First flight of the P-8A Poseidon and all things related to transition

[e6bflyer]

I had a mediocre flight time JO tour due to aircraft availability. I left with about 1200 TT and about 500 PIC. A VT tour is what you make of it. I got about 1100 hours there, others do MUCH better to the tune of 2000 hours or more. It is certainly doable to get SWA minimums in two tours. You can even get FedEx mins if you fly something multiengine in your second tour.
With the predicted upswing in airline hiring, I see a mass rush for the door coming in the next few years. Deployments are long, and life outside is certainly starting to look much better. Take a look at the number of predicted pilot retirements in each airline in the next 5 years. It is pretty telling.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Not all airlines require 1000 turbine PIC. In fact, I think the majority do not.

Also, the flight time duty time regs change in December 2013 is going to cause a hell of a lot of new hiring.

 

[Recovering LSO]

Having flown both single piloted (pre-Navy), and only flying dual piloted (save T-34/T-45 solos/ferrys) in the Navy, I personally do get miffed at the hours thing.. Not so much against the jet guys. It is how it is. It's more how a guy who flew a fuck-ton in a 172 as a CFI can apply and I can't.. Have the total, not the PIC, even neglecting my helo time. (My helo PIC time is about as useful as time playing MS Flight Sim for most flying jobs).

So in hindsight, would you have done better to have stayed in one community and building more hours vice splitting between two communities - both of which have the cursed 2P position?

 

[Recovering LSO]

Also, the flight time duty time regs change in December 2013 is going to cause a hell of a lot of new hiring.

This is NOT a loaded question - rather a legit query of your pro opinion: what do you think the Dec 13 changes will do to overall professionalism and safety?

 

[Harrier Dude]

Not all airlines require 1000 turbine PIC. In fact, I think the majority do not.

Also, the flight time duty time regs change in December 2013 is going to cause a hell of a lot of new hiring.

I am SOOOOOOOO sick of hearing about the impending hiring boom. I have everything that I need (hours, type ratings, quals), clean record, lots of references at most of the majors, and have heard exactly jack shit.

The process sucks.

Enough whining. I'm just frustrated with the process.

 

[MasterBates]

No, the E-2 hours are much better for most any job I'd be applying for on the outside, excepting PHI or other helo gigs. Truth be told, I've flown a helo about 4 times in the last 6 years, so currency is a huge issue there for me as well. I'm an "Adjunct Pilot" with the corporate flight department where I work now. I maintain currency, and get called if there is a need, someone cancels due to sickness, etc, but I'm not getting airline mins anytime soon either.

If the forecast state of promotions was the current deal when I transitioned, I may have just taken VT orders and bagged as much time as possible. But when I transitioned, I was still in the hunt for promotion and DH was not out of reach (VAW/VRC is real "light" on pilots in my YG for a couple CNATRA related reasons).

Hindsight is 20/20, but there is always the element of chance. I went VAW vs VRC based on an ID card pulled out of a ballcap. VRC has been more "transition friendly" just based off who I see getting promoted/DH screened.

But yes, the airlines valuing Bug/SupaBug/Shocker/Family Wagon time and the way it is logged over Warpig/E6/Hummah/COD time does cause some headscratching. Not that it's harder, or easier, but I'd say in handling and such, the non tacair FW is more representative of the way airliners can fly and the corners you can back yourself into through lack of experience and/or skill.

 

[Recovering LSO]

But yes, the airlines valuing Bug/SupaBug/Shocker/Family Wagon time and the way it is logged over Warpig/E6/Hummah/COD time does cause some headscratching. Not that it's harder, or easier, but I'd say in handling and such, the non tacair FW is more representative of the way airliners can fly and the corners you can back yourself into through lack of experience and/or skill.

If I didn't already know that it was time for me to pitch out of this thread - now I'm certain.

 

[JackyB]

Hal is correct!
Did a quick search and some want 500 others want a 1000 Turbine Time.

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

120831-N-AW702-003 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Aug. 31, 2012) Lt. Stephen Bruner and Lt. Cmdr. John Currie man the flight simulator at the Naval AIr Station Jacksonville P-8A Integrated Training Center. Flight crew and mission specialists are assigned to the Naval Air Station Jacksonville P-8A Integrated Training Center where they undertake classroom instruction as well as full-motion, simulated exercises that present the highest degree of realism. The Navy's replacement platform for the P-3C, the P-8A Poseidon, is designed to secure the Navy's future in long-range maritime patrol capability, while transforming how the Navy's maritime patrol and reconnaissance force will man, train, operate and deploy. The P-8A provides more combat capability from a smaller force and less infrastructure while focusing on worldwide responsiveness and interoperability with traditional manned forces and evolving unmanned sensors. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Salt Cebe/Released)

 

[xj220]

That's a sim? Those graphics look really good.

 

[jollygreen07]

^ yawn. We've been doing that shit for years. They took away a good-deal 737 in flight trainer and replaced it with an "equivalent" level D sim for us to do some of our bouncing and approach work in. The RAG also does a good deal of their training in it. It sucks. It is good for procedural training, but for flying... Not so much. The scariest thing you can do in this jet is land in a high crosswind. When all the practice you get is in a simulator it does the pilot an injustice.

 

[HAL Pilot]

This is NOT a loaded question - rather a legit query of your pro opinion: what do you think the Dec 13 changes will do to overall professionalism and safety?

Safety - increase it. Rest on international flights and red eyes is a real issue.

Professionalism - at the majors no change. We won't be lowering hiring minimums or criteria just more people (like Harrier Dude...) will be getting the call. What is going to affect professionalism more is when the regionals have to start hiring only pilots with ATPs. And it will be for the better.

Not that it's harder, or easier, but I'd say in handling and such, the non tacair FW is more representative of the way airliners can fly and the corners you can back yourself into through lack of experience and/or skill.

An MB is right. Guys that fly the P-3s, E-6Bs, C-130s, Air Force heavies, etc. are better prepared for airline type flying. However luckily for the pointy nose guys, the initial application screening is done by HR types who are basically number crunchers. Only when a resume gets past HR do pilots ehn get to try and put a "quality value" on the hours. And there are many former pointy nose pilots thinking they are better than everyone else reviewing resumes .

 

[scoolbubba]

^ yawn. We've been doing that shit for years. They took away a good-deal 737 in flight trainer and replaced it with an "equivalent" level D sim for us to do some of our bouncing and approach work in. The RAG also does a good deal of their training in it. It sucks. It is good for procedural training, but for flying... Not so much. The scariest thing you can do in this jet is land in a high crosswind. When all the practice you get is in a simulator it does the pilot an injustice.

Everyone who's flown the P-8 sim and plane vouches for the realism of the sim. Most of the pilot training will be accomplished in the sim.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Safety - increase it. Rest on international flights and red eyes is a real issue.

Professionalism - at the majors no change. We won't be lowering hiring minimums or criteria just more people (like Harrier Dude...) will be getting the call. What is going to affect professionalism more is when the regionals have to start hiring only pilots with ATPs. And it will be for the better.


An MB is right. Guys that fly the P-3s, E-6Bs, C-130s, Air Force heavies, etc. are better prepared for airline type flying. However luckily for the pointy nose guys, the initial application screening is done by HR types who are basically number crunchers. Only when a resume gets past HR do pilots ehn get to try and put a "quality value" on the hours. And there are many former pointy nose pilots thinking they are better than everyone else reviewing resumes .

I hope you're right.

As a pointy nose guy who now has a thousand or so multi-turboprop hours as well, I can see the benefit of both backgrounds.

I feel much better prepared for The Show after flying the mighty Huron for awhile. It definitely helped me on my type rating stuff.

 

[jollygreen07]

Everyone who's flown the P-8 sim and plane vouches for the realism of the sim. Most of the pilot training will be accomplished in the sim.

I'm glad to hear that. Compared to the 707 the 73 handles like a sports car (or so I've been told) also, there's a huge commercial market for 737 sims. I can't imagine the same being true for an airframe that is only used for pax service by one airline in Iran. The sim just doesn't get it quite right, and it's very noticeable.