Recurrent training

[Kyle David]

Hello greetings to my fellow crew members I hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday evening. I'm here because I recently thought about a new idea for our va. What if we decided to have recurrent training for each pilot such as requiring a checkride with the aircraft in our ranks every 6 months with holding procedures, engine outs etc. Also require everyone to do it before submitting te next FREQ. It does sound like alot of work and planning but I think it will benefit all of the pilots here and we would appear even more standardized compared to other vas.
Any suggestions? Comments?
Kyle

[Michael Blakely]

Excellent suggestion and a lot of fun. All we need to do if re-fill our checkpilot ranks so we can process the check rides. See this post: http://www.aavirtual.com/forum/viewtopi ... 21&t=18004

[Pete Murray]

Good evening,
I'm on board with Wayne, making it .04. Seems as though new(er) pilots have difficulty with the upgrade checkrides. Anyone consult the RW FAA/airline regulations? I too, have a RW job and house to take care of alone.
On the other hand, it's a novel idea, especially for an individual coming back from suspension or long term LOA. We could debate/vote on what long term is. I do not like the idea of holding FREPs back because of a checkride, I don't think that's how traditional companies operate. Would the training department/management be willing to absorb all the extra folks filling in squares?
I did read Wayne's email about checkrides evaluators, I might be interested. How does it work? Is it online? I think voluntary checkrides would be an extra tool for those newer folks who are struggling with navigation, landings, procedures or even those who are roughing the promotional checkrides into the heavies. Kinda like, hey, you wanna check my work before I turn in this term paper...
I say, check the RW regs, Jeff Jett is a RW pilot. He might have some input on this, then let's think about it.

AAV 786
Pete Murray

[Theodore Martin]

I think it is a good idea but I would not hold a person's FREQ awaiting a re-certification. I know when I was coming up through the ranks sometimes it would be a month or so before I could spend any time working a checkride. I think a yearly (instead of every six months) re-certification would be a great idea.

[Wayne Pierce]

Kyle, we in the training department have talked at lengths about this type of subject. Not "recertification" per se, but addon certificates.
I cannot see taking a recert checkride in the times you suggested. That would logistically be tough with our resources. A voluntary yearly recert to maintain your rating may be the way to go.

Those of our pilots whom just fly only FMC, GPS routings miss out on all the benefits of using the FS program to the fullest. I mean not using the NAV radios, or compass, etc..

We were looking into "certifying" different aspects of flight with different aircraft. This would not be related to the RETRO checkride. We have nothing specific, it was just discussion.

The idea behind our graduated checkrides is to get each one of us to utilize the real world procedures and hopefully use them each time we "fly". They get more invovled each time one takes a checkride.

As the ATR is phased out from the AAL real world, things need to start changing in the way we do business. So if one is interested, seriously, to take more certifications checkrides, something could be done.

Of course as always if one brings up an idea, they have to fall in line to help out.

Thanks.

[Eliezer Resto]

Hello im a RW captain with american eagle in atr-72 and yes we have to go to the academy every 6months one is recurent flight training and the other 6 months is a checkride. Its a good idea but for new guys and once in a while for seniors. In real world the FO goes every year of checkride and the other year recurent flight training that includes all manuvers approaches and emergency procedures. Any questions you can ask me.will cyaaaa!!!

[Rey Ramon]

Although the idea is not a bad one, I agree with Wayne P. I feel our resources are stretched as is, and we are in need oh more checkride pilots with our current load. Adding more required checkrides would only serve to make the fun out of this hobby for our current pilots. Perhaps a yearly optional checkride would be more appropriate...or yearly for lower ranks, and every other year for higher ranks.

[Pete Murray]

See??? I knew we could get some real great feedback on this issue!!! Keep 'em coming, some of our fellows may not know or are beginning to digest this. Great to hear from the training dept (Wayne) on this, yeah, it would definitely put a strain on you. Think of dozens, if not, hundreds of pilots waiting for a pass/fail to continue flying, me included. Flight hours (are you listening HMs?) would drop off due to "academic suspension". (Think of Animal House and "double secret probation") Ha ha j/k
Early on, seems like optional checkride is ok with some. How about folks on LOA/real world military obligations? Should they wait to get back in the left/right seat? I prefer to stay flying offline (I like my FS traffic setup as I have it flying around with Deltas/Citrus/Cactus/Chautauquas landing and departing), would the evals be online/offline, with FS9 or FSX?
Let's just keep status quo for now, although we might have to do something about new kids climbing into a Embraer for the 1st time. I can tell you there aren't many ERJ panels that are "simple" for starters. I started this hobby 15/20? (FS5, yeah I remember those days) years ago in props, learned the cockpit VOR/NDB approaches, and eventually got the hunger to start B-1900s and the King Air. Eventually transitioned to the Lear Jet (oh lord, that 1st takeoff wahooooooooo!! ). Had to put some time in there before tackling the default 737, lots of touch no gos at various airports.
Sigh....enough for now.

AAV786
Pete Murray

[Kyle David]

Hello all. Thank you for the input it was very interesting to hear each opinion.
Kyle

[Arturo Carvajal]

Yearly mandatory checkride!!! as is in comercial pilots licence.
Checkrides are fun and challenge. Why not ?
Happy flights
Arturo Carvajal

[Wayne Pierce]

I'm not a big fan of mandatory checkrides. Even our promotion of rank or endorsement checkrides aren't mandatory. After a few years simming, I am still enjoying my hobby completely.

Xactly ! This is a hobby and a fun one at that. There are only two mandatory items in the AAV; 1.The acceptance checkride for hiring. 2. The file one FREP each 30 day ruling, which one knows before they step in the door, but , but it seems many pilots are not adhereing to. And yes I know real world items do get in the way.

No one says that one has to move up in the ratings. If you do not though, you cannot fly, for the AAV, any larger aircraft than the present rank allows, except for GFI's and Theme flights.

If one wants to stay at the trainee rate, so be it. DFWT was brought about in the hopes it would generate some greater interest in moving up in the ranks while learning about the ways and means of the AAV. There are several pilots still on the roster whom are trainees, and seem quite content to be there, and they don't have to move. I always suggest they move on out of the training HUB, but...

In my reply to the original post, I did say that any recert items would be voluntary. Again nothing has been planned,just talked about amongst a few of us.

I like this thread. It has some good potential for action.

Thanks

[Michael Blakely]

Something like for the year you hold the recurrency, you get a 25% time bonus to your FREPs or something.

Oooo! A carrot instead of a stick. Nice idea.

[Todd Meek]

I've been reading this thread and kind of seeing where it's going before I threw in my opinion. I actually think that a yearly checkride to refresh or critique a pilots performance is a good idea. I think 6 months is a bit much. I would have to say that Wayne is going to need some help though with this requirement as alot more checkrides will need examined. Now from a Hub Manager standpoint is there going to be a tool generated to keep track when a pilot is due for his yearly or is the Hub Manager going to be responsible for keeping track of all his pilots yearly exams? Doesn't really matter to me just curious if we do decide to take up this idea.