All
← Back to Squawk list
Rusty pilots admit they are making mistakes because of a lack of flying time
Airline pilots are making mistakes because they have become rusty because of the lack of flying time during the coronavirus pandemic. Dozens of pilots have told NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System that they have made errors since getting back into the cockpit. On one occasion a pilot forgot to disengage the parking brake when pulling away from the gate. (www.yahoo.com) More...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
There is a reason for the 2 pilot requirement (sometimes, rarely, even 3).
And here is me thinking that all pilots had to have regular refreshers on simulators in order to keep their licences. That's why Ansett had a simulator for each type of aircraft they flew, and pilots had to keep up to date on them to keep flying.
The airlines are in a very difficult situation. When they cut back flying and retire fleet types it creates a domino affect that has a major impact on their pilots. When an airline decides to retire say all of their 767s and 757s, all the pilots that flew those aircraft need to bid and train on another fleet type. When an early retirement package is offered sometimes hundreds of senior pilots take it, opening seats on wide bodies that fly internationally. So a senior 737 captain might bid to a 777 and start flying to India instead of Indiana. It’s pretty common on international trips for the Captain to make only 1 or 2 landings per trip. With cut backs in flying they may only get one trip a month and to remain current they only need to make 3 landings every 90 days. Cut backs have a snowballing affect that involves every fleet type and every seat. I think its a tribute to the pilots,of all the airlines, that have kept the system as safe as it has been.
my son left the air force after flying as a flight engineer on KC-10 air flight refueling and C-140 for 24 years..I would fly with him any day at the controls ! I'm not criticising pilot's, but if that is your profession ? you need to be on top of your game everytime you enter that cockpit ! what scares me the most is younger pilots with a minimum of 1500 flying hours to fly ? Will miss all the seasoned pilots who are at their retirement age ! As a pilot said to me on a layover, "after 10 feet on take off, everyone is a passenger. " I just wanted to say...keep the skies safe and for all those who fly...
Every pilot who has 10,000+ hours flying professionally had 1500 hours at some point of their life. We all age out and that experience heads west at some point. Younger pilots, like younger drivers, will develop better stills though repetition and proper mentoring as they age. Maturity, or better the lack there of, is the bane of the youth. Always was, always will be. Thank senior pilots for their time and their mentoring. The youth will do just fine, they always do . Anyway, what's the option?
A pilot with 1500 hours at the controls has more piloting experience than a person with 24 years at at the panel.