Promoted - Captain Upgrade

After a 3 plus year hiatus I thought I would revive my blog. As with all airline pilots with families our lives and careers just sort of take over and before we know it 3 years has gone by. Hopefully I can be much more active keeping this blog updated!

The last year has been a monumental one in my aviation career as I achieved my upgrade to the left seat. With 'legacy airlines' like the one I fly with, you reach the ability to become Captain when your seniority allows it. A few times per year the company will post the positions they require which is called an "equipment bid".  It is usually broken down into pilot staffing requirements by pilot base showing any vacancies or reductions to specific fleet types at each base.  As pilots, we then submit our desired positions in ranking order and then the "super computer" does its thing and assigns you what your seniority can hold. It is quite a day when you are awarded and see your name on the Captain's list. After this, the next big question is "when will I get trained"  and "when do I start getting paid"? Again, as with almost everything in the airline industry your seniority is the decider in this and will decide if you are trained soon or up to a year away. I was fortunate and began my training 7 months after being awarded the position.

The first 2 weeks of ground school and ground based trainer sessions are designed to learn the aircraft systems and hone your standard operating procedures. The benefit of learning the procedures here is that you are prepared and not wasting time in the much more expensive full motion simulator.

 

Example of a ground based trainer.

After you have successfully passed this phase of your training it is off to the full motion flight simulator. It is in the 'box", as we call it, that the real fun begins. Due to the very realistic graphics and full motion almost any flying situation can be experienced to a high level of realism. In the box  you will rarely have an aircraft with all of its engines or systems operating. It will be what seems endless crisis situations with alarms bells and sirens sounding along with warning and caution lights continually flashing. After roughly 8-10 4 hour sessions which culminates in a check ride, you are given a congratulatory handshake and your license is signed. Endorsed!

 
Example of a full motion simulator and graphics. (The box)

So there you are, a freshly signed license, a month of training behind you and full of confidence now that you are endorsed on the aircraft. After a few celebratory "pint" arm curls with your training partner and a couple of days off to catch your breath, the next phase starts - line in doc or line flight training. You meet up with a training pilot and get to apply all your new found skill and knowledge out on the line and with "real passengers"! Unlike the controlled make believe world in the simulator this is the real world. Requests from the flight attendants, ground personnel, and station operations coming at you as you try to pre-flight the aircraft, load the FMS (flight management system) all while trying to remain on time. Basically baptism by fire! Although a bit overwhelming at first, the line training phase is truly where you learn the most and your confidence is solidified. After 50 hours of honing your skills on the line, you are given a final check-ride. The Check Pilot acts as your First Officer as you  operate a normal multi-day trip. I'll never forget that last setting of the park brake, final parking checklist of the pairing which was followed by the final congratulatory hand shake.

PROMOTED!