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#1
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SMH article regarding growing concerns about pilot training and Airline management
Was going to put this in the Flying and Technical Discussion section but felt it warranted a mention here since it really relates mainly to the Domestic industry. However, Mods please feel free to move it if necessary.
This is a recent article I came across in the The Age written by an anonymous Australian airline pilot about what's going on in the industry. I'm not saying that everything in the article is gospel truth, but it certainly was quite an interesting read and well written. Source: The Age, November 20, 2010 http://www.theage.com.au/national/fa...119-1817t.html Quote:
Cheers
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PPL and flying member at Schofields Flying Club |
#2
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Sorry Mods just realised I accidently confused SMH with The Age in the thread title...please rectify if possible. Cheers
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PPL and flying member at Schofields Flying Club |
#3
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Just change "theage" to "smh" in the URL, and voila, it's an SMH article.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/faste...119-1817t.html |
#4
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I'm just going to throw it out there and say I don't agree with all of this.
I have seen many/most lower hour guys clearly outshine their older/higher hour counterparts in modern jet aircraft. The older guys find it much harder to adapt to the multi crew flight deck environment the high level of computerisation found on modern aircraft. Please don't take this that experience isn't important and doesn't count for anything, however for everyone to say a low hour pilot who passes (or sometimes passes with very high marks) on type rating courses or ATPL courses etc isn't equally qualified and able to deal with sh*t hitting the fan. I have yet heard why an outback c210 driver with 1500 hours is any better than a cadet pilot who has learnt in a multi crew environment from scratch. Please enlighten me on what they bring to the table compared to the 200 hour guy. The military stuff is different all together. Flame suit ON! |
#5
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Oh dear.
What they bring? A 1500hr C210 driver brings "some" experience. The sort of stuff like having to think on their feet when ***** hits the fan, and they have no one else sitting beside them to encourage them for a safe outcome. I could prattle on for yonks about this sort of stuff. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bagging cadets. But in my opinion (only) I think they have a place in a jetliner...in the 3rd seat I'm afraid. Until they are exposed to all sorts. Trust me, I've flown with plenty of guys/girls, young and old with thousands of hours experience, and they sometimes struggle with the machine. Hence my hesitation on 200hr newbies. |
#6
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At the moment, I'm going to have to say I agree with both Radi and Chris. As Radi mentioned, computerisation in the flight deck environment would probably favour the younger tech-savvy breed of aviators as opposed to the older more experienced ones. Generally speaking, it is difficult for "older folks" to adapt to the rapidly changing scene of technology. An example would be my dad still not getting his head around how to send an SMS text message on a mobile For him, a phone in the traditional sense is for talking, whereby email and letters/fax is meant for sending text messages. However, Chris you do have a good point. My thinking is that if you have considerable experience as PIC in single-pilot operations, you're ability to make judgments and manage an abnormal situation would be to a higher standard than if you were trained in a multi-crew role. I.e, it is always easier to handle a difficult situation in a team environment as opposed to dealing with it alone. So if you are already able to deal with situations considerably well on your own, placed in a team environment (multi-role cockpit), with a little training, you should theoretically be able to deal with demanding situations to a far higher standard. But of course, this assumes that someone used to individual operations is able to easily and effectively work in as a team with another pilot (e.g. a Captain). On a separate note though, I hope we all agree that the flying public feel safer knowing the pilots have thousands of hours of experience as opposed to a couple hundred. I get this regularly from my uni friends and family who find it hard to comprehend how one in NSW requires 120hours driving experience to be considered competent yet can fly solo (approx 15hrs) or carry passengers (GFPT approx 40hrs). Edit: Just thought of a good example to clearly explain what I mean by my last statement. Just think to yourself, as a patient, would you rather have an relatively inexperienced medical intern insert a catheter intravenous drip into your arm or a doctor with many years experience? Note: In reality, most interns who offer their patients the choice in order to gain experience get rejected by the patient in favour of the experience doctor. This is a common dilemma we face in med school each day.
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PPL and flying member at Schofields Flying Club Last edited by Russell D; 24th November 2010 at 11:22 AM. Reason: additional info added |
#7
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I am currently undergoing training to fly state of the art King Air's with modern full glass cockpits. Yet the pilot teaching me is around 60 and the training is some of if not the best training I have ever received. So to say that because they are not young they aren't "tech savvy" in a modern EFIS cockpit, is a load of rubbish. I enjoyed this article, because for once the true side of the story is being told. I don't care if it throws a bit of fear into the general public, the truth hurts doesn't it.... Bring on the Senate inquiry. Mick |
#8
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However, I am not sure I agree with instilling fear into the general public though. I mean, sure it can inspire the public to vocalise their concerns and bring about adequate change (as which the Senate inquiry aims to achieve, although I doubt like most inquiries many/if any of its recommendations will be adhered to). But it can also flip the other way and discourage people from flying some of the smaller charter carriers such as REX, Skywest, Brindabella, etc. It is one thing to inform the public, and yet another thing altogether to scare them. I only hope that Nick Xenophon can put some action to where his mouth is and actually do something. At the moment, he seems to be a bit of a "jack of all trades but master of none" to use the cliche. Oh and by the way, all the best with the B200 training. I hear there are a heap of vacancies for medical practitioners in the RFDS at the moment. Problem is, noone seems to want to fill them, and of those that do, we can't get the med training fast enough. Cheers
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PPL and flying member at Schofields Flying Club |
#9
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just in relation to safety, this poor lad lost his job for having the courage to speak out.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1225961138572 |
#10
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Yes, just read the article this morning. He was sacked whilst flying back from the disciplinary meeting and was told by his colleagues as his termination letter was 'in the mail' but Jetstar sent an e-mail to all employees! Gutless!
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