O'Connors to shut down?

[slice]

Haven't heard good things about the conduct of training recently.

The intent was to point out that most turboprop operators have to have 'damn good training programs' for new employees - only used transair as an example of one that did not (from the Lockhart report).

[Centaurus]

but the experience gained is second to none. Sh*t weather, no A/p, and

Not quite the sort of experience a sensible pilot would pray for..

[goodonyamate]

"Not quite the sort of experience a sensible pilot would pray for.."

Maybe not, but good experience nonetheless.

[landof4x]

Doing an approach at the blue lake with ovc at 200', a certain someone on the VHF saying "oh, i can hear you coming, yup, can see your lights, keep coming down, you'll get in, you're just popping out of it now"

Good experience?

[Bendo]

landof XXXX

That's what we in GA call "Character building"

[gramps]

The famous "O'Connor Visual Approach" followed shortly after by company approved low vis 2 R/W lights seen fog departure.

"Second to none training"

[Crankhandle]

TCAS

I'm also very impressed with their TCAS training, a miss is as good as a mile, "You didn't see me I didn't see you, so we must have missed."

[goodonyamate]

'Doing an approach at the blue lake with ovc at 200', a certain someone on the VHF saying "oh, i can hear you coming, yup, can see your lights, keep coming down, you'll get in, you're just popping out of it now"'

Landof4x, you must be joking right???? For one, the only approach that comes from the blue lake is the gnss, which O'Connors dont do. Secondly, no-one has ever said 'keep coming down, you'll get in'. Is that something you think you heard, or did a friend of a friend of a friend tell someone they heard that? What a load of crap. But hey, dont let the facts get in the way of your good story.

'The famous "O'Connor Visual Approach" followed shortly after by company approved low vis 2 R/W lights seen fog departure.'

Again, a load of crap. Im not even gonna bother, especially about the 'company approved bit'

I'm also very impressed with their TCAS training, a miss is as good as a mile, "You didn't see me I didn't see you, so we must have missed.

I assume you've seen and been subjected to the TCAS training have you? Or did you just make that up.

I can only assume some of you guys must work for the other operator. Before you start making sh*t up about some other people, have a look at your own problems first.

[Crankhandle]

TCAS

Goodonyamate, CASA weren't too impressed when they read the full report, and I don't work for them or the other operator. you don't know what happened but it did, only one of many.

[landof4x]

Goodonya - how's that nerve we hit going? Blue lake simply referred to the town, not the direction or type of approach.

Don't work for competition, whoever that is, I live a long, long way away now (in case my suggestive name was too subtle for you).

[Night Flight]

Tranining & Standards at O'Connor Airlines

Unlike, probably most who have posted here, I actually worked for O'Connor Airlines. I left because of reasons such as no rosters, poor pay and no upgrades.

One thing that I can not put down at O'Connor Airlines is their level of training and standards. Compared to other Turboprop operators I have worked at it is second to none! And they will not compromise... if you are not up to their (some would say over the top) high standard you will not get checked, even if they are desperate for pilots!

I have also NEVER been made to do anything thats not "by the book"... NEVER (and thats the Leather bound Jepessen book not the O'Connor Manual mentioned previously)!

NF

[slice]

Night flight - never been "smoked" then ?

[astroboy55]

Slice,
Be careful buddy. I have spent many many hours flying with the person whom you are refering, and any suggestion that this person is anything but by the book is complete rubbish. For me, one of the finest people I have ever flown with, someone I have nothing but total respect for.
With regards to the training standards, NF and goodonya are 100% correct. If you werent up to the standards, see you later. I always had complete confidence in the guy next to me, no matter which side i was sitting on, and that was because I knew the training they had been through and the testing they had passed.

[Too Low Approach]

Astroboy, goodonya and others,

Have seen with my own eyes, J31 disappear into the fog exiting the apron, only to hear it takeoff 30 seconds later. Not company policy I'm sure but there it is. I was surpised it happened, knowing the standards O'Connors pride themselves on.

TLA

[astroboy55]

TLA,

I have seen many Saab's, and previously, metro's, do the same thing. Ive also had to hold overhead MTG so that a 340 that had reported to ATC as being negative Rnav on the current sector and the sector before completed a GNSS approach almost to the minima.
Im sure the management at both companies would have made some very unpleasant phone calls had they ever found out either of those things!!

[slice]

Be careful or WHAT?? And what book would that be then?

Harden up Princess - this is pprune and lights are shined in to corners some would prefer to remain dark. If someone posts on here that the standards are oh-so-wonderful, but others having observed or been involved in incidents that demonstrate otherwise then suck it up big boy, it's the nature of the beast.

You don't seem bothered about having a kick at the opposition (maybe they lost RAIM ?)

[astroboy55]

Perhaps you would care to share your involvement? You obviously (think) you have some kind knowledge of things. So what was it??
My point was not to have a stab at the opposition, just to point out that not everyone is perfect. However, whilst on that subject, do you think it would actually be possible to fly two complete sectors without RAIM, only to have it appear magically just prior to needing it for an approach?? Unlikely me thinks.


'princess'

[chad sexington]

Not buying into this but with reference to the RAIM thing I've had it happen in those aircraft (SF34) in that area.

Once we flew the NDB-missed out and in the overshoot RAIM came back on so we hurried through the GPS approach before it dropped out again.

I think it was probably the FMS rather than the sat coverage but thats not the point is it.

[Cunning_Stunt]

Worked for LTOC in the early eighties. What landof4x said on Sept 2 is true. At least it was back then. Moved on a long time ago

[Ross Oakley]

Hi cunning and all,

Would hate to see OCAS finish as we all know we had a fantastic time there, and there are a hell of a lot of us that started and learnt to fly there. (oh and drink a little!)
From all the troops that have been there, L'TOC, Sal, Smokey, Fritzy, Hi Revvin Kevin et al, Good luck.

Warmest regards