Why the H is ALPA Advocating MPL Licensing?!

[Sedona16]

These guys do one or two things good only to turn around and say something really really stupid. Better hope an pray the 1500 ATP to get hired rule gets passed and is enforced or MPL training will blow another huge hole in bargaining power to get pay rates up.

"Training programs using a competency-based approach coupled with stringent
academic curricula in lieu of the “required hours” approach in traditional training methodologies should be explored as a means to better train and qualify those pilots coming into the airlines with minimal flight time.

The MPL is an alternative to traditional training and licensing methodologies and can train a candidate with no prior flight experience to be a competent flight crewmember. The MPL training program uses a competency-based approach in lieu of the “required-hours” approach found in traditional training methodologies and the FARs/CARs.

The training necessary for a candidate to be issued an MPL or traditional certificates through a similar competency-based process may provide benefits when developed and implemented properly with adequate regulatory oversight. It may be possible to use these concepts and employ other innovative technologies to efficiently train competent flight crewmembers in
commercial air operations through a focused and expedited training program. To ensure that adequate experience is received by the pilot through the MPL process, an airline should be linked with an FTO providing such training to pilots to ensure that their SOPs are taught and equipment trained on during the entire training process."

http://public.alpa.org/portals/alpa/pressroom/inthecockpit/ProducingProfessionalPilot_9-2009.pdf

 

[PCL_128]

I think ALPA's white paper does an excellent job of explaining exactly what they support, and the standard MPL program isn't it. They've made much more stringent recommendations regarding what an MPL program should contain.

 

[Jar Jar]

From the same people touting 'professionalism'??? Hire any clown off the street, pay off the street wages and see what u get. horse********************.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Can ALPA stop congress or the DOT/FAA from stopping MPL?

 

[Flopgut]

Can ALPA stop congress or the DOT/FAA from stopping MPL?

Can you elaborate!? What do you mean?

Can ALPA try? Yes!

 

[OCP]

Can ALPA stop congress or the DOT/FAA from stopping MPL?

Have you seen the post about the congress hearings? There is not a chance anything like that will happen.

 

[Skywest Pylot]

Can ALPA stop congress or the DOT/FAA from stopping MPL?

This is disgraceful! I am starting to wonder who is more detrimental to my career the ATA, RAA or ALPA.

BTW ALPA, how does raising the daily flight time limit from 8 to 9 hours make me a safer, less fatigued pilot? That is what this whole thing is about, SAFETY, right?

 

[Skywest Pylot]

I think ALPA's white paper does an excellent job of explaining exactly what they support, and the standard MPL program isn't it. They've made much more stringent recommendations regarding what an MPL program should contain.

I get the feeling that if ALPA proposed a 50% paycut for all pilots, you would be on here telling us it is in our best interest. This MPL leaves the door wide open for the pilot factories to continue churning out inexperienced, 200 hour wonders who will do ANYTHING to fly a shiny jet. In the meantime the rest of us can't seem to raise the bar high enough to make a decent living. This is bullsh!t!!!!!

 

[instructordude]

The MPL could be a good program if combined with some sort of mentorship program pairing senior Capts with low time pilots. Kind of a grow your own opportunity where the company saves money on wages, the low time pilot pays to sit in the right seat, but also gets to mentor the individual to the companies own standards. It could be a winner.

 

[Jar Jar]

you almost had me I-dude. You changed your avatar, tricky bastard.

MPL is CRAP. The single greatest reason we have 2 pilots is so that they can catch each other's mistakes. A brand-new worthless F/O off the street will have ZERO situational awareness, and ZERO ability to handle f'd up situations. My family will not be on an MPL crewed airplane.

 

[jumppilot]

The MPL could be a good program if combined with some sort of mentorship program pairing senior Capts with low time pilots. Kind of a grow your own opportunity where the company saves money on wages, the low time pilot pays to sit in the right seat, but also gets to mentor the individual to the companies own standards. It could be a winner.

I don't know who you are but that was the best post I've seen from you yet.

Seriously, your skill at riling up the FI board is the best and I'm sure a lot of people will get heart burn from that.

 

[spitfire1500]

Can ALPA stop congress or the DOT/FAA from stopping MPL?

One of ALPA's own is in charge at the FAA I certainly hope they have some sway in the matter. If ALPA has no lobby power than why am I always asked to donate to ALPA PAC. Last I checked other unions like UAW have a lot of lobby power.....standby now for some open ended question / answer from Rez.

 

[spitfire1500]

I think ALPA's white paper does an excellent job of explaining exactly what they support, and the standard MPL program isn't it. They've made much more stringent recommendations regarding what an MPL program should contain.

All this MPL crap does is bring in lots of legal jargon that allows companies and different FSDO's to interpret wording the way they want to. With these proposed flt time / duty regs the same thing is going to happen I guarantee it. You will have companies that interpret like this.. "well an hour of your flight time is during the day when you can fly the most hours, so we interpret that the less restrictive period is your limit..wait and see. I have worked with two airlines that would come out with different interpretations on the same regs monthly and then after opening up a can of worms involving some other reg because of it would then come up with their own way of interpreting that one...and so on.

What the hell is the problem with requiring an ATPL to fly for a 121 carrier period, end of argument no 10 paragraphs of confusing jargon. When I flew in the CAA world you had regs that were straightforward and didn't have attorneys and feds all reading different things into them. You also didn't have airlines out there using "Shiny Jet Syndrome" to pay pilots sh#t either.

I'll bet you that if a FED or attorney got to the pearly gates and St. Peter said hey wait a minute there bud...you broke the commandment "Thou shall not covet thy neighbors wife" when you poked that lady on an overnight. The response would be hold on there Pete she lived in the next town so she isn't my "neighbor", then ALPA would write a paper on it.

 

[smoknjoe]

The MPL could be a good program if combined with some sort of mentorship program pairing senior Capts with low time pilots. Kind of a grow your own opportunity where the company saves money on wages, the low time pilot pays to sit in the right seat, but also gets to mentor the individual to the companies own standards. It could be a winner.

So now you want me to give IOE without even getting payd the extra $$. And you must have never flown with a low time F/O straight from training. It can be very laborious, to the point where id rather fly my jet single pilot.
Sorry, but your perspective lacks a foundation in experience.

Take care.
Joe.

 

[Dornier 335]

MPL is CRAP. The single greatest reason we have 2 pilots is so that they can catch each other's mistakes. A brand-new worthless F/O off the street will have ZERO situational awareness, and ZERO ability to handle f'd up situations. My family will not be on an MPL crewed airplane.

Dead on! I was flying contract for a EU regional company that has MPL. It is an absolute nightmare. I have never seen as much strange decision making as in the few months flying in Euroland. Another attempt by the industry to cut corners and costs. What most freshmen don't realize is that MPL is only valid at this airline on this type. In case your airline goes belly up, guess what? No mo' license.