26-year-old airline captain and her 19-year-old co-pilot

A300Capt said:
Because, like it or not, Joe six pack and Jane public equates Regional pilots flying RJ's as being less experienced then those flying larger aircraft. People assume, right or wrong, that the larger the aircraft the more experienced the crew. They think those pilots are making more money and hence, have more experience, and because of that they believe they must be safer.
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I'm certainly taking some lumps. And am asked whether or not I'm old enough to do this on a regular basis by the revenue public. "Mom signed the permission slip" is a common humorous rejoinder.
 
JDean3204 said:
So making the mistakes with only 70 people behind you will build the experience for when 160 people are relying on you in the same environment.... Makes sense somewhat :)
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No -- you're assuming that the bad decisions that lead to better judgment take place in an airliner flying revenue passenger service.

There are lots of paths of experience that end in an airliner cockpit, and IMHO all of them have something to contribute to the airmanship of the pilot that travels them.
 
Hacker15e said:
No -- you're assuming that the bad decisions that lead to better judgment take place in an airliner flying revenue passenger service.

There are lots of paths of experience that end in an airliner cockpit, and IMHO all of them have something to contribute to the airmanship of the pilot that travels them.
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You will unleash a wrath around here using that word, heretic........
 
Autothrust Blue said:
I'm certainly taking some lumps. And am asked whether or not I'm old enough to do this on a regular basis by the revenue public. "Mom signed the permission slip" is a common humorous rejoinder.
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Arguably my favorite response along with "Mom pulled me out of soccer practice when they called"
 
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A300Capt said:
When I was a 24 yr old commuter Captain on a Metroliner I got the stares and comments about if I was old enough, experienced enough, etc...to fly them to their destination.
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Haha.... If only they knew that was the real problem they should have been worried about. That flying pile of junk.... Hahha, I'd like to urinate on Swearingen's Grave.
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
>Cough<

Pilots for the airlines you mentioned ALL go through their representative airlines MPL programs. Or third party MPL programs, like Easy Jet. Then hope and pray to get on with BA or AF.

British Airways MPL graduates start flying at 250 hrs in an A318/19-321. For an almost WO regional FFD airline scheme. Doing all of BA's domestic flying.

Pilots for Lufthansa, are trained in an MPL program here in my backyard of Goodyear, AZ.

As you well know there is no GA in Europe, due to the high price associated.

So either one of the airlines mentioned, the pilots up front all start carrying pax. With 250 hrs.
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Actually, the MPL programs are designed to get guys in the cockpit of an airliner with only 70-100 hours of actual flight time. MPL is certificate and type specific. Lufthansa recently ditched the MPL because they have multiple certificates and the CPL+IR route allows flexibility to put new pilots on different airplanes at their different companies across the network.

Also, there still is GA in Europe and there are plenty of guys building up time the traditional way, but definitely less GA than what you'd find in the US.
 
Zondaracer said:
Actually, the MPL programs are designed to get guys in the cockpit of an airliner with only 70-100 hours of actual flight time. MPL is certificate and type specific. Lufthansa recently ditched the MPL because they have multiple certificates and the CPL+IR route allows flexibility to put new pilots on different airplanes at their different companies across the network.

Also, there still is GA in Europe and there are plenty of guys building up time the traditional way, but definitely less GA than what you'd find in the US.
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I met a pretty cool dude during my SkyWest interview process who was from the UK, he decided to move over to the US because it was more cost effective to gain his education and certs in the states. It is doable across the pond, but the costs are MUCH higher. He said all the fees just to use the airspace is what kills GA, kind of sad really....
 
NovemberEcho said:
A lot of people would probably freak if they knew the number of ATCers sub-25.
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Deviating for weather and the controller said "direct Omaha, Victor, Romeo [OVR] and advise, I believe that's Kansas City."

I said "Oh, I think OVR is Omaha and Kansas City is MCI."

She says, "Oops, well, same state!"

"I think Omaha is Nebraska and Kansas City is Missouri."

She goes, "Well they are both big and largely flat!"


Good save for her, but I think just goes to show you the upcoming cadre of ATCers are newbies and as such, may not be as experienced as the current ol geezers.
 
A300Capt said:
Reminds me when I was a (wet-behind-the-ears) 26 yr old B727 FE and both the Capt and f/o were in their late 20's. Man, those were good times!

After reading this thread, I feel like I was an old man when I upgraded to Capt on the B75/76 at 32.:eek2:
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Holy crap! The good days of UPS.
 
Cherokee_Cruiser said:
Deviating for weather and the controller said "direct Omaha, Victor, Romeo [OVR] and advise, I believe that's Kansas City."

I said "Oh, I think OVR is Omaha and Kansas City is MCI."

She says, "Oops, well, same state!"

"I think Omaha is Nebraska and Kansas City is Missouri."

She goes, "Well they are both big and largely flat!"


Good save for her, but I think just goes to show you the upcoming cadre of ATCers are newbies and as such, may not be as experienced as the current ol geezers.
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Ones lack of geographical knowledge has nothing to do with age or experience.
 
JDean3204 said:
I met a pretty cool dude during my SkyWest interview process who was from the UK, he decided to move over to the US because it was more cost effective to gain his education and certs in the states. It is doable across the pond, but the costs are MUCH higher. He said all the fees just to use the airspace is what kills GA, kind of sad really....
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And that model is getting pushed HARD here in the states. ATC came way closer than I'd like to being privatized and funded with user fees just this year. That battle isn't over yet.
 
amorris311 said:
Why is NATCA supporting this?
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According to our esteemed leaders, they say that it's coming one way or the other, and we can either be part of it happening and look out for "us", or we can fight it kicking and screaming and get left out of the process. Myself, and most that I know, don't necassarily agree with that point of view.
 
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