Flight Training - March/April 2020 - 49

FINALLY!
tive. Back when hiring was competitive,
granting multiple extra simulator
sessions was a luxury, as many airlines
simply washed you out and picked
another candidate.
A longtime captain at the same
regional airline explained that pilot retention is a problem. In flying with new-hire
first officers, he has heard many of them
relate tales of students failing because of
poor study habits, lack of preparedness,
and the expectation to be spoon-fed
through training. While the competition
for jobs is not nearly as fierce as it was,
pilots can't expect to skate through training without a lot of work.
A new hire at a cargo carrier related
stories of his recent training. Having previous experience as a captain at a regional

ownership company. While he acknowledged there were more difficulties
finding quality candidates these days,
he says his company has adapted.
"There definitely isn't a crisis," he said.
Simulator evaluations are now required
to help filter out those who may look
good on paper but later prove to be
subpar pilots. As expensive as simulator training is, it's key to weed out the
problem pilots before that phase of
training, if possible.
Our source said companies also have
to be savvy in sourcing pilots, which
requires keeping tabs on the goings-on
in the entire aviation industry. Airlines
that fail or furlough pilots are always
good sources. He also explained that
rotary-wing pilots have been good,

"I CAN HONESTLY SAY THE TRANSITION WAS HARDER
THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE," SAID A NEW
HIRE AT A REGIONAL AIRLINE WHOSE BACKGROUND
WAS STRICTLY PART 61 GENERAL AVIATION FLYING.
from the mid-1990s to mid-2000s, he
knew what to expect and did well in
training for his heavy Boeing. Others?
Not so much. "My sim partner failed and
dropped out. He was a longtime Army
rotary and fixed-wing pilot and had great
difficulties interacting with a PC and
iPad," he said. VNAV, the flight management computer (FMC), autopilot, and
Jeppesen charts were all ganging up on
the student. "He struggled through the
oral, which ended up lasting 4.5 hours."
He failed the procedures check by missing callouts and checklist responses. After
remedial training, he was passed on to
flight training device training where troubles continued but again, was allowed to
progress to simulator training. Following
more problems with FMC and automation use, the pilot was given several more
simulator sessions but, ultimately, could
not overcome the hurdles and resigned.
"[My airline] was very, very gracious in
giving him additional training. They went
above and beyond."
Finally, we spoke to a member of
the training department at a fractional

reliable candidates for his company
recently. The biggest wild card were
pilots from a Part 91/135 background
where, he explained, "you just don't
know what you're getting."
What are some recipes for success?
Good study habits and discipline are key.
Airline training and type-specific training should be likened to an accelerated
doctorate program. The study is intense
and requires minimal distractions. If
financially feasible, holing yourself up
in a hotel room and shutting out distractions will go a long way in helping.
Search YouTube and other websites for
training videos and other information
about the type of airplane you will fly.
Showing up green is not recommended
unless you're a quick study as well as an
excellent pilot. Once paired up with a
simulator partner, "chair fly" the flows,
maneuver profiles, and callouts. It
sounds silly but it works. FT
PETER A. BEDELL is a pilot for a major airline

and co-owner of a Cessna 172 and Beechcraft
Baron.
AOPA.ORG/FT 49

A CARD
FOR PILOTS.

Cash Back1 Select
AOPA Partners
CASH BACK1 APPLIED AS STATEMENT CREDIT.

Switch today to the
new AOPA credit card,
and stop paying too
much on your
aviation purchases.

Visit

AOPA.org/creditcard
to learn more

*Certain points and purchases restrictions apply, see full Rewards
Terms and Conditions for full details at AOPA.org/creditcard.
1 Rewards points can be redeemed for Cash Back or other items provided through AOPA Pilot Rewards. A Cash Back redemption is applied
as a statement credit. The statement credit will reduce your balance
but you are still required to make at least your minimum payment. A
minimum of 2,500 points is needed to redeem for Cash Back. Values
for non-cash back redemption items such as merchandise, gift cards,
and travel may vary.

http://www.AOPA.org/creditcard http://www.AOPA.org/creditcard http://www.AOPA.ORG/FT

Flight Training - March/April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - March/April 2020