The vast majority of guys at UA will never need to go to TK for landings. As such, upon arrival for their PC they are already up to speed. In spite of this, they all get to become familiar with the sims idiosyncrasies and perform maneuvers prior to the MV portion of the event.

Now we have a situation where a guy who may not have been flying, though no fault of his own is expected to show up and perform like Buck Rogers as soon as he's strapped in. Seems a tad draconian to me.

Suppose that our intrepid airman shows up for landings, and for whatever reason, someone has drawn a bead on his forehead. This battle has already been fought, and won. Why are we going backwards?

Who is Buck Rogers?

Are you under 40?

Maneuvers for landing currencies are cut in stone by the FAA under Part 121. It has nothing to do with merger or new-hire vs old farts.


FAA Federal Aviation Regulations (FARS, 14 CFR)
FARs > Part 121 > Section 439 - Pilot qualification: Recent experience

(a) No certificate holder may use any person nor may any person serve as a required pilot flight crewmember, unless within the preceding 90 days, that person has made at least three takeoffs and landings in the type airplane in which that person is to serve. The takeoffs and landings required by this paragraph may be performed in a visual simulator approved under §121.407 to include takeoff and landing maneuvers. In addition, any person who fails to make the three required takeoffs and landings within any consecutive 90-day period must reestablish recency of experience as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) In addition to meeting all applicable training and checking requirements of this part, a required pilot flight crewmember who has not met the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section must reestablish recency of experience as follows:

(1) Under the supervision of a check airman, make at least three takeoffs and landings in the type airplane in which that person is to serve or in an advanced simulator or visual simulator. When a visual simulator is used, the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section must be met.

(2) The takeoffs and landings required in paragraph (b)(1) of this section must include --

(i) At least one takeoff with a simulated failure of the most critical powerplant;

(ii) At least one landing from an ILS approach to the lowest ILS minimum authorized for the certificate holder; and

(iii) At least one landing to a full stop.

(c) A required pilot flight crewmember who performs the manuvers prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section in a visual simulator must --

(1) Have previously logged 100 hours of flight time in the same type airplane in which he is to serve;

(2) Be observed on the first two landings made in operations under this part by an approved check airman who acts as pilot in command and occupies a pilot seat. The landings must be made in weather minimums that are not less than those contained in the certificate holder's operations specifications for Category I Operations, and must be made within 45 days following completion of simulator training.

(d) When using a simulator to accomplish any of the requirements of paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, each required flight crewmember position must be occupied by an appropriately qualified person and the simulator must be operated as if in a normal in-flight environment without use of the repositioning features of the simulator.

(e) A check airman who observes the takeoffs and landings prescribed in paragraphs (b)(1) and (c) of this section shall certify that the person being observed is proficient and qualified to perform flight duty in operations under this part and may require any additional maneuvers that are determined necessary to make this certifying statement.

[Doc. No. 16383, 43 FR 22648, May 25, 1978, as amended by Amdt. 121-148, 43 FR 46235, Oct. 5, 1978; Amdt. 121-179, 47 FR 33390, Aug. 2, 1982]

Just messing with OldMako... his reference betrays his age a tad. My favorite, cheesy, fictional, spaceman pilot was Major Don West from Lost In Space. Probably watched all the reruns on SuperStation 66 when I was growing up. And I remember watching Buck Rogers on TV... or maybe that was Battlestar Galactica... Anyway, the Buck Rogers reference struck me as funny.

Watched them all as a kid in the 70s.

Watched "Lost in Space" first-run in the 60s, but my focus was on Marta Kristen, aka "Judy Robinson." ;)

Saw her recently. In her 60s and still looks great.

You'd still hit that wouldn't you - ya sick bastard :cool:

Who am I foolin - I would too - lol.

She looked great. Still very beautiful and fit.