Difficult time for Russian pilots.

[ionov]

About 80 pilots and crewmembers of passenger airliners in Krasnoyarsk Region, Siberia, were barred from work after failing checks for flight readiness. The check was conducted by the region's department of the Federal Aviation Service. The department’s chief Viktor Osipov said that increased attention to staff training was due to recent aircraft crashes that were to a large extent the result of human error. The check revealed that many pilots had not undergone retraining courses, compulsory every two years. Several cases of fictious training were also revealed. Osipov said that the sorry situation is caused by the lack of funds needed for regular retraining.

[5 APU's captain]

This problem exists not for Russian airlines only!!! as my experience shows.

[The Guvnor]

Sounds like this is a measure that's long overdue! To many of the 'baby Aeroflots' thought that they could just pick up some aircraft and start flying without training, proper maintenance or anything.

The reality is that of the hundreds of airlines in the CIS, only a dozen or so are truly professional in their approach.

The sooner the CIS gets its act together on this, the better for everyone!

[Notso Fantastic]

You're preaching again! The Guvnor, alone in all the world, knows how to run everything in the airline business! From pilot pay to VBE (very big executive) matters. Pray tell us more...like where we are all going wrong. Like after all, your credentials are impecable (not!). See http://flytristar.tripod.com/article/art06.html

[The Guvnor]

Notso Fantastic - are you sure that you really fly left hand seat in B747s? If so, I suggest that you seek psychiatric help as it's obvious that you have a death wish as you seemingly wish to inhabit the same airspace as improperly trained Russian crews, rather than commending efforts to get something done about them.

That's fine by me, but do you think that it's fair for you to consign your innocent passengers and colleagues (whom you seem to hold in contempt anyway) to a deep smoking hole in the ground simply because you want to top yourself?

I don't think so!

PS - I'd have sent you my response to that article, but you seem to have me on your 'ignore' list!

(edited for slepling!!)

[ 20 August 2001: Message edited by: The Guvnor ]

[Tom the Tenor]

Poor Guvnor! Some many posters always seem to have it in for you in some way but fair play to you you always try to come back smiling - I have got to admire you for that and your posts are usually interesting and entertaining too. Long may you continue! TTT.

[Boss Raptor]

One major problem is that Russian jet captain salaries go from as low as $200 a month to around $2200 with companies like Aeroflot and Transaero, a majority are at the former level...not a happy sitaution as this does not go very far in the 'New Russia'

PS. Tom the Tenor - if you knew a bit more of the background surrounding The Guvnor and particularly his recent antics as some of us do then you would not be as supportive I am sure...

[Tom the Tenor]

Hi Boss Raptor, have you ever been to Nizhniy Novgorod? That was Gorky in the old days. If you have I would love to hear about it if you have some spare time. My email address is [email protected]. Thank you, TTT.