with "proper training and guidance" where do we get that - RAH/CHQ? This is a genuine question from a potential interviewee/new hire. Are you at CHQ and is the training good - how does it compare to that elsewhere? Do you have any info on other training?
Flight Safety does all the RAH Initial training. Overall, it is quite good. I recently went through STL FSI for LOFT and there is a strong emphasis on High Altitude operations. Seems the Pinnacle event has spurred it (training) into more than just a hand-out in class and two questions on the final.
My opinion, there is no substitute for new hires with previous experience. What we are seeing now is minimal to no air carrier experience in the right seat of large and small regional jets, and at turbo-prop carriers. We have Captains who got their Private Certificate in this century. We have FO's who are college interns with ink still wet on their Commerical certificate temps and not a single day of commercial flying experience, not even CFI's.
"Proper training" while good in theory, does not occur in the class room. The class room is where you cram the Ops Specs and Systems into your brain.
"Guidance" takes place in the cockpit or Sim with competent Captains and instructors. It is where you use the practical head knowledge from the classroom and you learn technique and skill from the hopefully experienced grizzled 4-striper next to you. That's why your POI will renew the CFI or CFII certificate your captain has without a blink when he asks. He knows that he is teaching and emulating, even if he isn't a Check Airman.
It occurs decending into in icing conditions while at flying night, with an upcoming non-precision approach to a circle-to-land.
It occurs shooting minimum low approaches with the potential of missing or having to miss and go to your alternate, while managing your minimal fuel.
It occurs interacting with the two-crew concept with good CRM, coordinating with dispatch and ATC and interacting cabin crew and passenger issues during "non-normal" events.
It occurs in the right seat in real conditions. Take a look at NASA ASRS or your company ASAPs and you will see what I mean. There is no substitute for experience.
Evidence of what potential exists is the Pinnacle event. If that were not true, you would not see the emphasis now exerted in new hire Initial training and recurrent training.
This is the world we live in. Be careful out there.
T8
