SO's to get P1 rating?
I hear tell that SO’s are about to be given P1 ratings – first rumour.
I was then told that this was in fact true. However, it won’t be a P1 rating it will be a P1x rating – second rumour.
So CX decides that 3 man ULH is a good thing. However, someone, somewhere along the line says “yes good, but all pilots must be rated, not this made up rating you invented”. So CX says, fine we will get the SO’s rated, but that will cost a lot of money in regard to base training (I seem to recall the necessity to do 6 T/O and LDGs in the aircraft).
Better idea, lets invent another rating a P1x rating. This will require the SO’s to stay current (3 T/O and LDGs per 3 months), in the simulator. However it will not require the costly exercise of actually landing the bit of aluminium.
Is this truly in the “spirit” of having rate guys on what the Authorities and other Airlines regard as an arduous pattern? Or is it simply another example of our beloved company working for the shareholders rather than the safety of the travelling public?