Originally Posted by
Jantar
There are some airlines I choose not to fly with for safety reasons if I can avoid them. But it isn't because of aircraft safety, its because of pilot training.
Some airlines choose and train pilots in manner we expect here in NZ: A young person learns to fly at a local aero club or commercial flight school. They gain a private Pilot's licence, then a commercial Pilot's licence, an instrument rating, possibly an instructor's rating, then they build their hours actually flying. After they have 800 -1000 or so hours hands on flying they will work for a local flying company or, if they are lucky direct to a small commuter airline. after 2000 hours maybe they will advance to a link airline (Mt Cook), and at around 5000 hours to a major airline. This is what happens in NZ, Australia, USA, Canada, Britain, Germany etc. and pilots are expected to be able to actually fly the plane if they need to. I am very happy to fly on any of these irrespective of the type or age of the aircraft.
Then there are places that copy our system for the first 250 hours, then do all remaining training and experience in a simulator. When they are deemed ready they go straight into the right hand seat of a 777 or similar. Airlines that follow this method are Emirates, Etihad, India, France and a few others. Mainland Air in Dunedin trains many overseas pilots for that first 250 hours, and I have seen a large range of abilities in the students that gain their CPL there, even to the point of intervening with one of their students who was on his first cross country as his approach and landing at our local airfield was dangerous (He didn't eventually pass). These airlines are my second choice.
Then there are airlines that skip even that first 250 hours of actual flying, and all training is done in the simulator. The first time a trainee pilot actually sits in an aircraft is likely to be as a Second Officer on an A320, or even an A380 full of passengers. It is mainly Asian airlines that use this method. Some actually make their trainee pilots pay for this whole training, both simulator, and while flying as second officer with passengers, and don't go on the payroll until they are promoted to First Officer. I do not fly on these airlines if there is any alternative.
There are a few who try to mix pilots with at least one trained in the traditional methods and one in the simulator method. Singapore is one of those.
On my last trip to Europe I could have saved over $500 by flying on one of my non-preferred airlines. I chose to pay a bit extra and fly Air NZ and Lufthansa. Next year when I travel to Vienna I will do similar.