Pay Raise at Ram Air

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

... now it seems that finding qualified pilots is becoming difficult.

I agree. I am one of the instructor pilots at Ram and we are washing out around 40% of new hire candidates simply because they can't fly basic instrument stuff.

 

[Hobit]

Fuzzy,

At what point are you deciding to wash them out (ie +/- 100 feet etc.)?

What is the most frequent short coming that you are seeing and what are their backgrounds?

 

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

Most of the potentials are coming from CFI jobs. We only hold people to Commercial Standards. And now its not on day one, we give leniency, they are probably learning a new plane, the PA32. New hires get three training flights and two "ride alongs" to get it right. This equates to about 10-11 hours of flight time. They are even given a fourth training flight on Friday morning before the checkride if needed. So if they can't fly the airplane by then, what can we do?

Most people that wash out have no idea how to shoot a GPS approach. In reality, its just basic IFR stuff. The company needs to know that these guys/gals are going to be able to handle it. We routinely shoot approaches to mins.

 

[Xfr8dog]

Yeah but you said, "...and go wherever you want". Can you get the multi time and go to Southwest or UPS? ;-)


I think its a dam shame that I was making 100-120/day as a BIKE MESSENGER in Philly almost 10years ago and there are professional pilots today making less than that! The universe just isn't right.

 

[imacdog]

To add to what Fuzzy said, which I agree with, our company is very big on training pilots who are going to be able to handle making command decisions in all weather day and night conditions that will keep them safe, while at the same time being able to handle low weather situations and conditions which they might not have been exposed to yet. The actual flying part is important but keeping cool under difficult situations is a big part of being sent off on your own.

 

[Bryan D]

Most people that wash out have no idea how to shoot a GPS approach. In reality, its just basic IFR stuff. The company needs to know that these guys/gals are going to be able to handle it. We routinely shoot approaches to mins.

What model GPS does RAF use?

 

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

All airplanes have an Apollo GX-50. Not the most spectacular box out there, but it gets the job done.

 

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

Yeah but you said, "...and go wherever you want". Can you get the multi time and go to Southwest or UPS? ;-)

Yeah, sorry about that. I thought it was obvious that I didn't mean people could get on at UPS or even NASA. I mainly was referring to the Regionals.

 

[Snakum]

Fuzzy ... I know someone very well who can fly a GPS approach, and has been bugging the guys in RDU periodically over the last year for info on a 500-hour VFR slot opening up.

 

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

Unfortunately for your friend, he needs the IFR 135 mins to apply.

 

[Snakum]

I know. Ram used to keep one or two VFR-only guys around, but they stopped a couple years ago ... unfortunately.


Minh

 

[imacdog]

Trust me, flying VFR at 500-2 isn't as fun as it sounds. You're much better off building your experience and actually flying IFR.

 

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

I haven't had a flight in over two weeks where I haven't spent at least some time in the clouds.

 

[Xfr8dog]

Yeah I get it Fuzzy I was only being a smart @ss.

 

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

Yeah, I know you were. I was referring to the guy who said riiigght.