After INDOC those assigned to the CRJ went on to ground school and the ERJ folks had a two and a half month break before starting ground school. I spent the time off working on household projects and using travel benefits to visit a few places.
I took some notes during the month but didn't journal every detail, but you can get an idea of the process:
Day 1:
- Class intros
- Issued company badges
- Sim bids (CVG, SEA, SLC) 4:00, 12:00, 16:00, 20:00. Live bidding based on seniority, 1st 15 in class got to choose, we had a few minutes to network and find a partner that we meshed with (similar back ground, common city, best time of day, etc.). There were two captains in the class so partnering with them would be ideal as you'd take your ILOE as a pair. Otherwise FO pairs get a fill in captain for the ILOE. This sim bid line also determined the procedure trainer schedule but all PT's are done in Denver so only need to travel to CVG for sims
- Emergencies
- TEAM model
- ICE briefings
- Safety and Power Up (from a dark aircraft)
- Electrical
- Fire Protection
- Checklists
- Power up
- Flows
- Origination
- Hydraulics
- Airworthiness
Day 2:
- DTS lesson 1, getting familiar with MCDU (FMS)
- Matrix lesson 1, safety and power up checklist. Originating flow and checklist.
- Ground
- Flight instruments
- Before start tasks
- More FMS examples, building flight plan from release/clearance
- ABC
- WANT
- APU
Day 3:
- DTS lesson, load FMS with route, perf, other release info
- Matrix lesson 2, ABC's (load FMS, bugs), WANT briefings.
- Started from dark cockpit
- originating flow, originating checklist
- Before start flow, before start checklist
- Ground
- Engine start flow and checklist
- Tasks
- Getting release perf data (ZFW, V speeds, etc.)
- Pushback
- Starting engines
- After start checklist
- Taxi operations
- Ice and rain protection
- Runway performance change checklist
Day 4:
- DTS
- Matrix
- Ground
Day 5:
- DTS
- Matrix
- Ground
Day 6: Off. Studied 10-2 with study group for KV. More studying that evening.
Day 7: Off. Got groceries, laundry, walked 3 miles, a little bit of studying.
Day 8:
- DTS progress check, had to load FMS and takeoff data within 20 minutes. Got uniforms, had to exchange jacket for bigger size.
- Matrix
- Ground (TBD)
Day 9:
- DTS
- Matrix
- Ground
Day 10:
- DTS - MCDU validation, setup FMS in 20 minutes
- Matrix
- Ground
Day 11: Emergency equipment, opening and disarming main cabin door, O2 masks, PBE's fire extinguishers, and life vests.
Ground:
- Systems review. Reviewed the items that I didn't know during the in-class review that evening (about 1-2 hours)
Day 12: systems test, 160 questions, need 80% to pass. Pass and get ground school graduation certificate, wings and name tag.
Day 13: Leadership and professionalism. Topics included, styles of leadership, some actual ASAP reports and how we might have handled them. Another point was how we go from small focus on our tasks and flows when just learning to a wider and eventually big picture once muscle memory and repetitiveness of tasks/flows get proficient.
Day 14: Off, but practiced flows and flight in procedure trainer SEA-PDX for PT1 Day 13
Day 15: Procedure trainers (PT). These are scheduled the same as sim slots so this week will be 8:00 pm to 2:00 am every day. Going to work on a sleep schedule and prep as the week progresses. Probably sleep until 10 or 11, and then breakfast and prep. Relax and exercise late afternoon and early dinner with rest before 8:00 pm check in.
- PT 1: SEA-PDX-SEA, basically a complete end to end flight alternating as PF and PM for each leg.
- Advanced trainer with yoke, throttle, flap, spoiler levers. Got to rotate and disconnect auto pilot at mins and follow flight director to runway.
Day 16: PT 2
Day 17: PT 3
Day 18: PT 4
Day 19: Reviewed flows/checklists in Matrix in preparation for PV. PV (flows/checklist/FMS setup validation) and approach practice. Hand fly a takeoff (no auto throttles or AP). Did repetative approaches to work on a pattern/cadence for rapid briefing and approach setup. ABC, WANT briefing, descent checklist. Approach and missed approach callouts.
Day 20: PT 5
Day 21: Travel home
Day 22-23: Off
Day 24: Travel to CVG for start of SIM training
