ugleeual

One “threat” is the highly probable need to attend LDQ every 90 days while on probation. Highlighting yourself for poor flying will land them in additional training, documentation, and unnecessary scrutiny. A New Hire getting a flying ID is not likely and sitting as a bunkie is not “flying” in my book. If I were a NH I’d go to the 320/737 and enjoy your probation year flying the line… then bid up on their terms. To each their own…

Hedley

Landings class is about the easiest sim session that you could ever have. If a pilot can’t handle a V1 cut in a 777, they have no business in a 737 or 320. The daily grind and having some grumpy captain fill out a probationary report is probably a bigger risk. I’ll agree that bunkie on the 777 isn’t really “flying”, but once you have a seniority number at a legacy, it isn’t about flying, it’s about time off and getting paid.

ugleeual

I’ve been paired up with ‘professional’ bunkies on the 777 who failed CQMVs and CQLOEs due to poor flying skills… pilots with 5+ years on the plane.

Hedley

I have too, but their problems were usually self induced. They never cracked a book or even remotely paid attention when flying. I seldom saw the front seat on the 777 but I kept up with bulletins and tried to be an active member of the crew when on a trip. Landings classes and recurrent training was a breeze. The 777 is almost idiot proof, but there are always a few who prove incapable of flying a plane that does everything for you. Screwing up a V1 cut with TAC, showing up to training not knowing flows, immediate action items, and limitations is mind boggling.

Airhoss

The stories I could tell…..


And I’m guessing Kona was joking but the Hogan doesn’t weed out chit.

flightmedic01

True. I will also say that flying as a Captain with an F/O that was hired right into a widebody and then goes to a narrowbody has its challenges. Different kind of flying and more “labor intensive”. A widebody F/O that has never flown narrowbody type of flying will have their work cutout when they upgrade to the Bus or Guppy.

Aquaticus

The 73 right seat and the way we run the cockpit is probably the busiest seat at United. If upgrade is going to be in the 2-3 yr range it is important to respect how much the fo is doing. At previous airlines I saw people that weren't first officers long enough upgrade and just micromanage and abuse first officers with zero empathy. Not saying it will happen here but right seat time is a great learning tool to figure out the United way to do things.

The unfilled 777 spots are due to the fuzzy timeline on the pratts. I don't think they could get them all back in the timeline that was thrown around with or without the fan cowl issue. Lesser points are the huge question mark of China flying returning, cargo possibility if china doesn't come back, and the fact that the 787 is the moneymaker currently with lines in the 80's. I wouldn't be surprised to see the g line in the 50-60% range until next spring which would be hard on every commuter.

Hedley

Getting bumped back to the 737 proved to be a lot of work during training, and line flying is much more labor intensive. It has reaffirmed my original plan of sitting on a WB until I can upgrade with enough seniority to avoid South America and Hawaii, or retire, which ever happens first. Many of us have zero desire to be a NB captain and won’t have to face the challenges of NB upgrade. The small raise isn’t worth all of the extra days on the road or the amount of work that domestic flying involves. I’m glad we have options here.

JimLaheyTPS

I really like this post, because the other day I was speaking with my friend at an LCC. He’s been there maybe 5.5 years and has been a captain for the last 2 years or so. He is already burned out with the day to day grind that they do. He also feels the general skill set and attitude of newer pilots is poor. The point he made that he has nothing more than this to look forward to for the next 25 years before retirement really stuck with me and made me that much more grateful for all the options we have here.

Airhoss

The best thing that ever happened to me for F/O workload awareness was spending 2 years in the left seat then getting bounced back to the right seat. It’s easy to forget what the workload and pacing is like for an F/O when sitting in the left seat.