Tips For Newbies
12-29-2017, 09:52 PM
#61
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Posts: 324
It's really simple...
1. The moment the shutdown check is complete on your last leg of the day, call the hotel to make sure the van is coming. Extra points for knowing the van driver's cell number and texting him to head over to the airport while you cross the FAF
2. Are you the FO? Then do your duty and take the ugly one, every time.
3. Any time a trip begins with the words 'I'm real easy going and pretty much SOP' from the left seat, see if you can 'accidentally' fall down the jetbridge stairs when beginning your walkaround. The resulting broken body part will undoubtedly be less painful than enduring the next 4 days in that flight deck.
4. Don't ever bother asking for a wind check. Wait a few moments... odds are, Delta will ask for you.
5. Thinking about reporting turbulence? See #4 above.
6. Quick magic trick: Are you married? Want to see all your money disappear in a flash? Have an affair with an FA.
7. Don't drink the airplane coffee. Just don't. If you're still not convinced, stop by a MX hangar one day and ask the guys to show you a 'potable' water tank.
8. Despite the whining, the b*tching, the moaning, and incessant complaining about schedules, pay, the new contract, the lack of a new contract, management, rampers, FAs, gate agents, van drivers, dispatch, passengers, the FAA, check airmen, the schoolhouse, your EFB, your commute, the TSA, Customs, Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, the ME3, and God... This really is The. Easiest. Job. In. The. World. Relax, fly the airplane safely and professionally, have a little fun from time to time, and don't let the whiners get you down.
If you don't believe me, try sitting in a grey cubicle for a couple decades. Heck, even a couple of weeks. You'll realize pretty fast just how good we pilots have it.
1. The moment the shutdown check is complete on your last leg of the day, call the hotel to make sure the van is coming. Extra points for knowing the van driver's cell number and texting him to head over to the airport while you cross the FAF
2. Are you the FO? Then do your duty and take the ugly one, every time.
3. Any time a trip begins with the words 'I'm real easy going and pretty much SOP' from the left seat, see if you can 'accidentally' fall down the jetbridge stairs when beginning your walkaround. The resulting broken body part will undoubtedly be less painful than enduring the next 4 days in that flight deck.
4. Don't ever bother asking for a wind check. Wait a few moments... odds are, Delta will ask for you.
5. Thinking about reporting turbulence? See #4 above.
6. Quick magic trick: Are you married? Want to see all your money disappear in a flash? Have an affair with an FA.
7. Don't drink the airplane coffee. Just don't. If you're still not convinced, stop by a MX hangar one day and ask the guys to show you a 'potable' water tank.
8. Despite the whining, the b*tching, the moaning, and incessant complaining about schedules, pay, the new contract, the lack of a new contract, management, rampers, FAs, gate agents, van drivers, dispatch, passengers, the FAA, check airmen, the schoolhouse, your EFB, your commute, the TSA, Customs, Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, the ME3, and God... This really is The. Easiest. Job. In. The. World. Relax, fly the airplane safely and professionally, have a little fun from time to time, and don't let the whiners get you down.
If you don't believe me, try sitting in a grey cubicle for a couple decades. Heck, even a couple of weeks. You'll realize pretty fast just how good we pilots have it.
12-30-2017, 06:21 AM
#63
Line Holder
Joined APC: Oct 2010
Posts: 28
Regional, what to expect.
Hello All, starting at a Regional this spring. I'm posting to see if anyone can give some advice on what to expect or helpful hints. This is my second career so I'm a little bit older (and nervous) than most. (50's). I have an ATP, Citation type and about 4400 hours. Any study suggestions would be helpful or anything an older guy like me would need to be aware of. Thanks in advance.
12-30-2017, 06:46 AM
#64
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,091
Refer to the "tips for newbies" thread.
At your age rote memory won't work as well as it did when you were 25.
You can still get through, people do it all the time but you'll need to work harder and live cleaner than the kids. Get regular exercise and start eating daily brain food now (fish oil, avocado, salmon, etc).
At your age rote memory won't work as well as it did when you were 25.
You can still get through, people do it all the time but you'll need to work harder and live cleaner than the kids. Get regular exercise and start eating daily brain food now (fish oil, avocado, salmon, etc).
12-30-2017, 11:26 PM
#67
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Posts: 209
Many of the FA's are not mentally/emotionally balanced people. Engaging in sexual activity with people like this is bad because they can ruin your life. We had a guy at my previous shop that was involved with an FA that ended up getting arrested because she claimed domestic violence. The details were not clear at the time. You will be best served by finding a woman elsewhere.
Sorry to be confusing in original post. Was it the ducks on the pond comment? Does little bingo work better? Ever play little league? Was it the comment about Balzer? He was FE on the 727 flight from Fargo to MSP. Did not proof read message, so probably had some gram errors. But, really liking everyone’s alter ego career choices.
Just remembered this book. Pilots in Command by Kris Kirstopherson I think. Again, it’s no 4 Day Follies Which should be required reading for anyone in 121. But Pilots in Command was excellent IMO. Took quiet a few things away from it when I was a new CA. Many tips how to handle situations w crew members. Big difference going from 1 girl in the back to 4. He started on the BRO and is a AA heavy CA now. Again, a lot of things we do naturally, but helped me during those irregular ops which as my goat show was Every other day.
Last edited by Battlinbear21; 12-30-2017 at 11:39 PM. Reason: Add info.
01-06-2018, 11:26 AM
#69
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2016
Position: FO
Posts: 793
Tips For Newbies
01-10-2018, 05:56 AM
#70
Polyester Pilot
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: 777 CA
Posts: 513
Rick's Almanac for Noobs...
-Call your IOE check airman before each IOE trip. If you have time off between trips, study and chairfly so you don't get rusty.
-Develop your own personal mental checklist for your personal gear. Pat yourself down every time you stand up (wallet, phone, badges, glasses, jacket, hat, etc). Noobs are always leaving their phones and wallets on the floor.
-Point the Yoplait container away from yourself when opening.
Poke a hole in all foil sealed containers with a fork before opening. Dried yogurt is nasty on a white shirt
-Eventually your hotel room will get robbed. Don't leave your wallet/passport unattended in the room (or hide it very creatively if you do). Thieves will typically grab all of your crap, check drawers, stuff it all in your suitcase, and split. Takes about one minute. If you carry a laptop of tablet with sensitive personal info, make sure the hard drive is encrypted, that way the thief only gets a chunk of plastic.
-If you want to work out after a long-day, do it as soon as you get to the hotel. Don't sit down or laydown.
-If doing AM's and not accustomed to it, try real hard not to nap on day one. If you do, you'll wake up around 1900 and not be able to get back to sleep until 0100. You'll be zombie when the alarm goes off at 0400. This vicious cycle will then repeat every day for the rest of the trip. Not fun, not healthy, and not safe. If you must nap, do it for 30-60 minutes and set an alarm.
-Don't use earplugs. You won't hear the alarm and will wake up with the hotel manager shaking you and telling you they're all boarded up and ready to go.
-The "SunBeam" brand alarm clock is ubiquitous in cheap hotels. It is also very unreliable due to cheap switches.
-Wakeup calls are unreliable. They'll often mix you up with FA's, so you'll get a wake up call two hours before the 0400 van so you can do your hair and makeup. The FA just has to look good, she doesn't have to be well rested.
-Light in the room will keep you awake. Carry big paperclips to seal loose curtains, and unplug or cover up appliances which have status lights. Once your eyes get accustomed to the dark, the microwave clock is pretty bright.
Use the clips on the pants hangers to close the drapes
-If the hotel is loud, call the desk once, then call the company once, and then call in fatigued. That will get the hotel changed very quickly. That's one thing you don't need to put up with.
-Plug in your phone and EFB immediately when you arive at the hotel. Sucks to wake up at 0330 with the realization that your EFB is not charged and the alrm's going off in 30 minutes. Carry an external battery.
-About EFB's... we had a guy get fired because his EFB geo-located him while he was out sick (he was on a personal trip, lied about where he was, and the EFB rated him out). I use it only as an EFB, don't install any personal stuff on it, and it stays powered off in a closet when I'm home.
-On that note... your employer can track your movements anywhere you jumpseat. They can also track you using online nonrev, and probably ID90/ZED as well. If you really need to travel while "sick", buy a ticket on SWA, or drive.
-When you get competitive for majors, get all your ducks in a row (logbook up-to-date, errors accounted for, suit tailored and pressed, interview prep seminar, school transcripts, LOR's, etc, etc). Stay in the books at that point. Being ready for a major interview is a full-time job. If you get called for an interview next week, and you have a four-day tomorrow it would suck if you weren't ready. Noobs today will be competitive very quickly.
-Be 3-5 early for the van. Ten early if it's a big hotel with a big van that runs on a schedule. If inconsiderate civilians fill up the van that you had scheduled, the van driver will not kick them out to make room for you...
-Don't be "that guy"... late for van, shirt wrinkled, unshaven. Your reputation will spread fast and it's a small industry.
-If you're sick, call in sick. Don't pollute the cockpit with your germs.
-To avoid getting sick, stay hydrated, eat healthy, and go easy on the booze. Between dry air, circadian disruptions, and all the typhoid marys at the airport, it's an uphill battle.
-Don't bust the FAA 8 hour rule. If you must bust the company 12 hour rule, don't do it at the hotel, near the hotel, or with any FA's. Go somewhere else and pay cash.
-If you're hung over, do not go to the airport. Call in sick from the hotel. If TSA or the station people think you're impaired, you're going to get breathalyzed and drug tested, and they're going to investigate by talking to your crew and the hotel. If you set foot on the airplane, law enforcement will get involved. TSA loves nothing better than to catch impaired pilots, they get a raise and a merit badge for that.
I'll probably think of more later.
-Call your IOE check airman before each IOE trip. If you have time off between trips, study and chairfly so you don't get rusty.
-Develop your own personal mental checklist for your personal gear. Pat yourself down every time you stand up (wallet, phone, badges, glasses, jacket, hat, etc). Noobs are always leaving their phones and wallets on the floor.
-Point the Yoplait container away from yourself when opening.
Poke a hole in all foil sealed containers with a fork before opening. Dried yogurt is nasty on a white shirt
-Eventually your hotel room will get robbed. Don't leave your wallet/passport unattended in the room (or hide it very creatively if you do). Thieves will typically grab all of your crap, check drawers, stuff it all in your suitcase, and split. Takes about one minute. If you carry a laptop of tablet with sensitive personal info, make sure the hard drive is encrypted, that way the thief only gets a chunk of plastic.
-If you want to work out after a long-day, do it as soon as you get to the hotel. Don't sit down or laydown.
-If doing AM's and not accustomed to it, try real hard not to nap on day one. If you do, you'll wake up around 1900 and not be able to get back to sleep until 0100. You'll be zombie when the alarm goes off at 0400. This vicious cycle will then repeat every day for the rest of the trip. Not fun, not healthy, and not safe. If you must nap, do it for 30-60 minutes and set an alarm.
-Don't use earplugs. You won't hear the alarm and will wake up with the hotel manager shaking you and telling you they're all boarded up and ready to go.
-The "SunBeam" brand alarm clock is ubiquitous in cheap hotels. It is also very unreliable due to cheap switches.
-Wakeup calls are unreliable. They'll often mix you up with FA's, so you'll get a wake up call two hours before the 0400 van so you can do your hair and makeup. The FA just has to look good, she doesn't have to be well rested.
-Light in the room will keep you awake. Carry big paperclips to seal loose curtains, and unplug or cover up appliances which have status lights. Once your eyes get accustomed to the dark, the microwave clock is pretty bright.
Use the clips on the pants hangers to close the drapes
-If the hotel is loud, call the desk once, then call the company once, and then call in fatigued. That will get the hotel changed very quickly. That's one thing you don't need to put up with.
-Plug in your phone and EFB immediately when you arive at the hotel. Sucks to wake up at 0330 with the realization that your EFB is not charged and the alrm's going off in 30 minutes. Carry an external battery.
-About EFB's... we had a guy get fired because his EFB geo-located him while he was out sick (he was on a personal trip, lied about where he was, and the EFB rated him out). I use it only as an EFB, don't install any personal stuff on it, and it stays powered off in a closet when I'm home.
-On that note... your employer can track your movements anywhere you jumpseat. They can also track you using online nonrev, and probably ID90/ZED as well. If you really need to travel while "sick", buy a ticket on SWA, or drive.
-When you get competitive for majors, get all your ducks in a row (logbook up-to-date, errors accounted for, suit tailored and pressed, interview prep seminar, school transcripts, LOR's, etc, etc). Stay in the books at that point. Being ready for a major interview is a full-time job. If you get called for an interview next week, and you have a four-day tomorrow it would suck if you weren't ready. Noobs today will be competitive very quickly.
-Be 3-5 early for the van. Ten early if it's a big hotel with a big van that runs on a schedule. If inconsiderate civilians fill up the van that you had scheduled, the van driver will not kick them out to make room for you...
-Don't be "that guy"... late for van, shirt wrinkled, unshaven. Your reputation will spread fast and it's a small industry.
-If you're sick, call in sick. Don't pollute the cockpit with your germs.
-To avoid getting sick, stay hydrated, eat healthy, and go easy on the booze. Between dry air, circadian disruptions, and all the typhoid marys at the airport, it's an uphill battle.
-Don't bust the FAA 8 hour rule. If you must bust the company 12 hour rule, don't do it at the hotel, near the hotel, or with any FA's. Go somewhere else and pay cash.
-If you're hung over, do not go to the airport. Call in sick from the hotel. If TSA or the station people think you're impaired, you're going to get breathalyzed and drug tested, and they're going to investigate by talking to your crew and the hotel. If you set foot on the airplane, law enforcement will get involved. TSA loves nothing better than to catch impaired pilots, they get a raise and a merit badge for that.
I'll probably think of more later.
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