Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy
I completed Initial Operating Experience (IOE) [recently] as a first-time Captain on the Airbus 320. From that moment; it has been a struggle to maintain proficiency and gain the hours needed to get off restricted status (75 hours) or reach the 100 hours needed for consolidation. I am a short call reserve pilot. Here's an example of what's been happening:[A few weeks later]; I had completed only 7 flights; had less than 14 hours; and only 4 landings for the month. I sent emails to the flight office requesting that they buy me a trip. I was not given a trip; so I spoke with [the] Chief Pilot and gave him several options to obtain a proficiency trip. Sadly; despite several attempts and options that I gave him; he was not able to get me a trip.So; [I did not fly over a two week period]. I have to say I felt very uncomfortable yesterday on final into Orlando; dodging thunderstorms while descending the last 100 miles; flying through moderate rain showers on final; and landing in a crosswind in the A321 (having only landed a 321 twice).When I got to operations; I found a phone message from [the Chief Pilot]; asking me if I still was interested in proficiency flying. Luckily; he was still in the office; and I told him I really wanted to fly a three-day trip: one day of flying after 16 days off was not enough. He told me if I could find a trip; he would call scheduling to buy one for me. Unluckily; 15 minutes later he told me that 'it did not look good with scheduling to get me proficiency flying.' So today I find myself back on [reserve]; no open trips; competing with the other 11 pilots on reserve to get any flying the last 4 days of the month.I doubt I am the only new Captain with this problem. It's the 'perfect storm': I'm on short call reserve; at the bottom of the seniority list; with all the other reserve pilots above me also on restricted status. I just can't believe that the 'needs of the company' always take priority over the 'need to stay proficient.' Even when I told the chief pilots that I really felt my situation had changed from being a question of proficiency to one of safety; they were still unable to convince scheduling to give me any flying to get me back up to speed.I firmly believe that one of the 'needs of the company;' which should be a priority; is to have safe; competent; and proficient pilots. Especially when I tell the flight office that I'm not flying enough to be that pilot.
Newly trained A321 Captain reported he was uncomfortable with the small amount of flying he has been doing since training.