Comments on: Continental/Colgan Air connection air disaster questions http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/continentalcolgan-air-connection-air-disaster-questions/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The man who notices things http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/continentalcolgan-air-connection-air-disaster-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-12185 The man who notices things Fri, 15 May 2009 18:35:08 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=14082#comment-12185 @retired CAL - who says grey hair means flying experience? you could have some guy whose is 45 take a golden parachute, go to a pilot mill, and get hired on as a FO with 750 hours total time. Grey hair does not mean either competence or experience at a Regional carrier. . . . and who would I rather have as a pilot? A kid who has loved aviation since he was 10, got his license at 17, all his ratings at as low as # hours as they can get them [which indicates GREAT competence and that he's a good stick] or some hack who has 500 hours more because they can't pass the tests? That is a good questions and quality beats quantity any day. @retired CAL – who says grey hair means flying experience? you could have some guy whose is 45 take a golden parachute, go to a pilot mill, and get hired on as a FO with 750 hours total time. Grey hair does not mean either competence or experience at a Regional carrier. . . . and who would I rather have as a pilot? A kid who has loved aviation since he was 10, got his license at 17, all his ratings at as low as # hours as they can get them [which indicates GREAT competence and that he's a good stick] or some hack who has 500 hours more because they can’t pass the tests? That is a good questions and quality beats quantity any day.

]]> By: retired CAL pilot's wife http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/continentalcolgan-air-connection-air-disaster-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-12158 retired CAL pilot's wife Thu, 14 May 2009 17:34:27 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=14082#comment-12158 My boss never understood why I do not want to fly regionals unless I have no choice. Now maybe she does. Young pilots have to get experience somewhere, but the poor pay, working conditions and lack of experience are worrisome, My husband flew for regionals a few times when he was furloughed from larger mainlines. He was the second officer to Captain kids with 1/10th his experience (decorated Viet Nam era pilot)-a few times he just refused to fly when he knew the 'kid' was making an error of judgement r/t weather or a mechanical. My spouse was chastised, of course (never ever ever behave like that to "The Captain!) and the company was pissed - but love of my life was right.... and every one on planes he flew are still alive. I am always happy when the pilots (male or female) and the Flight attendants (male or female) have a little grey hair and some wrinkles-they have been there and back and know how to be cautious. The airlines need to find better ways of pairing pilots so that the 'kids' get to fly with the oldsters for long while-and training and pay for regionals needs to be equal to the mainlines. My boss never understood why I do not want to fly regionals unless I have no choice. Now maybe she does. Young pilots have to get experience somewhere, but the poor pay, working conditions and lack of experience are worrisome, My husband flew for regionals a few times when he was furloughed from larger mainlines. He was the second officer to Captain kids with 1/10th his experience (decorated Viet Nam era pilot)-a few times he just refused to fly when he knew the ‘kid’ was making an error of judgement r/t weather or a mechanical. My spouse was chastised, of course (never ever ever behave like that to “The Captain!) and the company was pissed – but love of my life was right…. and every one on planes he flew are still alive.

I am always happy when the pilots (male or female) and the Flight attendants (male or female) have a little grey hair and some wrinkles-they have been there and back and know how to be cautious. The airlines need to find better ways of pairing pilots so that the ‘kids’ get to fly with the oldsters for long while-and training and pay for regionals needs to be equal to the mainlines.

]]> By: SirWired http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/continentalcolgan-air-connection-air-disaster-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-12152 SirWired Thu, 14 May 2009 16:27:03 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=14082#comment-12152 Just to point out... even if the regional subsidiaries were to disappear tomorrow, and the mainline corporations took possession of and responsibility for those aircraft, precious little would change. The pay scales might go higher, but those pilots won't be any more experienced. Everybody has to start somewhere, so there will always be new ATP's plying the airways. Just to point out… even if the regional subsidiaries were to disappear tomorrow, and the mainline corporations took possession of and responsibility for those aircraft, precious little would change. The pay scales might go higher, but those pilots won’t be any more experienced. Everybody has to start somewhere, so there will always be new ATP’s plying the airways.

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