Airlines in the United States are continuing to hire pilots at a very healthy pace. As they compete with each other for qualified pilots, a few of the airlines have begun to lower some of the minimum requirements necessary to get an interview with them.
One qualification that they are not lowering however is the amount of Multi-engine time required. Graduates of ATP’s Career Pilot Program have more than enough Multi time when they graduate, and I have personally heard ATP executives in discussions about finding an affordable nationwide solution for meeting those multi-engine requirements for graduates of other programs.
In addition, there are other solutions being offered for pilots preparing for success when competing for a flying job with an airline.
ATP offers advanced Regional Jet systems and operations training in the Regional Jet Standards Certification Program for example. This program covers the systems, limitations, and operations of the Regional Jet to prepare pilots to excel during a Regional Airline interview as well as new-hire training at the airline once hired.
The RJ Program is instructed by highly experienced Regional Airline Pilots who not only teach about flying the RJ, but also how to operate professionally in the cockpit of an airliner.
The course includes an excellent computer-based system course for the Regional Jet, as well as an introduction to the Flight Management System and extensive instruction on its use. The RJ Program also orients a pilot on day-to-day operations of the Regional Jet in the airline environment.
Learning to perform up to airline standards will greatly increase your chances of success when you have to do it during Initial Flight Training at your new airline. ATP’s RJ Program is designed to help a pilot make several transitions smoothly and without the pressure of your new job relying on the outcome.
For example, reciprocating piston engines turning propellers respond very quickly to increases or reductions in power. “Recips” can produce almost instantaneous thrust with the downside being a relative lack of power and reliability. Jet engines are very reliable because all of the internal moving parts rotate in the same direction, making them very smooth, safe and dependable. Learning how to operate them just takes some time and practice.
Another example of transitioning in the RJ Program is instrumentation. Most of us spend years perfecting our scan of the standard instrument cluster in general aviation aircraft we learn to fly in. Then we climb into an aircraft with an all glass cockpit when we get hired by an airline and we have to learn a new way to do our job. There is a dramatic difference between the two, but once you make the transition a glass cockpit is much more useful than steam gauges.
The most difficult transition that has to be made is from a general aviation style single-pilot cockpit operation to an airline crew environment. The challenge is that for the first time in a general aviation pilot’s flying career they have to interact closely with another aviator to safely operate an airplane. This can be much more difficult than it sounds until you get the hang of it.
These transitions are all important to someone hoping to do well in Initial Flight Training at an airline. Making those transitions before you arrive at the airline you have been dreaming about flying for is advisable and makes good common sense.
Why not take full advantage of the rare opportunity to work for an airline? You have worked hard to get there, be prepared to excel in your training. You will never get another chance to make a great first impression on the Airline’s training pilots you will see over and over again during your career.
