UPS Training
 

Anyone know what UPS training is like?

Do they want to see you through or is it a cookie cutter sharkfest?

It is because our facilities are so old and run down that they want the occupiers to at least don't look half-a$$, like the building.

Ties are Monday-Thursday (corporate America vs. airline environment) and training is computer based for aircraft systems. Two weeks of "welcome to UPS" basic indoc. 75/76 is AQP and initial MD-11 is still regular oral and checkride. Instructors are a mix of management pilots and IPA/line pilot-instructors. For the MD as you go through the computer based stuff for each system, you reinforce that system's knowledge in a fixed base sim, then move to regular sim for maneuvers/V1 cuts, etc. Training is good and thorough; however, it's low stress. Some of the checklist stuff is very different from other airlines. But overall, the manuals and procedures are very similar to just about every other airline out there.

After the computer based systems, is there an oral or computer based test? Must you score a certain score or you fail? Does that suffice for an oral or is there also an oral? Is any fleet AQP?

Okay so I over looked that 76/75 is AQP. How about the 74/400?

Yes
 

To answer your question directly ...

YES, I do know what UPS training is like !

:D

You should try it, you might like it !

Later, CC

In their minds, they want you to wear the tie and look like a professional becuase they like to give tours of the training center to prospective customers and so they want us to look decent. Makes for some pretty creative neckware sometimes!

A300 is AQP as well, eventually more fleets will be added. Too busy on the MD side to change things now. AQP is nice on the 757 fleet, no oral just a 100 question multiple-choice test. Not sure about the 744, they might be AQP since it will be a new (and by default smal fleet.

A300 is AQP... thank God! The 727 and DC-8 are still old-school. A few weeks of class 8-5, oral, sims and checkride. I believe the 747 classic is old-school as well.

I had an original 727 captain tell me that the union fought for the tie thing. I guess it makes a lot of the mgt boxheads mad that the pilots dress as professionals when they think of us as truckdrivers. I wish we didn't wear them.

UPS does employ a few unusual techniques purchased from the Soviet Union before it's collapse in 1987. They have also expanded these with recent Chinese innovations in biochemical and psychological enhancements.

UPS DOES NOT use computer based training for all fleets. IF you are assigned the DC-8 it's your standard systems ground school. They DO NOT spoon feed which makes it very difficult. Other than that it's a very professional group of people.

When I was in 727 training, we were in class from 8-5 every day. The DC8 folks were out by 2 every day. What gives?

I know, the -8 folks had it easy compared with the 727. Left class early, advance copy of the written test... the whole works. But I have to say, they were sweating over the performance which didn't seem too bad in the 72.

The 72 was computer based if one brought their own CBT programs..... :)

The -8 was NOT a hard program. Yes, you were not "spoon fed", but you were taught exactly what you needed to know. Performance wasn't bad once you understood what to do. Test were fair; oral exams were fair as well (unless you had a certain someone, then all bets were off). The IPA instructors are TOP-NOTCH, as I'm sure they are on all fleets.

As long as you put some effort into it, study like you are supposed to, it is a very fair, low-stress program.

They were trying to get more United Way ice cream $$$ out of you!

727 fire hose

757 2 garden hoses, but you have to know all the differences between the garden hoses, well make that 3 garden hoses.

727 old school, oral, ride. No worries though, the fleet is gone by summer.

757 3 tests, only the last one is for your pink slip, or so they tell us. Just did the first test this week. Passing is 80, some idiot made a 98 to bring up the rear. :rolleyes:

Ties 8-5 Mon-Thu, suit/sportcoat if you are a newhire, haven't seen any bold enough to leave it at home, yet.

good luck, nice handle ;)

I did 75 AQP last year and have to say it was pretty easy and layed back. Just ask any guy who went through the 75 program before last spring what it was like and you'll find that the program is much better now.:)

:( Do you essentially know the test questions before you take the written for the 757?

300 question test bank. Exam is 100 questions. Just like the ATPw or FEw, so yes.

It's pathetic. Everyone in my class got 100%. I know some of those clowns just studied the test questions.

Beats the traditional oral exam...not complaints here!

I guess. I mean, this is going to sound crazy because I get sooooo nervous during orals, but I kind of wish we had one. I feel like I didn't learn jack with this method. Also, you have 3 "checks". Even though they are train to proficiency or whatever, I felt super nervous before each one. At least with the old method, you get everything over in one day which means only crapping myself a few days before the one checkride one time. Know what I mean?

I guess to each his own. I thought AQP was pretty good. Even though there was no official oral, during the systems portion of training, there was an oral done by the instructor each day. That to me seemed the toughest part of the entire training.

Not really. It's still not a free pass thru the program. I just seems more compartmentalized than the old school way. To me, it's better since you can focus on each phase and it all comes together by your LOE. You could always go the 8 if you want to suffer some more.:D

Are there 300 banked questions for the other aircraft? I like to study test questions for the test.

I agree 100%. The AQP program is much better than the old school way of trying to learn/do everything at once. By the time I got to the LOE phase, I was very confident with my systems, procedures, and maneuvers knowledge/performance. I was able to concentrate on just flying the aircraft during normal operations, or handle an emergency confidently, without worrying about my V1 cut procedures....it was all second nature by then. The type rating ride was a non-event because of this.

During the systems phase, myself and my sim partner had to basically brief the systems we were covering that day, and answer all kinds of questions about them. It certainly wasn't a cakewalk, and you had to know what you were talking about.....not just pass a stupid 100 question test. By the time you took the knowledge validation test (100 question systems test), it was basically a non-event because of the face to face systems briefings, and the interaction with the FBS (Fixed Base trainer/non motion simulator).

AGREED ... :cool:

The Mad Dog is old school. CBT films (touch the engine...touch it now), fixed base trainer sessions, and then an oral all in SDF. Then, for my class, out to Long Beach, CA to hang out with the hippies that designed the jet. If I recall, it's 8 sim sessions, a warm-up and then a rating ride or PC for those previously typed. Afterwhich, is a loft where you learn to use the crew bunk and turn sandwich trays into gourmet meals.

I have been through too many ground schools, but this one is actually not bad.

FF

ps. Good One, Jungle !!

I should add that the 757 program is far superior to the "old school" programs, either are still a lot of work to do more than learn the test. Having said that I have a very nice powerpoint that I made as flash cards for the test. :D

Showing for class on Monday.... care to share your "study guide"?

...It's pathetic. Everyone in my class got 100%. I know some of those clowns just studied the test questions...

…I guess. I mean, this is going to sound crazy because I get sooooo nervous during orals, but I kind of wish we had one. I feel like I didn't learn jack with this method…

Freightpuppy, I disagree with you. I think AQP is great and if other guys in your class only studied the questions, well, sooner or later it’ll show. I say keep it the way it is…

I didn't say that we should change it. My opinion was that, for me, I feel like I would learn a lot more the old way. That's noone's fault but mine because there is nothing stopping me from studying just as much. The old way just MAKES you do that where AQP doesn't make it studying your a$$ off a pure necessity. Trust me, I like less pressure in training but, I just feel that it didn't motivate me to study as much. It could have something to do with the fact that this was my third airplane in three years and I was sick of training but nevertheless, my own fault.

The new books (ie systems manual) have been watered down somewhat according to those who have been on the 757/767 for years. There are few hard numbers to memorize because they're basically not there in most cases. Totally different animal than the 727/DC-8 where you would tear down and rebuild every system. It can be frustrating, however, when you do have a question and our books don't address it.