldn’t have to be taught at 121 and yes I can say it with a straight face