ExperimentalAB

Personally, I would hold off on getting in the penguin-suit until you've completed your check-ride...it gives you something to look forward to, and there is no way you can feel "fake" if you've earned it LoL...but anyway, all you really need to jumpseat is business-casual. And I would not expect the comany to put you up in a hotel for an observation flight - try to catch and out-and-back.

Finally, during the observation rides, I would persuade you to not attempt to memorize the flight crew's flows, callouts, etc...Line flying is a whole 'nother animal from Flight Training, and you don't want to get too confused/overwhelmed. Take that opportunity instead to see the bigger picture - where everyone is at what times during the pre-flight, when the paperwork shows up, when you push, how you push, etc...the 121 procedures are what they can't teach you in Sim.

And like tsween said, jumpseat in a buddy's sim-training...that's where you'll learn the most for your checkride.

...Elvis...

CloudPilot57

I have been jumpseating around after systems a couple times now. I fortunately met a really awesome captain that goes out if his way to help me and teach me stuff. I made sure I was in Cass and then just showed up in business casual asking for the jumpseat. It is no big deal, just look for an out and back.

ConnectionPilot

What are the good and bad things about having sim training in Denver?

evh347

The Good:
-Nice Hotel/Room (other than no kitchen)
-Room Service was quite fast/reliable
-Free Breakfast (some stuff available 24/7)
-Some good instructors
-Walmart within a shuttle ride
-Channel 22
-Free cookies 24/7...ask for fresh chocolate chip if its late at night.
-Restaurants in walking distance (Outback Steakhouse, Wendy's, a liquour store, and Uno's). Uno's has 1/2 price drinks and appetizers from 4-7pm and again 10-11pm.
-On clear days, you can see the mountains on the horizon.

The Bad:
-Mile High sickness is real, took me 14 days to adjust. The air is so dry out there that is was common to wake up periodically with nose bleeds (crusties).
-SIM schedules aren't always at the best times (unless you like being up at 2am-6am)
-Some instructors are not so familiar with Mesaba policy versus general policy. Occasionally, there are great differences in techniques between one person and the next which can result in confusion for you.
-Only a microwave and a tiny refrigerator in the room. Quite a stark contrast to the full kitchen you have in Eagan during ground. Plan on stocking up on TV dinners.

gbntpilot

I'm probably one of the few who has done both. I went to Denver for CRJ-200 training and my original CL-65 type, and Montreal when I was hired at Mesaba on the CRJ-900. If you can possibly go to Montreal, do it. The training is much better. CAE (Denver) is good, but the level of knowledge is a lot deeper at Bombardier. I've heard check airmen say that they can tell in the first few minutes of a OE flight if their FO trained in Denver or Montreal. The ones coming from Montreal are much more competent coming out of the sims, especially on the FMS.

xjsf340fo

I went home every weekend during training (to IAD), except for one. You have to have a backup flight (or two), that's all.

xjsf340fo

Finished tng 3.5 weeks ago, all honey-dos complete. How long has the IOE wait been (you Nov 07 class guys, especially)?? How long on reserve??

Lone Palm

I was in the Sept. 10th class, they called me for IOE about a week after I completed the sims. Most of our class is still on Buildup/Reserve or highspeed lines for the month of March.

xjsf340fo

Did you ever get a "green line"?
Ref IOE, I understand the slowdown is recent. I just filled in as NFP for a CA upgrade who did his FO tng sometime in the fall and he said he waited only a week then. I met a Nov 07 class grad who completed tng Dec 27th at DTW Jan 18th and he had not been called yet. Forgot to get his cell #... So, can any SF340 FOs with late Dec 07 tng completion share their experiences?

Lone Palm

Ya I did, you will too.....remember to bid for it too.