Low Time Interview

[phoenix 23684]

Ok to get back on the topic:

I interviewed with less than 400TT/100M and got the job. I think there is more than just the time in your logbook. How well you prepare for the interview and training. I studied a lot and yes did review the gouges, but that only helped me prepare more, you still need to show that you can fly an unfamiliar sim and demonstrate your abilities.
As for training, I studied even more because I knew I was at a disadvantage being a low timer. I learned as much as I could about the airplane and the procedures.
I'm very thankful someone gave me an opportunity and will work my best to show that people with our times can be safe airline pilots. I can say that I feel very confident on my abilities, so did my IOE captain since I finished in only 16 hrs or so and he was very confident that I would do well. I was told after the second day of IOE that I would have no problems and only needed to work on the little things. And yes I did hand fly approaches at 210 to the final fix in a busy class B airspace with a tropical storm and high crosswinds and managed to grease the landing
The bottom line if you really apply yourself it doesn't matter how many hours you have, listen to your instructors, learn, and have a positive attitude. You know what you can handle and don't listen to anyone tell you you have no business in the airlines. The total person not the number of hours is what's important.

P.s. For those skygods high time fellows: This is the reality of the industry instead on bashing us, how about a friendly hand to help us success since we are all in this together, we know you have more experience.

[DE727UPS]

"P.s. For those skygods high time fellows....."

"I finished in only 16 hrs or so and he was very confident that I would do well. I was told after the second day of IOE that I would have no problems and only needed to work on the little things. And yes I did hand fly approaches at 210 to the final fix in a busy class B airspace with a tropical storm and high crosswinds and managed to grease the landing"

Sounds like you think you're the skygod. Glad that's working out for you....

If I had to fly with you (which I don't, thanks goodness), I'd do my best to "help you along". Doesn't mean I have to believe you belong in the seat, though.

[zmiller4]

Originally Posted by phoenix 23684

I finished in only 16 hrs or so and he was very confident that I would do well. I was told after the second day of IOE that I would have no problems and only needed to work on the little things. And yes I did hand fly approaches at 210 to the final fix in a busy class B airspace with a tropical storm and high crosswinds and managed to grease the landing

Hmmm...a tropical storm, low-time FO....16hrs sounds a lot shorter than a normal IOE at Gulfstream International Airlines.

Seriously, I don't think any of the people on here who you think are "bashing" low-time FO's are really doing so. It's definitely not jealousy, either--there's been low-time options around for a while. For me, I just think back to when I had 300hrs and realize how little I knew then. You may think that you can fly the crap out of the airplane now, but with more experience (that you could have gained in ways other than sitting right seat in an airliner) you'll realize how little you know now.

"Sky God"? The airline pilots I know on here are still learning all the time, and are completely aware of it.

[jonnyb]

16hrs sounds a lot shorter than a normal IOE at Gulfstream International Airlines.

How'd you figure it out?

[phoenix 23684]

Ok ok,

Oops I wasn't trying to sound like I was bragging. Surely the more experience you gain the more you realize how little did you know back then. I was just trying to say that with hard effort I think us low timers can be safe and get through training.

[Airdale]

Attitude is everything.

[The Juice]

Originally Posted by nabd30

PS> I also think there is some bitterness on this site about low-timers, because a lot of guys were unfortunate enough to have finished their ratings around 9-11, and since THEY had 1200 hours when they were hired, they get a little pissed when they hear about guys getting hired with 350-500 hours.

I was in medical school for a while, and during my first year there were some huge changes going on in the medical community about residency training...for the last 100 years residents were expected to work 120 hours a week, not for any particular reason--just because all the older docs had to do it, so they expected the new guys to do it. It was a rite of passage similar to hazing at a frat. Finally someone realized there was no significant increase in competence resulting from working 120 as opposed to 80 hours per week, and they passed some regs prohibiting people from working that much.

It's not a precise comparison, but I think there is definitely a "rite of passage" component to the whole "you can't fly an RJ without instructing for 500 hours first" thing.

There is no subsitute for experience. A 750 hour pilot is more experiences than a 300 hour pilot, regardless if the fly STARS or DP's like you said. The problem with a 200-400 hour pilot is they do not yet know how much they do not know. Think back to when you just got your private and you wold bring friends and family up flying. Now ask yourself how much you did not know and how dangerous you were you had no idea of it at the time but now with retrospect your see this. Same goes for hours, when you have 1000 hours you will see how much you did not know as much as you thought at 250 hours. Same as to be said when you have 5000, 10,000...

Like i said..there is no subsitute for experience.

[cfii2007]

I agree..........

[FSIPILOT]

Originally Posted by phoenix 23684

I can say that I feel very confident on my abilities, so did my IOE captain since I finished in only 16 hrs or so and he was very confident that I would do well. I was told after the second day of IOE that I would have no problems and only needed to work on the little things. And yes I did hand fly approaches at 210 to the final fix in a busy class B airspace with a tropical storm and high crosswinds and managed to grease the landing

Its alarming to me that at less than 400tt, YOU felt confident after 16 hours of jet. Brother, you have no idea how much you don't know. Glad you figured out the most important things like greasing landings, next time your skipper lands firm... offer up some pointers.

[88MPH]

Originally Posted by FSIPILOT

Its alarming to me that at less than 400tt, YOU felt confident after 16 hours of jet. Brother, you have no idea how much you don't know. Glad you figured out the most important things like greasing landings, next time your skipper lands firm... offer up some pointers.

You sound like my dad griping to me about how much I didn't know about driving. While that may be true, it's more like .

Now, granted, I'm still low time and out of practice, but considering the attitudes of other professionals in other careers vs. pros in flying careers, most people seem to think that NO ONE should apply for ANY flying job unless you've CFI'd for x hours, or took a job where you fly by yourself (which doesn't promote CRM thats valued, so that's probably wasted too)

Not first hand, but otherwise I've now witnessed more than my share what it sounds like to be the proverbial "old crusty captain."

In an ideal world, the captains themselves would do the interviewing, and decide which/how many FOs to hire, regardless of industry-wide needs. Truth be told, the whole connection matrix would completely crumble from lack of pilots if the captains themselves only took those they felt had the necessary numbers in their book (and skills of course)

But that's not the case. This is a machine, just like every other industry. There must be a certain number of cogs to run it. Whether it be solidly cured cogs, or rusty aluminum cogs, at least it stays somewhat running. HR/managers do the hiring, for this cause only.

Sad, but true. SO ... while this pisses off many a captain that has to babysit these wonders, it's supply and demand. Yes, it sucks. Yes, it "should" be different. But you know what? It's not gonna be. At least not anytime soon.

My under-educated opinion, recall. Charge more/ticket, the customer WILL pay. Then use that pay to pay the recalled appropriately. It's idealistically simplistic, and practically impossible, for sure. But until that happens, all those that CFI'd might wanna consider reverting to those highly cherished CFI attitudes and actually open up to TEACH these FO's. That's what they bitch about others needing to do right? Yes, they SHOULD be up to speed by the time they hit the turbines, but they AREN'T. And there's nothing you can do about it, except maybe get off your high horse and practice what you preach.

Now ... I'm ready for the flames. Tell me how inexperienced I am ... how I have no place to tell Mr. Experience how to think/act. Tell me how I'm just a youngin' and should shut up and color.

[Crydix]

I don't believe the question was whether you agree with the pilots being brought into careers with only 250 hours can fly a plane as well as people with 2000 hours, but the fact of how it went (or how its going). What is the experience like, would you recommend jumping strait into a career over gaining experience?

Or other questions such as:

If you could do it again would you go in with more experience and have a better understanding?
Do you feel uncomfortable flying with such little hours in a jet/turbo prop. plane?