Transition from CFI to regional jet

[FR8mastr]

Ty, to call those two in ROA "seasoned" is an insult two anybody that really has experience. Their "experience" would not have even gotten them a job flying a P.O.S. cheiftain in the middle of the night a few years ago. The only reason that they were even there is because of the horrible pay at their airline. Turnover was very high, combined with the rapid expansion of their airline. Just because some pilot finds thier way into a jet does not make them a grizzled veteran! Remember this "captain" and I use that term loosely, pretty much stalled the plane and crashed into the runway causing extensive damage because, "there is no missed procedure to this runway". Then demonstrating command decision making did'nt even officially tell anyone, jeopardizing all subsequent crews and passengers. This is exactly what can happen when you upgrade someone with most of thier very little time in the right seat either flight instructing or as an FO. They have never had to make an important decision in their lives. This incident doesnt even qualify as that, just horrible stick and rudder skills and NO EXPERIENCE!

 

[bobbysamd]

Flying RJs

Great discussion.

You need to hone your instrument skills and perhaps change some of your instrument thought processes. We taught pitch + power = performance to our Alitalia students at FSI. These were guys who were training from the beginning to fly jets, even though we were teaching them in Cadets and Seminoles. The AI is everything. Why do you think the attitude display is so large in jet equipment as compared to your Cessna? You have to to think in terms of a particular power, degrees of pitch and trim setting to obtain a particular performance. A good instrument instructor should have taught you to think in those terms already.

I like the idea of practicing DME arcs and with HSIs and RMIs. Not the usual procedures and instruments you find in your 172. You can practice them in the sim. I used to spend many a Sunday afternoon in the sim lab cranking up the winds to full and flying arcs and approaches as fast as possible to build my skills.

Sure, a low-time pilot can learn to fly RJs, or any airplane if he/she was taught properly, but experience does matter. Look at it this way. Let's say you've played only high school baseball and have knocked the horsehide off the ball. Now, all of a sudden you're in the National League facing Randy Johnson. Sure, if you're a good ballplayer you might get a hit off him after seeing him a few times. But, someone whose played in the minor leagues for years and has seen all kinds of pitchers will probably do better sooner.

I believe that college matters not so much from the education but the good study habits you (hopefully) build. That can help you deal with the firehose.

I agree with Timebuilder about getting a copy of the Turbine Pilot's Flight Manual. It has a lot more than the technicalities of flying turbine equipment; it includes weather and some comments about job issues facing pilots. Good diagrams, too. I believe it was Linda Pendleton who wrote an excellent series about turbine equipment that appeared in the AOPA magazine last summer.

 

[Ty Webb]

When I referred to those two in the ROA incident as "seasoned", I was being a little sarcastic- I have edited it now.

Skydiverdriver, you continue to crack me up. Re-read my post. Read my profile. If you think that I would give up my B717 job and its pay, schedule and work rules to come fly a Barbie Funjet with you, you are even more of a Kool-aid drinker than I gave you credit for.

Not envious, just incredulous.