Any Convair drivers out there?

[another cfii]

Hi there,

I inquired about a convair co-pilot job at my nearby airport, the chief pilot told me to get my MEI first. (I'm surprised he didn't dismiss me out at once because of my low multi time) What can I expect in the cv-380 training? (if i'm so lucky to get a job Is it a worthwhile career move?

Thanks

 

[Rick1128]

I believe he told you that so that you would get more Multi time. Also it will force you to become sharper in engine out procedures.

As a career move, everyone will have a different opinion. Personally, I believe that with your total time it will not hurt you and may help you. It will be all large multi engine time. Part 121 (it might be Part 125, but the regs are very similar to 121) time. Crew time. It all looks good to interviewers. While most if not all the piston pilots are gone from the airlines, you will be surprised how they seem to respond to people who have DC3, DC6 or Convair time. After all these were airliners at one time. And you will find that many of the systems and procedures will be similar to current jet airlines.

As for training. In ground school you will discuss systems, systems and systems. Large aircraft are systems aircraft. You will find the Convair systems to be much more complicated than todays commuter aircraft. You will also discuss performance. There is a bookful of charts that have to be dealt with before any flight. Yes, there are TOGA and quick reference charts, but from what I believe the operation you are talking with does, you will deal with the AFM charts most of the time. Other than Basic Indoc, that covers your ground school.

Flight training, depends on their approved training program. At the very least, you can plan on stall series, unusual attitudes, ILS approaches, non-precision approaches, normal TO, engine failure on takeoff, x-wind TO, x-wind landing, normal landing, engine out landing, missed approach and taxiing.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

MMMMMM....Convair......

Why on earth aren't there more Convairs flying around? Don't people realize that round engines are cool!?!?

Seriously, I would love to fly in the right seat of a 240/340/440, sounds like a whole lot more fun than some regional turboprop or jet. Career move? C'mon, it's got round engines, what more could you want?

Same question goes for the Douglas-liners. C'mon, there's one DC-6 I know in the state that flies some frieght, of course, I've never seen it move in the past five years...sigh.

Dan

 

[another cfii]

I think in these days when people pay to baby-sit radios in a twin cessna, man-handle a Convair with decent pay sounds a lot better to me. I heard flying those planes take a lot of muscles, kinda like driving your dad's old chevy, without power steering and power brakes... so I'm really looking forward to the training (if i'm indeed hired).

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

Good luck to ya! I certaintly envy your position.

I think I was just born too late. I really want to fly the old ones, and I already own a bunch of old ones to drive (trucks though, no stupid hot-rodded mustangs and girly deuce coups). I gotta say, my '62 Dodge WM is the most reliable vehicle I own (and I drive a Toyota most of the time!), not to mention the most fun to drive--if only it didn't take me two fuel stops to get to work and back I'd drive it more often...

Got me a day off today--trying to get my '49 White up and running (props to anyone here who knows what a White even looks like). One of these days someone will have to pay me to do this to airplanes...

Dan

 

[A Squared]

>>>>Same question goes for the Douglas-liners. C'mon, there's one DC-6 I know in the state that flies some frieght of course, I've never seen it move in the past five years...sigh.

You just live in the wrong state, I know of about a dozen DC-6's flying on a daily basis.

regards

 

[EX_CV580FR8Dawg]

Hey, I didnt get my 20inch Arms from just working out in the gym alone! Go For it! Im off to fly Lears now but will miss the 340/580/5800. Good Luck!

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

A-Squared:

I keep saying that one of these days I'll just pack the truck and head up to AK, for the propliners alone (not to mention the mountains). Heck, I've even looked into getting my FE-Recip just to coax my way into one of them, but I haven't the slightest idea of how or where to get such a certificate (other than if a company were to provide the training).

Some day my friend...some day....I'm young yet.

Dan

 

[A Squared]

>>>>>>Heck, I've even looked into getting my FE-Recip just to coax my way into one of them, but I haven't the slightest idea of how or where to get such a certificate (other than if a company were to provide the training).


The only way I know of to get the FE-recip is through a company which operates such planes, or through one of the historical organizations which operates large multi engine aircraft CAF, save-a-connie, etc. Don't sweat it though, both of the companies I know which operate such planes will put you through the training if you get hired on there.




regards

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

A Squared

Do you work for NAC?

 

[A Squared]

Nope, I work for the other guys.

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

Who are the other guys?

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

A-Squared:

You guys still flying a dumbo? Or is that some other guys still?

(Edit: Ahhh, found recent pictures of them, never mind. Note to self--need job with them)

I've heard it said by more than one former Dumbo driver that they've flown larger airplanes, but nothing bigger.

Dan

 

[crash-proof]

>>>>Same question goes for the Douglas-liners. C'mon, there's one DC-6 I know in the state that flies some frieght of course, I've never seen it move in the past five years...sigh.

You just live in the wrong state, I know of about a dozen DC-6's flying on a daily basis.

regards

Where's that? What city, state? Let me guess....firebombers?
I'm headin out there with a camera!

I live in florida, only DC-6 i've seen is opalocka but have never seen it fly.

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

The airtankers aren't all based in one state...

He's talking of Alaska.

Dan

 

[A Squared]

Just to clarify, I'm not talking about Air Tankers. The planes I'm referring to are operating on Part 121 and Part 125 certificates hauling cargo and fuel.

I don't know of any DC-6's operating as air tankers in the US, some DC-4s and at least one DC-7. There are some DC-6 air tankers operating in Canada.


regards