Narrative:

Bfl-lax. In cruise flight at 9000'. Had just been handed off from on bur controller to another as we headed for lax. Usually by this time, on this route, we are assigned a lower altitude--either 8000 or 7000'. But to our knowledge, 9000' was the last altitude assigned (this has happened before, usually for conflicting traffic). When checking in with the new controller we reported in at 9000'. The controller came back, 'verify assigned altitude 8000',' to which I replied, 'negative, 9000.' he replied for us to 'descend and maintain 8000,' which we did. The controller did not indicate any problem (however I understand they do not have to inform you if there was). Although I don't believe we missed a call here, anything is possible, as this was the fourth leg of a 3-DAY trip with a brand new first officer. I do not feel that this first officer is ready for a job with a scheduled airline, because of a lack of experience in the ATC IFR system. As a result, I have had to spend a lot of extra effort watching every move, teaching and correcting mistakes. This is stressful and fatiguing, and will cause the captain to begin making mistakes. I was tired by the time we flew this leg (with 2 more to follow), and it's possible we could have missed a call. The scary thing about the lack of competency in new pilots is that when I make a mistake, they may not catch it, or say anything if they did. This defeats the crew concept.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIC OF SMA COMPLAINS OF LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND DOUBTFUL QUALIFICATION OF NEW HIRE FO. PERFORMANCE OF SAME QUESTIONED AND MAY HAVE LED TO MISSED AMENDED ALT CLRNC.

Narrative: BFL-LAX. IN CRUISE FLT AT 9000'. HAD JUST BEEN HANDED OFF FROM ON BUR CTLR TO ANOTHER AS WE HEADED FOR LAX. USUALLY BY THIS TIME, ON THIS RTE, WE ARE ASSIGNED A LOWER ALT--EITHER 8000 OR 7000'. BUT TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, 9000' WAS THE LAST ALT ASSIGNED (THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, USUALLY FOR CONFLICTING TFC). WHEN CHKING IN WITH THE NEW CTLR WE RPTED IN AT 9000'. THE CTLR CAME BACK, 'VERIFY ASSIGNED ALT 8000',' TO WHICH I REPLIED, 'NEGATIVE, 9000.' HE REPLIED FOR US TO 'DSND AND MAINTAIN 8000,' WHICH WE DID. THE CTLR DID NOT INDICATE ANY PROB (HOWEVER I UNDERSTAND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO INFORM YOU IF THERE WAS). ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE WE MISSED A CALL HERE, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, AS THIS WAS THE FOURTH LEG OF A 3-DAY TRIP WITH A BRAND NEW F/O. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS F/O IS READY FOR A JOB WITH A SCHEDULED AIRLINE, BECAUSE OF A LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ATC IFR SYS. AS A RESULT, I HAVE HAD TO SPEND A LOT OF EXTRA EFFORT WATCHING EVERY MOVE, TEACHING AND CORRECTING MISTAKES. THIS IS STRESSFUL AND FATIGUING, AND WILL CAUSE THE CAPT TO BEGIN MAKING MISTAKES. I WAS TIRED BY THE TIME WE FLEW THIS LEG (WITH 2 MORE TO FOLLOW), AND IT'S POSSIBLE WE COULD HAVE MISSED A CALL. THE SCARY THING ABOUT THE LACK OF COMPETENCY IN NEW PLTS IS THAT WHEN I MAKE A MISTAKE, THEY MAY NOT CATCH IT, OR SAY ANYTHING IF THEY DID. THIS DEFEATS THE CREW CONCEPT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.