RefugePilot
Paperwork Proficient
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2006
- Posts
- 283
Now, imagine if the pilot did NOT plan on charging for the flights - same outcome, right? To me, it's not the fact that he was NOT a commercial pilot (just a piece of paper). It's ALSO the fact that the company who "hired" him didn't do their DUE DILIGENCE prior to sending their employees on the trip.I agree that the commercial rating is just a piece of paper. As a flight instructor, I had trained 2 people through their commercial rating. They were both 1000 hour airplane owners with their instrument ticket.
Both had forgotten how to look out the windows of their airplane, with all those gages why would they need to. It was a lot of work getting them to do the commercial mnvrs, I had to cover up all the instruments, so they wouldn't stare at them. One guy tried to do Chandelles while staring at the T.C., the only intrument I left uncovered. They both did very well on the checkride, but I am sure reverted to their old ways after the test. I had 50 hour pilots I would send my family with before I would send with them.
It continues to amaze me that nobody EVER asks the crew's flying history. The simply assume if you show up on the ramp with a nice looking airplane that you know what you're doing and you're properly licensed.Not that the boxes I fly with ever ask, but if I ever fly passengers, it would suck to have to carry around a stack or resumes for them all to read. I think most people assume if you have a nice white shirt with epaulets you are qualified. Maybe the FAA can assign epaulets with the sucsesfull completion of a commercial checkride.