FlyBoyIke:
It has been about three years ago, and I have no idea who the poor guy was. The IP's background was supposedly with Delta. All he said was that the guy had trouble with instrument flying, or maybe he meant performing them in a much faster plane, the guys first jet.
I can easily sympathize, knowing that it is the first FMC c0ckpit for many, rigid standardization for some, and many new types of procedures and demanding, hectic airport environments. Remember, these planes have replaced most DC-9s, F-100s and 737s, even many 727 city pairs. The twin-engine jets went everywhere east of the Rockie Mountains (MIA, HOU, STL, IAH, ATL, MKE, ORD, MDW, BOS, LGA, JFK, DCA...even MSO and
Bozeman). Now, many new FOs flying to these same cities, and many more, have maybe 500 hours total, instead of the 3,000-5,000 which all of us had, with a few exceptions for those who flew F-4s etc. Considering all the extra work (despite fewer legs many days) compared to a BE-1900, SD-360 or SF-340, how about the right-seat pay, counting inflation?
Recruiting pilots with much more than 300 hours for one of our primary regional affiliates is very difficult because the company pays nothing until one flies the CRJ on the line for about two weeks-but they don't pay any expenses during training, no per diem, unless changes have taken place.
Corporate greed at its finest.
Read about the Mesaba's pilots' terrible situation last year. Pilots qualifying for food stamps were asked to pay for a chunk of their medical/dental insurance and also take a pay cut!
It must be bad enough paying the many deductibles even when the company makes payments for the policies...don't at least some have a wife or a little kid with a medical condition?