Are our pilots current?

[caprr275]

I am a student researcher at Western Michigan University and my research deals with a Flight Proficiency Program for post commercial students. I am looking at the difference between students who get their CFI and students who don't.
This got me wondering how many hours a month our CAP pilots are flying. It will be interesting to compare the data from CAP pilots to CFIs and students who only hold a commercial pilots certificate.

Feel free to check out my research website (YES I KNOW I NEED TO UPDATE IT... I HAVE BEEN BUSY!)
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~r5bowden/index.htm

[Major Carrales]

I am a student researcher at Western Michigan University and my research deals with a Flight Proficiency Program for post commercial students. I am looking at the difference between students who get their CFI and students who don't.
This got me wondering how many hours a month our CAP pilots are flying. It will be interesting to compare the data from CAP pilots to CFIs and students who only hold a commercial pilots certificate.

Feel free to check out my research website (YES I KNOW I NEED TO UPDATE IT... I HAVE BEEN BUSY!)
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~r5bowden/index.htm

You do know that this can only be ancedotal and not scientific since anyone can vote for the above.  I am not a pilot, yet, I am still open to vote.  I have not voted in your poll, but just pointing out a possible flaw that I'm, pretty sure you are already aware of.

[Flying Pig]

voted

Commercial/Instrument SEL, Commercial Helicopter, PPL Glider.  Fly about 40 hours per month fixed wing. Only about 5hrs or so helo per month right now.

[flyguy06]

I am a CFI and most of my flying is as a CFI. I dont really do much CAP flying. I should though, but the planes are so far away from my house

[Mustang]

Commercial ASEL/AMEL IA rated, not a CFI, employed part time as a pilot, so my hours (15-30/month) are probably above the average for a run-of-the-mill CAP pilot. When employed previously as a full-time pilot, my monthly hours were more in the neghborhood of 60-90 hrs per month.

[bosshawk]

I would suggest that you be careful which words you use: current and proficient are vague and non-specific to most people.  Current to the FAA is one thing(and it really doesn't mean much), while current to others may have an entirely different meaning.  As far as I know, CAP doesn't have a definition of "current" nor one for "proficient".  To carry passengers, the FAA says three landings in 90 days makes one current.  Some of us don't think that three landings in 90 days even comes close to making you "current nor proficient".  It only makes you legal.

Other than meeting the letter of the FAA reg, the individual is the best judge of whether or not he or she is proficient.  We have a guy in CAWG who puts out requests for pilots: IFR/current/proficient.  To my way of thinking, that is a useless request, because neither he nor I can judge whether or not the pilot is proficient.

'nough said.

[caprr275]

this is just a FYI for me it is not being included in my offical research

[JGremlin]

So who do you want to hear from?
Only CAP members who are at least a CAP pilot?
CAP members who are pilots but may or not be a CAP pilot?
Only CAP members who are are at least a CAP pilot and also a commercial or CFI student?

I'm an ex-commercial pilot* and I flew less than 10 hours in powered planes last year. I did about 10 hours in gliders as well. I am not yet a CAP pilot but I expect that to happen in the next few months.


*Yes I know there is no such thing as an ex-commercial pilot. I got into the biz, did it for a few years, realized the typical pro-pilot QOL didn't suite me, got out of the biz and never looked back.

[caprr275]

anyone who is a pilot can reply. this is just for me to see how many hours the typical cap member is flying a month. so anyone (pilot in or out of cap) can answer

[A.Member]

FWIW, I agree with the point bosshawk was trying to make.  I do not mean to belabor the point but wording is extremely important on survey questions.  With that in mind, the title of this thread and the description in the original post are asking at least two distinctly different questions. 

One question asks if the pilots are current.  Another is asks whether they are proficient.  These are two very different questions.  And even a third question appears to be how many hours are they flying per month (which could be used to answer the preceeding two questions).

In addition, it seems to me that you'd want to distinguish between those CAP pilots with a Form 5 and those without.

[RogueLeader]

this is just a FYI for me it is not being included in my offical research

Wouldn't it me FMI then?  For My Information.   

Opps too late, i votes and not a pilot, yet.

[caprr275]

 ::)yea yea yea... 

its ok I just wanted a overview thanks for the vote :clap:

[Chief2009]

Well, I lost my job, so no flying for me 

Right now I'd need at least two or three review flights just so I could be ready for my BFR, let alone a F5.

DN

[flyguy06]

No such thing as a BFR anymore. Its called a Flight review now. 

[flynd94]

fly between 90-110 hours an month, part 121 flying but, done under part 135 regs for flight time limits