Colgan Air crew experience.

[www.]

There wasn't severe icing reported. And in my career I have encountered severe icing 3 times, and all three it scared the living hell out of me.

I am not defending this pilot, I am just saying so far he followed Company SOP's. There was no report of Severe icing, and in that case he can us the autopilot.

Now, if the ice was building like the CVR says then I would have periodically cut the AP off to feel the planes tendencies.

You just made my point. He didn't need a pirep, his comments show that. It's doesn't have to be reported of YOU know your in it.

 

[jbDC9]

It is what it is...

Okay, that's twice in the same thread you've used this phrase... please stop. No more. It's a tired, overused cliché.

Now I'm waiting for someone to throw out "At the end of the day..." It's coming, I can feel it.

 

[climbhappy]

"that said"

 

[eddie]

Their times were pretty average for Regional crews. The only regional I've ever seen with 13000+ hr pilots was Piedmont, and I always assumed those guys were waiting for a flow-through that never happened and they ended up loving their qol too much to go to another part of the country.

My first upgrade was in the late '90s with 2500 hrs, I had spent a couple of winters flying piston twins around the midwest before getting on with a regional, and another winter as an FO. I felt qualified, and so did all the other 2500 - 3000 hour captains at our company.

IMO this crew was qualified, and the talk in this thread about 300 hr new hires has nothing to do with this crew. The captain on this flight had a qualified FO in the right seat. She was hired with a fair amount of time and was closing in on 800 hours in type!

 

[airplane wizard]

...but they want to fly from LGA to MCO for $99/RT.

Enough ice will bite the most experienced pilot.

 

[skiandsurf]

Its being reported that the PIC had 110 hrs in type, and the FO had 7 times that amount (700+ hrs) in type.

Still uncertain of their previous experience.

 

[7574EVER]

Im hoping for more than just cute friends if you know what I mean.

...and failing at it from what I understand ;-)

 

[CX880]

Its being reported that the PIC had 110 hrs in type, and the FO had 7 times that amount (700+ hrs) in type.

Still uncertain of their previous experience.

Dude, look at post number two and three. It's already been answered over and over. CA had 3000+ hours and typed on the q400 in November. It's February. Take a wild guess at his experience on the q400. Just come out and say it already, you think it the plane crashed because of the pilots.

 

[BSkin]

I'd take a seasoned turbo-prop guy against the almighty Sully any day!

 

[BSkin]

Not to take away what the pilots of this flight may have gone through.

God Bless All involved!

 

[N813CA]

Total time doesn't mean anything. I have flown with them all and pilots can suck with lots of time and some can be awsome with little time. We are all just a number we upgrade when we are due.

 

[172driver]

Comair has hundreds of guys with 10,000 hrs+ and some with 20,000.

I'm sure the same can be said for ASA, SKYW, PDT, Mesaba, Air Wis, XJET, and others...

I would bet there is a big difference in average experience between these carriers and places like Colgan, Mesa, or Pinnacle.

 

[DX Rick]

Comair has hundreds of guys with 10,000 hrs+ and some with 20,000.
.

10,000/hr captain at Comair is a "young" captain.

 

[kf4amu]

It is what it is....the regionals dont typically have 13000 hour pilots Mr Gup.....

I bet the majority of Piedmont's captains have that much time...just in the Dash.

Thats the difference between a company with decent work rules and a bottom feeder. People stay at decent companies and end up with a decent amount of experience, not matter how big or hard to fly the airplane is.

 

[belchfire]

Comair has hundreds of guys with 10,000 hrs+ and some with 20,000.

I'm sure the same can be said for ASA, SKYW, PDT, Mesaba, Air Wis, XJET, and others...

I would bet there is a big difference in average experience between these carriers and places like Colgan, Mesa, or Pinnacle.

It is a dangerous thing in this business to get comfortable where you are and pass up a temporary pay cut to go for the gold ring.

If you are at a cesspool like Mesa (or the defunct Regions Air) the choice to move on is easier. Even though the ring you reach for may be of say brass or lead it is a far better thing to reach for than what you have...