BFB
et al ,
Yes, I think it's great. OK, the flight deck is cramped (owing to the Company's insistence on filling it with unnecessary (minute by minute) manuals, etc.) and it's never going to be as smooth and quiet as a jet.
However, once you start operating it more like an A320 and less like an HS748, it's easy and rewarding to fly. People, and there are many, who say it can't be landed well actually mean
they can't land it well. Just like a 'bus, know and understand the automatics and it's a breeze.
Commercially, especially in these days of astronomical fuel prices, it's a complete no-brainer. Bombardier will be pushing them out at the rate of one every 9 days days next year to keep up with demand. Admitted, it's got some technical quirks to be addressed and the engines are bit of a disappointment (not least to Pratt and Whitney, I imagine) but that's often true of new-ish types, isn't it? BTW - be under no illusion, it is a new type and emphatically not just a big Dash 300. In fact it bears little relation to it operationally and that's the crux of complaints, really: you can't operate it like a conventional turbo-prop, either from the handling point of view or in SOPs and other procedures. A lot of the unnecessary complication in operation has arisen from the need to standardise a mixed fleet, I believe. Now that the 300 has gone, this can be addressed.
Anyone who recognises my 'handle' knows that I have never sucked up to anyone in my life, but I think the Q-400 is a triffic aeroplane with a bright future and I very much enjoy flying it. Sorry!
BTW, Thunor, to get (briefly!) back to the subject: You really will have to make a deliberate effort to fail the interview, provided you are basically hygenic and your CV isn't a work of fiction! You should expect more of a chat and less of a grilling. E. D is the only pilot (I think) who routinely interviews, so is the only one likely to test you at all professionally. He's a nice guy, though, and if you're there, they want to give you the job, not stop you getting it. D. D is the personnel manager and conducts interviews, but would be hard-put to grill a cheese sandwich, frankly! The other usual interviewer is Jo Soper, who manages the Flight Ops Admin department and is a complete pussy-cat, despite a fairly intimidating presence on first meeting! Honestly, if they're 'interviewing' you, it's with a view to giving you a job - and an early start date (be prepared to be taken by surprise on that). We are very short of commanders anyway and there were 17 (mixed) resignations in September, with more expected. Once again: good luck.
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You haven't seen me, right?!