Colgan Street Captains

[70-SS]

Interesting how the 'insurance' mins change on the companies needs that day.

Very interesting isn't it.

 

[Dr King]

No I am already in the left seat here.

The FO I am flying with this month has 1600 hours of total time and 800 hours in the airplane. Would it REALLY be fair to him to hire someone off the street and upgrade them above him? Other airlines have no posted mins. If your seniority is up and you have ATP mins you have the chance to prove yourself and upgrade.

Interesting how the 'insurance' mins change on the companies needs that day.

It would be fair because the min. for upgrade is 2200 TT with 500 in type, or 1500 TT with 1000 in type. They cant go any lower.

 

[IslandDriver]

Wow...800 throwing the gear in the Saab...and 800 in the pattern in a 172....I want you carrying my family this winter out of JST.....

Just relax and try to learn something over there. The upgrade is coming fast for a lot of people....be ready.

I am not trying to sound harsh but the reality of 1600 hours is not a lot of experience. Many guys in the left seat now came to CJC with like 2500hrs and upgrades at like 3500hours...times are changing but be sure you are in the right seat learning...not complaining and whining...

1200 is the min for PIC in a 207 flying checks at night...you could get the job there...or Cape Air...if you can pass thier interview...

 

[Afraid to Fly]

It would be fair because the min. for upgrade is 2200 TT with 500 in type, or 1500 TT with 1000 in type. They cant go any lower.

What happens if they hire street captains with 2000 hour total time but have been sitting right seat of an RJ for 500 hours. Does that make them safer?

What do we have in place to protect the FOs, if off the street hiring occurs? So much for their quick upgrade eh? Might as well have some work rules in place to protect them.

 

[vectorvictor]

No I am already in the left seat here.

The FO I am flying with this month has 1600 hours of total time and 800 hours in the airplane. Would it REALLY be fair to him to hire someone off the street and upgrade them above him? Other airlines have no posted mins. If your seniority is up and you have ATP mins you have the chance to prove yourself and upgrade.

Interesting how the 'insurance' mins change on the companies needs that day.

This issue is industry wide. Are there folks out there with 1600TT that can handle the responsibility? Absolutely. I do get nervous though when I think of a 23 year old with 1600 hours flying around a 30,000lb airplane with my family on it. Its a maturity thing not necessarily a time thing.

I'm not sure what the right thing to do is? I guess you COULD lower the times to ATP mins but if the fail rate goes up or the FAA decides to attend all of the type rides who are you really helping? I don't feel sorry for the airlines...they've fed us a diet of crappy wages and tough working conditions (not just Colgan). Now pilots are in short supply and things are going to become very difficult from a staffing point of view. I think street captains are going to be just as hard to find so I think this point is mute anyway.

The opportunities to upgrade will be out there...the trick is getting through the process without dinging up your career.

 

[Fred Rogers]

What happens if they hire street captains with 2000 hour total time but have been sitting right seat of an RJ for 500 hours. Does that make them safer?

What do we have in place to protect the FOs, if off the street hiring occurs? So much for their quick upgrade eh? Might as well have some work rules in place to protect them.

You said it.