CAs flying as FOs?

[ASA_Aviator]

You can blame the french. That's right. ASA had to stop doing it because in an Air France audit of its codeshare carriers, the french would not tolerate this safety practice on any airline that would codeshare with Air France. It's not because of CAT II. Remember, the ATR was always cat II certified, and right seat captains as fo/s were never prohibited from doing a CAT II.

Uhhh...the ATR was only CAT II certified a few months before the CRJ....

 

[vectorvictor]

Scumbags sit in the right seat when they're Captains.

Everytime he/she sits in that F/O seat, First Officers are losing money and the company is getting away with paying the F/O a sh*tty salary.

Why do you think there are no F/Os? Because they pay them 20K a year. Don't cover for your company because then they will continue to pay F/O food stamp worthy salaries.

Captains, think about sitting in the right seat because next time it'll be someone sitting in yours for half the pay.

-NYB

If you are flying an airplane with less than 80 seats and you were hired in the last 15 years you are probably sitting in someone's seat for half the pay. FO's get paid what they get paid due to supply and demand. As long as there are folks out there willing to take the job for that pay, the salaries won't increase. Wanna go after someone, how about the folks signing up 18 year olds for 75k in flight training that they can't afford?

 

[dojetdriver]

More on the topic of the thread.

My current company allows it, but I think it may be reserve CA's only.

My last job, only prop CA's were allowed to be used in the right seat, but only within the first six months of them being qualified as a CA. I thought the distinction between a prop CA being forced to fly as FO and not a jet CA was stupid.

IMO, the practice is dumb, and EVERY CBA should prohibit it.

The CA has already put in his time at that company, gone through the upgrade, is in the left seat. Although it may be "easy money", you should never be forced to sit in the right seat after you've qualified as a CA.

 

[Kaman]

Not uncommon for CJC check airman to get "Shanghai'd" into the left-seat because of low-manning. No extra pay, because you aren't performing check airman duties. I wasn't really crazy about doing it only because if something did occur they'd likely hang me out to dry even though I didn't sign for the trip. Also, I am sure some of my landings from the right-seat were a "little" scary after not doing it for awhile...

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

 

[BSkin]

Not uncommon for CJC check airman to get "Shanghai'd" into the left-seat because of low-manning. No extra pay, because you aren't performing check airman duties. I wasn't really crazy about doing it only because if something did occur they'd likely hang me out to dry even though I didn't sign for the trip. Also, I am sure some of my landings from the right-seat were a "little" scary after not doing it for awhile...

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

They did away with Check Airman pay when flying as FO? Had it when I left in '04. Doesn't surprise me since there is no union.

 

[CoolGuy92]

There is still Regionals only paying 20k a year? wink wink.

Well lets see, people were leaving Piedmont to go to Republic to make the same or less money flying a EMB-175? AKA the shiney Jet Syndrome....

I don't think Captains flying in the right seat affects FO pay as much as guys wanting to fly Large RJ's for crap pay.

Think before you post.... wink wink

First Year Pay:
Piedmont: $25 Republic: $23

Second Year FO Pay:
Piedmont: $29 Republic: $31

Third Year Pay:
Piedmont (still FO): $31 Republic (CA):$73/$66

Fourth Year Pay CA:
Piedmont: $54/$49 Republic (CA):$75/$68

Top Out Pay:
Piedmont: 25 years $78/$69
Republic: 20 years $119/$108

Junior CA:
Piedmont: Jul 04 Republic: Aug 06

First year pay sucks. Piedmont has RP beat first year. Amazing that an 86 seat jet FO makes the same amount as a 30 seat turboprop FO. However, Quick upgrades, and decent top out pay, are hard to beat though for a regional right now. Its hard to keep pilots anymore as you can get a job with 250 hours and no multi these days. This industry never fails to amaze me.

I suppose its all about supply and demand. Personally, I don't see why some of the shorter routes aren't being supplied by the dash 8 400 rather than a 76 seat RJ. As a former turbo prop driver, its hard for me to rationalize a 15 minute jet flight with 70 people when a prop could do it more efficiently. However, I still think the 70-90 seat jet certainly has its niche. Just not on the super short, or super long legs. The industry is a poor mix of inefficiency and passenger perception.

OK, my work here is done. Here's to getting along, cause you never know when your current FO is gonna be your next Chief Pilot.