Cue the MPL in...

[Lear70]

You know nothing about the mesa program. Why is it that you are ao much better? I really want to know.

Well, I don't know anything about the Mesa program, but if it's anything similar to the Gulfstream program we had at PCL then yeah, I agree with Aviatrix, it's not an acceptable swap for experience.

At PCL we had the GIA program pilots with a few pilots who were really excellent, standouts who had enough natural skill that they at least kept up until they could get some experience, but the vast majority of those people sucked at flying... many were nice people, but they had ZERO stick skills and no experience to fall back on. They're the only people I've ever taken the airplane from, on more than one occasion, just had no clue how to fly the plane if you took them out of their pre-programmed simulator routine.

I wouldn't let my family fly on RJ's during the time we were putting those people through, as we had some older, overweight CA's and if they stroked out during an emergency... let's just say I don't think it would have turned out well. Luckily we never had to find out but I agree wholeheartedly with the ATP minimum for a new-hire Commercial pilot into the airline world and vehemently disagree with any lowering of these requirements with an "acceptable scholastic program in lieu of flight hours".

That position is based on years of experience with low-time pilots who simply aren't ready, in most cases, for the responsibility of flying even an RJ in the event the CA is incapacitated during an emergency or if the CA makes a bad call like in several accidents on record (PCL 3701, Colgan in BUF, etc).

And for the record, what makes us better? Years of instructing and catching stupid mistakes before they kill us, then years of flying freight charter by ourselves and learning to watch everything for yourself rather than relying on someone else, all while developing critical hand-flying skills that you can't duplicate by letting the autopilot fly all the time. That experience is invaluable later in your career.

250-400 hours isn't nearly enough. Not by a long shot.

 

[Whine Lover]

" You know nothing about the Mesa program. Why is it that you are so much better? I really want to know. "


- Because, we said so.

- And, we don't work for Mesa.

- And, as everyone knows ( wait for it )... "Mesa Sucks" .






Whine

 

[IBNAV8R]

Scenario-based training is fallacious substitute for actual experience. Now, actual experience can eventually overcome a shortfall in primary training - after the subject scares the ever livin' s*** out of himself a few times and the basics actually sink in.

Granted, no pilot can experience absolutely everything. And, SBT can be hugely beneficial to someone well grounded in the fundamentals. But, you'll never have a solid house if the foundation is inadequate.

What we have now is a program which leaves students woefully unprepared in basic airmanship while, at the same time, attempts to shortcut the experience process. AF 447 highlights that the issue isn't confined to regionals either.

An aviator can be taught to program the box, spew SOP, FOM, CRM, TEM or whatever the current BS buzzwords or acronyms, recite canned scenarios, and put on a clip-on tie and a fancy dinner jacket. However, none of this constitutes an adequate aviator.

 

[Andy]

AGE 67 anybody? What a joke. This industry sucks

What's the cheapest, quickest, easiest way to alleviate a future pilot shortage? Occam's Razor, applied to future pilot shortfalls. 67 then 70 then fly 'til you die.

 

[fam62c]

What's the cheapest, quickest, easiest way to alleviate a future pilot shortage? Occam's Razor, applied to future pilot shortfalls. 67 then 70 then fly 'til you die.

I agree with you, it's the obvious solution that will be the simplest for the industry and the government and although I am very much against it I will be surprised if it doesn't happen. The public won't sit still and allow a pilot shortage to reduce capacity and cause ticket prices to increase. They will start to complain and the government will protect the industry by raising the retirement age to make sure the airlines (even the regionals who treat their employees poorly) have enough pilots. When it happens it will create a war within the ranks of airline pilots. This happened once to the junor pilots and if it happens again the FO's are going to revolt. You can only go so long with no advancement in a seniority controlled job.

 

[waveflyer]

And for the record, what makes us better? Years of instructing and catching stupid mistakes before they kill us, then years of flying freight charter by ourselves and learning to watch everything for yourself rather than relying on someone else, all while developing critical hand-flying skills that you can't duplicate by letting the autopilot fly all the time. That experience is invaluable later in your career.

Well said (!)

There are two irreplaceable assets in a pilot-
Talent and Experience

As for age 65+
The only good mitigation for that is to get ahead of it and make sure they can't be captains beyond 65-
And that would still suck for those still in the military or regional ranks

 

[aviatrix]

You know nothing about the mesa program.

Awww, that's sweet! Thanks :beer: