I didn't see the programme, but I was talking to a guy who is currently aiming to fly commercially who did watch it. He reckoned it was hogwash, and from knowing several ryanair pilots he says he will jump at the chance to fly for them as soon as he completes his commercial flying course (or whatever). The thing is, the job's not exactly taxing, 15 mins work at both ends (so I'm informed, and even this isn't really necessary), so if pilots are getting too tired to fly those massive flights (what, roughly 3.5hrs is about the longest) one would have to worry about their health, although, admittedly, i get a little tired myself after lunch too!!
Meccano, i don't really understand your point about flying straight after getting your commercial licence, what is the problem with that? You have completed 200hrs, your superior has completed at least 1700 hrs, is that not sufficient in your opinion. As for comparing brain surgeons and pilots, well, see my point on job difficulty (which may be misinformed).
I spend a fair bit of my spare time around airports, and hanging out with aviation-minded people. I have more than enough flight hours to hold a Commercial Licence myself. So I'm speaking from firsthand experience, not hearsay.
A few of your innacurate points would indicate to me that your young 'friend' has that 'romanticised idea' of the job I mentioned earlier? He's certainly given you a few bum steers I'm afraid.
If he told you the job entails '15 minutes' work 'at each end' then he is misinformed. That would mean you are too.
You mentioned 3.5 hour flights? Ryanair doesn't fly anywhere over 2 hours away (at present) and the VAST majority of their flights are 1 hour in length.
Clubman: The 200 hours minimum for a licence allows you to get a job and sit on the flight deck - which is then meant to be an APPRETICESHIP toward a Command.
It DOES NOT mean that you are a fully fledged pilot.
These licencing rules were drafted 60 years ago when it took decades to get a Command. They've never been brought up to date to reflect the low Command times in modern low cost airlines.
The fact that your 200 hour co-pilot has a very low experienced Captain (1500 hours) sitting beside him is a worry. The Captain isn't there to teach him to fly, he's there to do the job of getting the aircraft safely from A to B. The new guy hopefully learns over time - by observation. In other words,
over time - he gains experience.
Usually things work out with this arrangement, as long as the flight is routine.
It's when an emergency situation arises that the cracks will show.
Regarding the 'brain surgeon' comment. It was an analogy. You interpret it to mean all pilots are brain surgeons. Funny!
What I was actually getting at was - I would prefer to have a 40 year old brain surgeon with 20 years
experience poking inside my head than an 18 year old straight out of med school.
But yeah, I guess there IS a big difference between piloting a jet and being a brain surgeon.....if the surgeon screws up the brain surgery he'll still go home to the wife and kids for tea.
But if a pilot hits a mountain in an aircraft doing 600mph...he ain't going home for tea, nor are the other 120 odd souls on board.
So, come to think of it....I WANT my pilot to be even BETTER than a brain surgeon when I step on his plane with my family. The bugger could wipe us ALL out in a second.
I certainly don't want him to be exhausted and error prone.
Why would YOU?