falconkidding
Line Up and Wait
So about 3 years after I decided to switch careers I finally made it to the (regional)airlines and through IOE and thought I'd give my initial impressions.
Flying.
Going from piston singles was an adjustment, not so much for the speed cause 30 minutes in the sim and seeing 300kts in cruise or 140kts on short final became normal. Approaches took some getting used to cause I used pitch for airspeed in GA alot and that doesn't work in the jet since even a 1 degree pitch change can be a few 100fpm change.
The other thing that threw me off is not being able to hear power and speed changes, I didn't realize how much I used that as a CFI I knew exactly what 1500 rpm sounded like or what 75kts wind noise was. So when on approach and adjusting for speed I would use way to large thrust lever movements since it takes a while for you to see it on the tape and by the time you feel it it's too late.
On the operational side of things I was nervous as heck about class B stuff and IFR stuff. I had flown into a charlie maybe twice during my PPL and done only one IFR trip when I did my IFR training so I had maybe 10 hours talking to atc if I added in my night solo landings at a towered airport for the commercial. So of course my luck my first IOE trip was out of ORD.....we push back I talk to ramp then hear those dreaded words contact ground. I mentally brace okay here it comes am I gonna get A, A6,b, n2, hold short 28r at n5, or any combination of A,B,T,N,V plus a few hold shorts or behinds. "please dont let me end up on youtube atc compilation as I fk up this taxi instruction"
"ground flt 4xxx taxi with echo." Ground "flt 4xxx follow the american 737 from the right".... few minutes later "monitor tower"......All that stress for nothing. I went in and out of newark and chicago a few more times that trip and each time was generally relaxed. I actually prefer most of the bravos vs some of the smaller airports
On the non flying parts of the job most of the other regional pilots ive met are cool and not yet jaded by the industry, mainline seems to ignore you unless they want to ride your jumpseat. The customers generally treat you nice. Rampers call me sir, gate agents have been nothing but helpful. If i'm commuting people always come up to chat and sometimes seem in awe that your talking to them "ive never met a pilot before" If I have a sit in between flights I like helping people around the airport. This elderly canadian couple was ecstatic that I took the time to help them find the gate their flight left from and walked them over to it. Or after a 5 leg day with multiple 24min quick turns a 7 year old wants to say hi and face lights up when captain says " want to sit up here with falcon?" and then the kid wants a picture with me like i'm somebody important it makes me feel cool.
Almost makes up for every 4th customer commenting on the size of the plane as they board.
So if you see a tall lanky dude sitting in the right seat of a united express flight in or out of houston feel free to say hey.
Flying.
Going from piston singles was an adjustment, not so much for the speed cause 30 minutes in the sim and seeing 300kts in cruise or 140kts on short final became normal. Approaches took some getting used to cause I used pitch for airspeed in GA alot and that doesn't work in the jet since even a 1 degree pitch change can be a few 100fpm change.
The other thing that threw me off is not being able to hear power and speed changes, I didn't realize how much I used that as a CFI I knew exactly what 1500 rpm sounded like or what 75kts wind noise was. So when on approach and adjusting for speed I would use way to large thrust lever movements since it takes a while for you to see it on the tape and by the time you feel it it's too late.
On the operational side of things I was nervous as heck about class B stuff and IFR stuff. I had flown into a charlie maybe twice during my PPL and done only one IFR trip when I did my IFR training so I had maybe 10 hours talking to atc if I added in my night solo landings at a towered airport for the commercial. So of course my luck my first IOE trip was out of ORD.....we push back I talk to ramp then hear those dreaded words contact ground. I mentally brace okay here it comes am I gonna get A, A6,b, n2, hold short 28r at n5, or any combination of A,B,T,N,V plus a few hold shorts or behinds. "please dont let me end up on youtube atc compilation as I fk up this taxi instruction"
"ground flt 4xxx taxi with echo." Ground "flt 4xxx follow the american 737 from the right".... few minutes later "monitor tower"......All that stress for nothing. I went in and out of newark and chicago a few more times that trip and each time was generally relaxed. I actually prefer most of the bravos vs some of the smaller airports
On the non flying parts of the job most of the other regional pilots ive met are cool and not yet jaded by the industry, mainline seems to ignore you unless they want to ride your jumpseat. The customers generally treat you nice. Rampers call me sir, gate agents have been nothing but helpful. If i'm commuting people always come up to chat and sometimes seem in awe that your talking to them "ive never met a pilot before" If I have a sit in between flights I like helping people around the airport. This elderly canadian couple was ecstatic that I took the time to help them find the gate their flight left from and walked them over to it. Or after a 5 leg day with multiple 24min quick turns a 7 year old wants to say hi and face lights up when captain says " want to sit up here with falcon?" and then the kid wants a picture with me like i'm somebody important it makes me feel cool.
Almost makes up for every 4th customer commenting on the size of the plane as they board.
So if you see a tall lanky dude sitting in the right seat of a united express flight in or out of houston feel free to say hey.
