SuperFLUF
lazy Mc Donald's pilot
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2003
- Posts
- 639
I believe the reason the airlines prefer 121 (pax) pilots over cargo, corporate or military pilots is based on the airline's past experience with new hire trainees.
This is how it was explained to me by one of our former flt ops guys a long time ago:
121 pax pilots require less time to complete IOE and have a higher pass rate for IOE.
Up until IOE its mostly stick and rudder and systems knowledge, most professional pilots are going to be on equal footing to that point.
However, the odds of the trainee failing IOE or requiring extra IOE (extra$$) to finish are higher for the non 121 pax pilots.
If you've mastered the scheduled pax airline ops in the past then its easier to put the new pieces of the new company procedures and new airplane in place during IOE and your first months on the line.
If you are new to a scheduled airline operation and new to the airplane and new to the company then the odds of failure go up a bit. Certainly it is done quite often but why increase the risk of additional money spent on training a pilot or lost if they bust IOE and are sent home?
This is why 121pax guys are hired as a higher percentage to the other groups. AND that is why if your goal is to fly for a major pax airline you should tailor career moves accordingly. The 5000 hr RJ captain will usually get priority over a 10000 hr cargo, bizjet guy so bite the bullet on the pay difference and build your time at the regionals, you'll spend less time at the lower paying job and more time at the final destination.
This is how it was explained to me by one of our former flt ops guys a long time ago:
121 pax pilots require less time to complete IOE and have a higher pass rate for IOE.
Up until IOE its mostly stick and rudder and systems knowledge, most professional pilots are going to be on equal footing to that point.
However, the odds of the trainee failing IOE or requiring extra IOE (extra$$) to finish are higher for the non 121 pax pilots.
If you've mastered the scheduled pax airline ops in the past then its easier to put the new pieces of the new company procedures and new airplane in place during IOE and your first months on the line.
If you are new to a scheduled airline operation and new to the airplane and new to the company then the odds of failure go up a bit. Certainly it is done quite often but why increase the risk of additional money spent on training a pilot or lost if they bust IOE and are sent home?
This is why 121pax guys are hired as a higher percentage to the other groups. AND that is why if your goal is to fly for a major pax airline you should tailor career moves accordingly. The 5000 hr RJ captain will usually get priority over a 10000 hr cargo, bizjet guy so bite the bullet on the pay difference and build your time at the regionals, you'll spend less time at the lower paying job and more time at the final destination.
