Originally Posted by
Twister
I know that the contract mandates 7 (8?) days minimum in between indoc and sims, but can anyone who's been through indoc lately pipe up and say how long the wait has been running?
Also, does the wait in between indoc and sims vary by airframe or is it all generally the same?
I think for most it's between 1-4 weeks. The biggest determining factor will probably be how senior you are in your class on your fleet. If you are the #1 guy on your fleet in class you will be in the first group to come back for aircraft training. The idea is that you are more senior so they will schedule you to finish training first to get off training pay.
After the 9 days of Indoc you will have the 100 series which is about 4 days in the classroom for FMS and systems review and the last day will be computer systems test (eSV - electronic systems validation).
Up next is the 200 series which is the procedure trainer (non-motion, cockpit mockup of varying realism depending on fleet). I think there were 5 lessons and the Procedure Validation.
300 series is in the full motion sim and concentrates on procedures. Starts on the runway with the engines running and you learn and practice normal and abnormal procedures (engine out, system malfunctions, rapid decompression, fires, etc.). Culminates with a Maneuvers Validation.
The 400 series is the line oriented phase where you start at the gate and conduct flights from point A to B with weather, system malfunctions, etc thrown in. The final check is the Line Oriented Evaluation.
You will then get scheduled for a 2 day observation rotation where you will watch from the jumpseat. Then comes OE (operating experience), probably 2, maybe 3 trips to get a minimum of 35 hours. When all goes well, you get signed off OE and are now a line pilot.
Once you come back after indoc, training goes pretty fast. For me, from the systems review/FMS to finishing OE was just over 6 weeks, with not much time off in between events.