I can't fly what I'm type rated for?
 

Hi folks.

I am in contact with a company, so far so good, I had an interview and everything went OK. The problem is that the girl in training is apparently having a hard time because while I'm rated in the B737(300-900), she says I can't fly the damn -400 because I have only experience in NG. If that's correct... why 300-900?

Anyone knows if thats correct? Or if it changes depending on the country the company is based?

As far as i know you need a differences training between the NG and the Classic. I have seen a company where it was a 4-sided A5 handout and a signature on a sheet that covered that, others required at least a simulator session and a few days of line flying under supervision. The different direction, from the Classic to the NG, it was a simulator session and 16 sectors of line training as well as a 4 hour CBT program.

Best to check with your employer what they require and then find an ATO that does the cheapest possible way of a difference training. In my opinion the induction course to the airline should be more than enough to cover the difference training as well but i have no clue if they have a program in their OMD for that.

If we are talking EASA here, you are required to undergo differences training prior to operating the Classics, if your previous experience is NG - and vice versa.

If it has been more than 24 months since you've last flown the variant requiring differences training, further refresher training should be completed prior operating.

thanks for the swift replies guys. Ok, so I go through a difference course... that means... I can't fly the NG without doing another difference course?

You can fly both at the same time, and your airline will have established procedures how to deal with training/checking.

If you will be away from NG for more than 24 months, then yes, differences training is required.

So if I understood correctly, if I do a difference course I can fly both as long as I don't spend over 24 months without flying one of both, as that would require additional training.

Correct?

Also, shouldn't the company do this in the OCC?

Thanks!

Correct. Any reasonable company would do this during the OCC, yes.

The thing is, my TR expires next month. And they are kindly asking me to renew it (plus they were wondering if I could do the difference course). The company is from Saudi Arabia; I really don't know how things roll there. While I have 5 years airline experience I've never changed company and I don't know what and how is an OCC.

Sadly many airlines require a certain license validity before they hire you. Last time i changed companies they required 75 days so i had to renew on my own dime before joining them. And of course a LPC would be the ideal time to get the differences course done as well. Sadly we are in an employers market right now.

I had a situation a few years ago with this.... Hawker 125 pilot with many years experience on all variants. Then I was offered a job on the 800 XPi. with Collins Proline 21 avionics. I had not flown Proline before. No amount of reasoning with these idiots could convince them that it was the same aircraft and after a couple of sectors the avionics would be history! The job was lost. I went on later to fly an 850XP with Proline 21 after a couple of sectors. Doh!

How have we become slaves to such idiots?

An OCC is a company differences training course. It will depend on their requirements, but will usually include some ground school training, a couple of days in the sim to learn their way of operating the aeroplane and then your LPC.