Airline Pilot Currency
 

Although there are some limited services (even at VA), thousands of Australian Airline Pilots remain grounded. After 35 days, a currency flight with a Check/Trainer is usually required. Beyond that an ever increasing regimen of retraining, depending on the length of inactivity. Pre Covid this was a somewhat indelible cornerstone of the integrity of flight standards. I’m wondering just how this issue is now being addressed?

Regular simulator training can fill the void, but is this a practical alternative. Is there enough excess Simulator capacity to do the job? And is it being employed?

At the stroke of a pen CASA provided an instrument to extend ratings and medicals, but this doesn’t confront a very obvious shortfall in “Operational Currency”.

I think for a majority of people on here, the issue isn't currency: it's down training (at best) - or not having a job at all (at worst).

Here I was thinking we had a new currency to trade!

Was hoping it would be pegged higher than the USD and we could make some coin........

On a serious note, HUGE issue. Not only do we have guys and gals loosing currency, they are also loosing dollars. Get through the sims, the line check. Ok now you have two in the seat both errrr maybe not as sharp as normal. Then no doubt throw in some financial hardship, stress and that Swiss cheese is rolling.

Next is sim availability both locally and worldwide. Yes it all depends then on when airlines ramp up, if everyone at the same time the situation gets more interesting. QF, V, etc sent pilots overseas at times, sims will be busy, that’s only after quarantine free travel!

Have a think about corporate jets next, issue even worse to a degree!

As the only pilots who are current will be those who are still flying and they are unlikely to be looking for a new job then everyone else will be in the same space in terms of recency. The big issue will be which seat were you in before the music stopped. If you were an experienced LHS pilot it won't be as difficult getting another job than if you are a RHS pilot. Remember the minimum experience for the RHS is 200 hours and a CPL so there is plenty of competition. Just having several thousand hours in a NB jet unfortunately doesn't mean much to HR. Before I get flamed over how much experience matters in the RHS let me just say that I am speaking from experience.

There isn’t going to be any jet jobs for 200 hour pilots for a long time. Ek used to need 4000hrs on a 320/737 for a FO job. Expect these sorts of requirements will probably come back along with lower conditions for the privilege

Not sure about other airlines but Qantas have already negotiated with CASA, a re-training program that goes out via a couple of increments to 1 - 3 years.
For many, or most on the A380 and 744, that will be the course they will do when the time comes; assuming Qantas still have 380s and 744s in 1 to 3 years…….:uhoh: