So I show up for my six month proficiency check today. You know, it is a training event, sort of a big deal. It has been in my schedule, my sim partners schedule, and the instructors plans for about a month and a half. Not the last minute type of thing.
They (Colgan) didn't book the sim from Flight Safety and another Beech 1900 operator was going to be in it ALL freaking day.
You know I am held accountable and have to pay attention to details, as I should be, why shouldn't the powers that be held to that regard?
Of course, in this case it was the job of a training scheduler, not some nefarious "powers that be...". What makes you think that person won't be held responsible?
I am reminded of a time when I, along with about 8 other f/o's, were sitting around on reserve, in our base, whining that scheduling wouldn't release us to go home, because, at the time, there were only two airplanes of our fleet type in operation. So we sat, in our crash pad, whining.
One of the crash padders was a Captain that had been around a while. Not a kool-aide type by any stretch, in fact, probably towards the "union trouble-maker" side, if anything. Anyway, he sat listening to us for a while, and finally he said "why do you expect the crew scheduler to stick their neck out for you? While it is not likely, if they release you and then something totally crazy happens and they need you, why do you expect the SCHEDULER to put their neck out for the carpet dance? What's in in it for them? YOU want to go home. If you are so da&& sure you're not going to be used, then LEAVE! Take some responsibility!"
Anyway, botton line is that other people in the company ARE held accountable. You might be surprised. In my experience, pilots are given the most breaks of any work group out there, despite the rumors to the contrary.
I've seen both sides.
" won't be needing much more sim time.
