Federal inspectors piloting airliners

[CD]

Federal inspectors piloting airliners: 'Helps them do better job'

NATIONAL POST
10/01/2004

Some airlines have been letting Transport Canada inspectors fly their planes on regular, passenger-carrying routes under an unusual program designed to give the bureaucrats a better feel for the pilot's job.

The inspectors work as first officers, alongside experienced training captains, and are schooled and licensed to fly such craft, the airlines stress.

As second-in-command in the cockpit, first officers typically do about half the flying and are poised to take over command if the captain is incapacitated.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration does not allow the practice. Passengers here have nothing to worry about, though, said Lucie Vignola, a spokeswoman for Transport Canada.

The civil servants all have the same kind of basic training -- mostly on simulators -- and minimum flying hours required by the companies of their own staff, she said.

"It's one of the methods that Transport Canada inspectors use to acquire the skill and experience to do the inspection duties and get their pilot proficiencies," Ms. Vignola said. "They get to understand the industry a little bit more. That helps them do their job better when they get back to it."

Regulators in Britain, Australia and Germany also permit their inspectors to pilot airliners for training, she said.

But industry insiders note the officials are still part-time pilots, with far fewer hours behind the controls of big jets than most of the airlines' actual crew members.

"They've chosen different career paths. So they may well have a lot of experience flying, but it would not typically be on large transport aircraft," said Peter Foster of the Air Canada Pilots Association.

"Or they may be ex-military, so they would potentially have some experience with large aircraft ... but again, they do not have the hours and hours and hours of continuous on-route experience with large aircraft. The only people with that access are the people flying with large airlines."

There could also be a perceived conflict of interest if the inspector plays the role of both regulator and pilot, said another union spokesman.

"I could certainly see where there could be some perception issues," said Art LaFlamme of the Air Line Pilots Association. "If the inspector sees something during that flight that is in contravention of the regulations, is he required to step in at that point? It raises all sorts of problems from the Transport Canada point of view."

Still, he said his union, which represents aviators on Air Canada's Jazz, Air Transat and other companies, would not object to the idea as long as the inspector does not fly with an airline he or she inspects directly and has the proper qualifications.

As part of their job, all inspectors routinely fly on commercial airliners to observe the crew and look for any rule violations.

The "line indoctrination training" goes a step further, allowing them to take the controls themselves, said Ms. Vignola. Most airlines participate, although no inspector has done it recently, she said. When they do, they are not on duty as government representatives.

In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration's inspectors oversee pilots in the air as part of their job but never fill in as pilots themselves, said Paul Takemoto, a spokesman for the agency.

He refused to comment on the appropriateness of the Canadian program, though.

"We don't want to pass judgment on Transport Canada," he said. "Our guys are just inspectors and they fly as inspectors."

WestJet is one Canadian carrier that has allowed inspectors to fly their planes, although none recently, said Siobhan Vinish, a company spokeswoman.

She emphasized they must have the same minimum qualifications as one of the airline's staff pilots.

"We felt the program had value in that it provided a better understanding of our operations, and we felt it would enhance safety, as these gentlemen are the regulators," Ms. Vinish said.

Mr. Foster of the Air Canada Pilots Association said his members' contract would not allow government officials to fill in as pilots, but he is aware it happens on other carriers.

He said there are pros and cons to the idea. While the inspectors do not have the same amount of flying experience as the airline pilots, it does provide more real-world experience that could help them do their job better.

[groo]

yea I read that too, any one been asked what the conditions are like, or what improvements could be made?

No they figure they will just ask to fly in our place so they can see it for themselves. The dumbest thisng I ever heard. When was the last time you had a heart to heart with your friendly TC inspector. We are gonna paint sunshine in the hope that we don't draw attention to ourselves to avoid further investigation.

burns my ass, I dare the bastard (or bastardette) to take my seat.

G

[Moon The Loon]

This practice has been in effect in Canada since the early 1980's. Many pilots have targeted TC as a career goal and make their move with the minimum ATPL and 1,000 PIC. Consequently when they get into the position of regulating the carriers with virtually no personal experience, the carriers (some of them) have worked a deal to trade "work experience" for the CAI's for "future considerations". Whatever that might mean.

It's been going on for years. But not with all Canadian carriers. The CAI might occupy the left seat and log PIC time, but they're not the PIC. The company check pilot (in the right seat) is the true PIC.

[LT]

the carriers (some of them) have worked a deal to trade "work experience" for the CAI's for "future considerations". Whatever that might mean.

And those that don't turned down said pilots for jobs and now get audited..

<hahahaha> Now I get why some TC guys are dicks to the Operators..

All along I thought, poor operators getting picked on by TC.

But it's the other way around..

Op. "no pay for your ppc and I'll give you work(not a job)"
Buddy "fark you, I'll just go work for tc"
Op. "you go work for those losers"
TC Buddy "Inspection time, biatch"
Op. "closed for the season.."