“Most of the new young airline pilots don’t have anywhere near the training and experience that you and I received from our military flying. It’s friggin scary when I have to get on a commuter plane and look at the young kids who are the pilots. I just thank God that I’m a Christian and say a quick prayer.”
Hah. . .I agree with you 100%.
Young and inexperienced, non-former military pilots are at a disadvantage when it comes to experience-per-hour when compared to military flyers.
Now you got me going. . . .
I was a FAIP (first assignment instructor pilot), meaning my first assignment out of pilot training was to be a basic jet instructor pilot (T-37).
While the assignment was not one most pilots would fight for, there were many enjoyable moments while instructing in the T-37. However, as you know being a formed IP, there were times when flying the T-37 was an eternity of listening to a student over the intercom as he became actively sick (tossing his cookies). This was expected, after all, because the student found himself in an environment he’s not used to, stressed, sitting in a hot cockpit where the air conditioner hardly functioned and his body was moving about three axis at the same time, all the while sucking air through a hose that smelled like kerosene. Getting airsick was simply going to happen.
At any rate, after serving as a UPT IP, I grew up and, like you, “trip-turning” every day, you end up a crusty experienced pilot after 3-yrs. . .far more experienced than a 3-yr civilian pilot.
Anyway, I guess we old guys like us need to get used to inexperienced, young wonder boys that did nothing but go from private pilot to a commercial-instrument rating without any real experience and are building hours for an ATP, dreaming of joining the majors someday.
Cheers.
T-37, the “flying dog whistle” At least the T-2 was pressurized. But I hated summers in Meridian. Wearing all the jet gear, flight suit, g-suit, survival vest, helmet, gloves and boots out to the airplane that was baking in 95 degrees and all of the jet engine exhaust blowing more hot air on you. Along with smoking, drinking a gallon of coffee every day, and heavy drinking on the weekends, it’s amazing that we didn’t have more heat strokes. But, all in all it was my most satisfying tour. Produced a lot of good pilots for the Navy/Marine Corps.