How did you know you were ready to upgrade?

Gonzo

Gonzo

Well-Known Member
I took a job at a airline thinking I would have a 8-9 yr upgrade maybe 7 years if I was lucky. 3 years in and it is looking like a 4-4.5 year upgrade is not out of the question.
My question is when did you know you were ready?
What do you wish you would have worked on before upgrading?
 
When it comes to upgrading, you're never going to be 100% ready for it...there's always going to be something new that you're going to learn about flying after you upgrade.

Do you feel as though that you're mentally prepared to handle most situations that can arise during a flight? Do you feel like you can handle flying with an FO that knows more about the airplane that you do (assuming you upgrade into a plane you're not currently on)? Do you feel like you can handle being a fairly new Captain (less than 500 hrs time in type) and flying with someone fresh off of IOE that might do something really dumb? Have you seen most of the facets of the company in terms of the types of flying?

If you can answer yes to those types of questions, then I think you'll be ready to upgrade and it won't be something that you can handle.

I had a friend upgrade at Trans States with 1700hrs TT, he had started there with less than 500 hrs. I didn't think he was ready to upgrade, purely from the standpoint of that when he got off high min's (1800hrs), he could be flying with a fresh FO with 500hrs/little experience and he'd be responsible for everything at that point. That's a great deal of responsibility to place on someone that has less than 2000hrs TT.
 
When my number came up. I went to the left seat after 12 months onlline, but I had in excess of 3000tt then too. I also upgraded into a new airframe for me, it just made me focus during class.
 
At the regional level you need to be able to fly a multi crew airplane, down to mins, in gusty weather, with a mechanical issue, have to go around, with low fuel and get the plane turned around and back on the ground... single pilot.
 
When the company you work for says "Your going to upgrade training."

If you're not ready for the upgrade, you won't pass the checkride.
 
mshunter said:
When the company you work for says "Your going to upgrade training."

If you're not ready for the upgrade, you won't pass the checkride.
Click to expand...

I know of a few Horizon FO's that upgraded, passed the checkride but couldn't get off of IOE. 2 were able to keep their jobs afterwards. One in particular, he/she took nearly 45 hrs of IOE before they said "Is this really going to work"?
 
My number at Eagle is going to upgrade in the next bid or two but when I go back from my long term leave of absence I am going to bid FO and I won't bid CA until I am sure I am ready. Granted that my entire time on the line will be OJT for a CA job.
 
SurferLucas said:
Yea, the last Check Airman that he/she flew with was one that I flew about 4 bids with, he said it was painful to watch at times. There was no "command" and constant asking of "Is it ok to do this?"
Click to expand...

Disclaimer: Non-professional pilot speaking

To me, this seems the more important consideration in upgrading. Being a captain doesn't mean you have to have superior stick and rudder skills to the FO. But you MUST be able to lead and command. You must be able to process information, make a decision, and have confidence in it. And remember, you're not just in command of the FO, but the FA(s) and the passengers as well.
 
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