Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Dick Trail: The state of aviation

You may have noticed in the media that the airlines may be experiencing a pilot shortage. Could be, and it was predictable.

Recently the FAA changed the rules to make the traveling public "safer." Never mind that travel by commercial air has been the safest mode of travel in the history of mankind. The rule change came partially from the investigation following the crash of a Colgan Airways airplane arriving into Cleveland. The loss of life was unfortunate and sad.

The Colgan pilot in command had a spotty record, having flunked several check rides. In each case, he received remedial training and was put back on the line. Union rules. The copilot, the airlines call them FO's for First Officer, was really inexperienced and was not assertive in making corrections to the captain.

The weather was bad with snow and accumulating airframe icing but was perfectly flyable for a good pilot crew.

It may be Monday-morning quarterbacking but In my experience as a KC-135 Tanker Squadron Commander, I would have managed my crews a little better.

I flew regularly with my flight crews and evaluated my crew members. I paired weak pilots with strong copilots.

Weak and or inexperienced copilots I paired with strong pilots to mentor them and get them up to my standards. Copilots that didn't improve went to non-flying jobs.


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