7175

After 30 days in Hyannis, I've finally started "flight" training - which hasn't had to do with actually getting in an airplane yet.

The first few lessons are still on the ground.

Lesson #1 is where we sit in front of a life-size picture of the cockpit and demonstrate to the instructor that we've memorized all the appropriate "flows." Flows are just checklists that are memorized and done in an order that makes more sense than the paper checklist does. So the flow generally starts on one side of the aircraft cockpit, and then moves up or down an instrument panel to the next item that is located in a logical order. Here's an example of a flow in a jet aircraft:

The 402C is quite a bit less complex than a jet, so the flows are short and go quicker. So that's nice.

Our lessons are done in pairs, at least at this point. So another classmate and I took turns demonstrating the flows.

After two and a half hours, we finished and then got briefed on what to expect for the next lesson.

The next lesson is tomorrow, and we'll be going out to the airplane to do an extremely thorough "pre-flight" check. The interior pre-flight check is essentially ensuring that all the required documents are on board, checking that all the controls work, making sure the seats are locked in, checking that all the life vests and safety cards and seat-belts are on board and in good condition etc. The exterior pre-flight is just making sure the control surfaces outside look good, the tires and brake pads aren't worn, the oil is filled up in each engine etc. But this first one is going to take a long time just so that the instructor can show us every nook and cranny of the airplane that needs to be looked at.

The third lesson will be the same as our flow lesson today, except we'll be in the simulator. The simulator here was specially made from an aircraft that literally just had the cockpit section of the airplane cut off and made into a simulator. It has a wrap around display which gives you a view of the engines and wings from projectors. It's not full motion, but it should still be enjoyable to fly.

It looks a bit like this:

It's been a bit dull having only worked eight days in the past month. I'm excited to finally get rolling with some of these lessons. I hope to be done and home in time for Christmas, but I'm not gonna bet on it. I told the chief instructor that I'd be happy to not have any days off in order to finish more quickly, so I suppose we'll see if that works.

If I finish training and get out of here by Christmas, I should be able to go home for a week or so for the holidays and pack my stuff up and head for wherever the company decides to base me. I'll be bidding to go to Billings Montana, but there's no way for me to know if I'll get it. It's generally not a very highly sought after place to go - at least not by most of the pilots I've met here so far. But I'm hoping to go there since it's closer to Colorado. 

If I get based there, I'll be flying as a first officer to build hours up to 1,500 for about a year, maybe a little less if I work a lot of overtime. 

Then I'll get sent back to Hyannis for a few weeks to do upgrade training to be a captain and get my Airline Transport Certificate. After I've finished that, I'll be working for another year (or more) at this company due to the contract. 

I don't have any plans for what I'll do after my contract is up. If I really like this company, which I really do thus far, maybe I'll hang around longer and upgrade to the ATR42 in Guam/Saipan, or fly the Britten Normal Islander wherever those things are based. Or maybe I'll just stay in the lil 402. I'm not sure. 

ATR42

Britten Normal Islander

Cessna 402C - what I'm currently training to fly

So, now for those of you wondering what I've been up to since I left Saipan, now ya know!

As an aside to those concerned: I know how the aviation industry is very critical of what their employees post online, and that's why I didn't mention who I'm working for even though it's fairly obvious. I know. I'll be very thoughtful and careful about things that I post on my blog, my Instagram, my Facebook as to not hurt the company image or the public image of airline pilots. I know that this profession is very visible. Thank you for your concern, and if the company would like me to not post about things on my personal blog/Instagram, then I will be happy to comply with that request. I have removed previous more personal entries on this blog and saved them for my own use. 

Thanks for reading!

7175 is the number I'm planning on picking to be my flight number identifier.