26yr old Captain - 19yr old Co-Pilot
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Sure , this guy had plenty of hours but at least 75% of them would have been whilst asleep
I am not an airline pilot but fly corporate jets as a Captain
I used to fly a number pf piston twins totalling 3000 hrs, often low level ( 10,000 -12000 feet in the worst weather,icing and turbulence! Often single pilot, day/ night, often OCAS and often into airfields which had poor or no instrument approaches. This meant a lot of creative flying.
Now its in jets which climb relatively quickly, are far more reliable than the pistons, go above the weather in CAS from start to finish as part of a crew.
The Piston twins were far more demanding and harder to fly making you think for yourself more especially operating in IMC OCAS than the jets
!!!!!!!!!!.
Many hours do not make an experienced Captain in a lot of circumstances and this is a prime example.
Experience is learned and can't be done whilst asleep.
A pilots hours are a good yardstick but it's very important to see just what those hours were gained on and under what conditions.
Many hours do not make an experienced Captain in a lot of circumstances and this is a prime example.
Experience is learned and can't be done whilst asleep.
A pilots hours are a good yardstick but it's very important to see just what those hours were gained on and under what conditions.
I used to fly a number pf piston twins totalling 3000 hrs, often low level ( 10,000 -12000 feet in the worst weather,icing and turbulence! Often single pilot, day/ night, often OCAS and often into airfields which had poor or no instrument approaches. This meant a lot of creative flying.
Now its in jets which climb relatively quickly, are far more reliable than the pistons, go above the weather in CAS from start to finish as part of a crew.
The Piston twins were far more demanding and harder to fly making you think for yourself more especially operating in IMC OCAS than the jets
Its annoying that the PR at easyjet didn't research their claim. She's clearly not the youngest Airline Captain. The internet shows that in a fairly quick internet search and so many posts by people on PPRuNe are offering up names airline and dates, to prove it. The CNN article at the beginning doesn't differentiate with her being female it just says "Their employer, the British carrier Easyjet, believes McWilliams has become the world's youngest commercial airline captain" is it wrong that this frustrates me? I always felt accuracy was an important part of aviation, granted maybe not Airline PR.
Aren't Easyjet going through an industrial troubles with their pilots ATM? These articles may just be an attempt at good PR to focus attention away from those troubles.
To me this story is more a story about the failure of modern journalism. Any reporter worth their salt could have spent 10 minutes on Google and easily discovered that a 26 year old isn't the world's "youngest commercial airline captain". But in a bid to cut costs newsrooms have been slashed, and resources are limited. Reporters have basically become corporate PR writers, just rewriting company press releases instead of checking facts and sources (ie real investigative journalism). And in the world of twitter, where people want information instantly, media companies are in a battle to be the first to get the articles published, regardless of accuracy.
dr dre
Surely you must be jesting!!!!!!!
Fancy thinking that any reporter would dare to do a bit of research to validate his/her story .
Heavens forbid---- that would make it accurate and we can't have that in the world of journalism now can we ??
As has been said so many times " Why let the truth/ facts spoil a good story.
Fancy thinking that any reporter would dare to do a bit of research to validate his/her story .
Heavens forbid---- that would make it accurate and we can't have that in the world of journalism now can we ??
As has been said so many times " Why let the truth/ facts spoil a good story.
That's True Dr. Dre, but that's really not news either. Journalism worldwide has been deteriorating for some years and the readers are increasingly expected to throw a much more sceptical eye over everything that they read as News versus paid PR.
Many circulars will be happy to publish for a fee articles such as this and I'm sure that Easy Jet would be more than happy to pay. There's still plenty of us talking about the article nevertheless, that's a good result from the publishers point of view.
In Autralia, the largest newspaper publisher, which continues to run at a significant loss, is owned by Rupert Murdoch and titled 'Limited News' (I could have those two words back to front possibly) regularly runs pay for space 'Journalism' and although they have a code of conduct which requires them to disclose when a fee is paid there are a lot of 'oversights' for which they are not penalised.
Many circulars will be happy to publish for a fee articles such as this and I'm sure that Easy Jet would be more than happy to pay. There's still plenty of us talking about the article nevertheless, that's a good result from the publishers point of view.
In Autralia, the largest newspaper publisher, which continues to run at a significant loss, is owned by Rupert Murdoch and titled 'Limited News' (I could have those two words back to front possibly) regularly runs pay for space 'Journalism' and although they have a code of conduct which requires them to disclose when a fee is paid there are a lot of 'oversights' for which they are not penalised.
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Are there any statistics regarding the incidence of pilot errors relative to age?
Until I see that, I'll asume that things are similar to the way they are in my profession: older people will get more confident regardless of how competent they are, and young people will be less confident regardless of how competent they are. And the competence is pretty much independent of age. A competent person with a lot of experience will be stronger than a competent person with little experience, but the competent with little experience will still majorly outperform the experienced incompetents.
Until I see that, I'll asume that things are similar to the way they are in my profession: older people will get more confident regardless of how competent they are, and young people will be less confident regardless of how competent they are. And the competence is pretty much independent of age. A competent person with a lot of experience will be stronger than a competent person with little experience, but the competent with little experience will still majorly outperform the experienced incompetents.
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The 737 is THE primary jet trainer now that the 727 is basically retired. OK, some may say the A320 series is, but nonetheless, there is nothing spectacular about this. I'm happy for her and him. lets move on....................
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First, I am in no way intentionally belittling the wonderful achievement of this Captain (they are a Captain, not a male Captain or a female Captain; just a Captain) and any innuendos that may arise are also unintentional due to my present medical condition and medication consumption. Also the young fella has done very well also at that age so kudos to him as well. 
However, with all the automation that there is now (and I suppose for quite some time now) how can you rate experience. Does this Captain engage the autopilot 30 seconds after take-off and places their hands on the controls a minute of two before landing. How much actual stick time (manual/physical flying experience) would they have had in those 5 years in the right seat?
I do not question their systems monitoring experience in those 5 years but that doesn't count towards actual hands on experience. I remember my Instructor who sent me solo 40 and a bit years ago telling me about his ride in a DC-8 jump-seat and how surprised he was when the pilot (Captain or F/O, can't remember) hand flew the aircraft on approach from 10,000 feet. Maybe I am just a demented old fool now (ok, so no maybe about it
) but to me that is experience. I don't blame the pilots for not having that experience and there have been enough posts that have gone into why this has come about.
There was the case a few years ago in Oz of a pilot in the J* program who could hand fly an accurate and stable approach from 10,000 feet but did not pass line training because he was a little slow on getting into the flow with using the automatics. I know that there must be a balance somewhere between the two but not being a magenta line child I tend to lean towards the Captain or F/O who can actually hand fly the aircraft when the automatics have a hissy fit. Probably AF447, and others, would/may not have had the same outcome if there had been more actual flying experience on those two very important front seats.
That over used and tired, IMO, company catch phrase "Safety is our main priority" would ring more true if pilots became a bit more like pilots and a little less like systems monitors. Yes the automatics are important but so are our hard earned stick and rudder skills.
However, with all the automation that there is now (and I suppose for quite some time now) how can you rate experience. Does this Captain engage the autopilot 30 seconds after take-off and places their hands on the controls a minute of two before landing. How much actual stick time (manual/physical flying experience) would they have had in those 5 years in the right seat?
I do not question their systems monitoring experience in those 5 years but that doesn't count towards actual hands on experience. I remember my Instructor who sent me solo 40 and a bit years ago telling me about his ride in a DC-8 jump-seat and how surprised he was when the pilot (Captain or F/O, can't remember) hand flew the aircraft on approach from 10,000 feet. Maybe I am just a demented old fool now (ok, so no maybe about it
) but to me that is experience. I don't blame the pilots for not having that experience and there have been enough posts that have gone into why this has come about.There was the case a few years ago in Oz of a pilot in the J* program who could hand fly an accurate and stable approach from 10,000 feet but did not pass line training because he was a little slow on getting into the flow with using the automatics. I know that there must be a balance somewhere between the two but not being a magenta line child I tend to lean towards the Captain or F/O who can actually hand fly the aircraft when the automatics have a hissy fit. Probably AF447, and others, would/may not have had the same outcome if there had been more actual flying experience on those two very important front seats.
That over used and tired, IMO, company catch phrase "Safety is our main priority" would ring more true if pilots became a bit more like pilots and a little less like systems monitors. Yes the automatics are important but so are our hard earned stick and rudder skills.
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Triploss
Excellent post!
So, what is 'experience' and how do we quantify it? Well, if you're talking of flying experience, you just add up the total time that the a/c is in motion. For many of us that might include a take-off and landing every hour or two. For others it may include ten hours or more in the cruise over the Atlantic/Pacific/Africa etc, with one take off/landing every 12 hours or so, 3 or 4 hours of which were probably wearing your pyjamas in the bunk!
A wise person once said: It doesn't matter how many hours you have in your logbook. Only the next one's important.
A previous poster was correct. No female, no story! Maybe Easy don't have many. At my outfit it's becoming more usual all the time. Rightly so.
Just PR. Nothing to see here. Move along!
The REAL story at Easy is the level of fatigue, not the level of experience! But the management want to keep one of those stories OUT of the papers!
Excellent post!
So, what is 'experience' and how do we quantify it? Well, if you're talking of flying experience, you just add up the total time that the a/c is in motion. For many of us that might include a take-off and landing every hour or two. For others it may include ten hours or more in the cruise over the Atlantic/Pacific/Africa etc, with one take off/landing every 12 hours or so, 3 or 4 hours of which were probably wearing your pyjamas in the bunk!
A wise person once said: It doesn't matter how many hours you have in your logbook. Only the next one's important.
A previous poster was correct. No female, no story! Maybe Easy don't have many. At my outfit it's becoming more usual all the time. Rightly so.
Just PR. Nothing to see here. Move along!
The REAL story at Easy is the level of fatigue, not the level of experience! But the management want to keep one of those stories OUT of the papers!
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Biggles
I know a few Easy Jet Captains and if conditions are correct and the airspace not too demanding they often hand fly below RVSM airspace.
After a spate of accidents due to over reliance on the automatics that is now being encouraged.
I know in my own realm of corporate Jets on short position flights below RVSM for Maintenance etc we will make it a must to hand fly the whole sector as it really keeps to on the ball to match the accuracy of the automatics. I never especially on the Older Biz Jets trust the automatics anyway )
Like the Airlines with PAX and if conditions and airspace congestion allow we often hand fly the departure SIDS and arrivals STARS anyway. The Key is airspace up to RVSM levels
I think you will find the Airlines do similar ? Comments
I know a few Easy Jet Captains and if conditions are correct and the airspace not too demanding they often hand fly below RVSM airspace.
After a spate of accidents due to over reliance on the automatics that is now being encouraged.
I know in my own realm of corporate Jets on short position flights below RVSM for Maintenance etc we will make it a must to hand fly the whole sector as it really keeps to on the ball to match the accuracy of the automatics. I never especially on the Older Biz Jets trust the automatics anyway )
Like the Airlines with PAX and if conditions and airspace congestion allow we often hand fly the departure SIDS and arrivals STARS anyway. The Key is airspace up to RVSM levels
I think you will find the Airlines do similar ? Comments
Pegase Driver
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Times are also changing: look at this short advert video :
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/ANt5/hainan-...ring-lang-lang
The captain featured there is a 20 something kid , not a 50+ as it would be in a similar advert for a mainstream major airline .
We have to get used to it it seems !
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/ANt5/hainan-...ring-lang-lang
The captain featured there is a 20 something kid , not a 50+ as it would be in a similar advert for a mainstream major airline .
We have to get used to it it seems !
Just PR stuff. Although he's sitting in the left seat I'm not so sure that he has 4 stripes.
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Personal source but I believe she was the subject of a return to stand after a fellow bus driver made a fuss about her not de-icing a large chunk of ice on the wing.
Anyone heard similar?
Anyone heard similar?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
OK, not passengers but nuclear bomber pilots, 23 and copilot 20. Captain might have less than 1,000 hrs and co as many as 300. Worried?
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Low Experience Pilots
I hear that Alerion Aviation will upgrade to Jet Captain after two months experience in Jets. Sounds like a financial decision while experienced pilots have left. They offered the First Officer a raise to $55,000 to take the helm and he accepted it. They operate on Air Rudder part 135 certificate.
Desperation kills.
I wish them luck, they will need it.
Desperation kills.
I wish them luck, they will need it.
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Wrong. The lady who flew People Express 747 was 30. As a former 747 commander and director of safety, I can assure you no company woul give command of a 747 to a 23-year old kid with no more than a 1000 hours total flight time.
