Yuku free message boards

Hi again Craig.

I'm speaking as a former regional airline pilot (35+ years ago). I flew 15-passenger Beech 99 turboprops.

And -- frankly -- back then, regional airline pilot training wasn't all that great. Not consistently, anyway. Regional airlines (also called "commuter airlines" in the Old Days -- sometimes they still are) didn't even operate under the same regulations as the "Big Boys."

(Even at that, my training that I had recently received at the University of Illinois, particularly my instrument training, served me very well. I never felt that I was in over my head, despite my employer's cost-cutting approach.)

The Big Boys (a.k.a. major airlines) operated -- and still do -- under Part 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. (FARs.) I think the sub-title is "Air Carriers and Commercial Operators of Large Aircraft."

Back then, commuter airlines -- now regional -- were just coming into being, and there really wasn't a section of the FARs that adequately covered them. They operated under Part 135, "Air Taxis and Commercial Operators of Small Aircraft."

When I was obtaining my Commercial Pilot Certificate, back in 1968, I had to learn Part 135 inside and out, to pass the required exams.

But -- Part 135 wasn't designed for scheduled airline passenger operations. It was -- and still is -- really more suited to small-airplane on-demand charters obtainable at the local airport.

Eventually, with the growth of commuter/regional airlines, and their ever-increasing association with major lines as feeders, they were brought into the Part 121 fold. Which, since their airplanes had been getting larger and more sophisticated over the years, was only appropriate.

Now, the training that regional airline pilots must undergo is completely comparable to what major airline pilots have been doing for many years.

(In fact, in some cases, it may even be harder. When I was still active at AA, I flew with numerous pilots who had formerly flown for American Eagle, AA's regional affiliate. Some of them -- although not all -- opined that Eagle's training was in fact tougher to get through than AA's. I certainly can't verify that personally, but I'm not about to dispute it.)

Anyway, Craig, the point of all this is to set your mind at ease concerning riding on regional airlines. Their pilots are generally very sharp -- they have to be, to survive in the operating regime that they do. And -- their airplanes are every bit as sophisticated and up-to-date as the "main line" large airliners are.

Hope this helps. You're leaving tomorrow, so best wishes. Let us know how it all turns out.

Cheers.

Cap'n Steve