26 year old Airline Captain and 19 year old FO

[PHall]

Certainly thousands, and much more cargo.

Sent from my phone.

Cargo isn't really an issue. Much like our ORM, it's about the risk factors. If a Cargo plane goes down, the loss of life is drastically less than if a passanger jet goes down.

Actually, cargo IS an issue. Military aircraft move cargo so hazardous that civilian airlines won't even look at it.
We just have special procedures like No Passengers on those flights.

[Live2Learn]

This thread is really silly.  What do ya'all think the average age of WW2 pilots might a been?  The 'Ol Man (Squadron CO) was seldom much older than this 20 something pilot who's tender years some argue disqualify him to sit in the left seat.  Bob Hoover was 21 when the war started, and barely 24 when it ended.  Chuck Yeager was born in 1923... He was just 18 in 1941.  They and thousands of others who were 'wet behind the ears' according to some on this thread won the air war.

[Майор Хаткевич]

This thread is really silly.  What do ya'all think the average age of WW2 pilots might a been?  The 'Ol Man (Squadron CO) was seldom much older than this 20 something pilot who's tender years some argue disqualify him to sit in the left seat.  Bob Hoover was 21 when the war started, and barely 24 when it ended.  Chuck Yeager was born in 1923... He was just 18 in 1941.  They and thousands of others who were 'wet behind the ears' according to some on this thread won the air war.

Apples to Oranges. One flies hundreds of civilians, the others may have had a crew of servicemen, or just themselves. Big difference.

[Live2Learn]

Apples to Oranges. One flies hundreds of civilians, the others may have had a crew of servicemen, or just themselves. Big difference.

What do you suppose these youngsters did after the war?  Many were instrumental in the postwar days of passenger air travel.  Oranges = fruit and the fruit of their competencies continues to benefit us 71 years hence.  I used to work with a guy who had 4500 hours in B-29's.  IMHO Bob Latsy was a VERY competent pilot of aircraft that were more difficult to fly than the ones we launch today.  Bob was about 20 when he became pilot and commander of that machine.  Frankly, I'd prefer someone in the cockpit with his demonstrated ability over any 'systems manager' who flips on the auto pilot at 100' AGL and off (assuming they eschew 'auto land') at 200'. This is a very silly discussion.

[THRAWN]

Apples to Oranges. One flies hundreds of civilians, the others may have had a crew of servicemen, or just themselves. Big difference.

What do you suppose these youngsters did after the war?  Many were instrumental in the postwar days of passenger air travel.  Oranges = fruit and the fruit of their competencies continues to benefit us 71 years hence.  I used to work with a guy who had 4500 hours in B-29's.  IMHO Bob Latsy was a VERY competent pilot of aircraft that were more difficult to fly than the ones we launch today.  Bob was about 20 when he became pilot and commander of that machine.  Frankly, I'd prefer someone in the cockpit with his demonstrated ability over any 'systems manager' who flips on the auto pilot at 100' AGL and off (assuming they eschew 'auto land') at 200'. This is a very silly discussion.

And we also used to ride horses to work. Times and sources of motivation have changed and comparing things that happened 75 years ago to today is just "silly". Take a look at the NTSB reports on causes of accidents among part 91, 135 and 121 pilots and you'll see that age and experience are frequently cited as contributing factors. Is this pilot in the article a good one? Dunno. Is this pilot statistically more likely to have an accident or incident than other more seasoned captains? The stats seem to indicate that she may....

[Live2Learn]

...Take a look at the NTSB reports on causes of accidents among part 91, 135 and 121 pilots and you'll see that age and experience are frequently cited as contributing factors. Is this pilot in the article a good one? Dunno....

I think you captured the essence of the discussion here. 

FWIW, the accident stats show an INCREASE in both the incidence and fatality after about age 55-60 or so.  Of course part 121 data for past 60 are sparse because only recently can pilots fly past age 60 to a new retirement age of 65.  We should remember though, pilots over age 60 must have a 'young un' in the other seat.    Medical factors are often implicated with older pilot accidents, but so are bad decisions and failures associated with long term bad habits that finally catch up with 'em.  Both age and experience are important factors in the accident equation.  So is attitude. As you point out, very proficient older pilots may have the wrong experience for the equipment they currently operate.  Newer (younger) pilots may fly with a testosterone hubris afflicting their decisions.  Aeronautical decision making errors occur whether a pilot is brash (like the mid 20's pilot two or three years ago who decided to do low level aerobatics in a Cirrus), or who lacks knowledge of the nuances with new-to-them equipment (for example, Scott Crossfield's flight into a T-Storm because he failed to understand limitations of his in cockpit weather).  As you point out it comes down to this:  "Is this pilot... a good one?"  That he's 26, 36, 46, or 56 is irrelevant... hence the silliness of this thread.

[Flying Pig]

I don't see a "problem" with a 26 year old Captain. There are lot's of 26 year old Aircraft Commanders in Air Mobility Command.
And they command everything from C-130's to C-5's.

Do they move tens of thousands of people around per year?

Completely irrelevant

Disagree.

Hmmm.. so when I fly my Huey with 12 people in it, it flies differently than when it has 3000lbs of water stuck to the bottom?  How does the role of the PIC change when I have people in it?  When Im flying the Sheriff and command staff to the capitol, how does it change things vs when Im flying solo somewhere in the same aircraft?

[grunt82abn]

I don't see a "problem" with a 26 year old Captain. There are lot's of 26 year old Aircraft Commanders in Air Mobility Command.
And they command everything from C-130's to C-5's.

Do they move tens of thousands of people around per year?

Completely irrelevant

Disagree.

Hmmm.. so when I fly my Huey with 12 people in it, it flies differently than when it has 3000lbs of water stuck to the bottom?  How does the role of the PIC change when I have people in it?  When Im flying the Sheriff and command staff to the capitol, how does it change things vs when Im flying solo somewhere in the same aircraft?

Not to mention, these same AF pilots, at 26 or younger, dropping thousands of paratrooper each year at 1250 AGL or lower, so I guess they do carry passengers. I agree with Flying Pig