Strange really, never thought that the flying tractor was much of an airplane anyway but then, that's speaking from vast ignorance and prejudice. It's probably far too speedy for the likes of this old cat.
Mind you though, in the days of JW himself, the company always seemed to have an over inflated idea as to the vicarious attraction of the royal wellyplane for pilots. If you wanted to fly the 146 you had to base in Belfast for ever. Nothing wrong with that in theory except that shortly after this the company decided to ban jump seat positioning for crews. That's all changed too now of course.
Has anyone any inkling as to whether Flybe take on ancient, out of practice, non type rated skippers on the turbo fleet? It might provide an excellent training ground for new FOs, always having to exercise diplomacy in reminding the recruit into Alzheimer's of that which he has so recently forgotten. Their learning curve could be sharp, damned sharp, save the day by a close run thing, to paraphrase Wellington. Having asked that, where would one go to brush up for Flybe's particular simulator check, were that eventuality ever to arise? Perhaps a pm might be necessary for that, if someone would please be so kind, it don't do to be seen to be touting for business!
Cheerio and good luck and, by the way, Flybe sound just like any other UK regional turbo/baby jet operator. Mind you though, there was one such airline of one's close experience where the operations manager used to rewrite the voyage reports, excising any mention of discretion or whatever else might raise an eyebrow at the CAA - or so it was rumoured, at any rate.
