Originally Posted by MDA Continuing

To my fellow new hires I figured I'd write out my training experience. Things may have changed and every experience is different but this one is mine.

Training from indoc to LOE took me 70 days. I am currently waiting on OE. There are rumors OE is backed up for about three weeks.

Training started with about 2 weeks of online work from home. Majority of the at home work was self paced modules. There were a few live sessions through WebEx. Week one ends with a INDOC test which covers general EDV policies, regs, dispatch requirements, and so on. The remainder of your time at home covers "General Subjects". Basically a mix of things to bridge the gap between indoc and systems.

Once the online segment is done you'll arrive at MSP. I live about 5 hrs from MSP so I drove my car to have a way to get around. You can get by without one but it limits your free time a bit. The hotel has shuttle that take you to class, Mall of America, Walmart, and the airport. If you live a reasonable distance I would highly recommend driving your car to MSP, parking at the hotel and the training centers is free.

Training was 0800-1700 Monday-Friday with a one hour lunch break. There is a cafeteria nearby as well as microwaves and Keurig machines near the classrooms. I would highly recommend to bring plenty of K-cups. You have the option to get positive spaced (a confirmed ticket on Delta) to any airport within 70 miles of your residency on file anytime you have two or more days off in a row. I would say about 80% of my class went home most weekends. I would highly recommend going home on your days off if you can, with exception to the weekend before the systems test. That ones a big one that you might want to stick around for to study with friends. On the note of studying with friends, the technique I used was study independently to understand the information, then meet up with a group to fill in gaps. You can really get burned if someone in the group is teaching or saying the wrong stuff.

For each subject in ground school you'll get a workbook and the PowerPoint slides to guide your studying. Use them. Use them every day you study. They are a key component to passing the tests. The workbook and PowerPoint slides try to condense the literal thousands of pages of company manuals into more manageable chunks.

Back to the timeline:
-GenSubs (1ish week at home and like 4 days in class, then test)
-Systems (long. felt like a year) After the test you'll do at least 4 jumpseat segments on your aircraft
-Procedures trainers "PT's". These consist of about 4 lessons then a validation (practical test) on flows, checklists, and profiles. The trainer you use is a touch screen sim. It kinda sucks but it's better than sitting in class. If there was one area I struggled the most on, it was procedures. Thankfully I had an awesome sim partner who kept me on my feet and studied with me between lessons.
-Maneuvers Training "MT's". You'll finally get your hands on the sim. You'll have six sessions (more if you and/or your partner need them) then another validation. These are a lot of V1 cuts, single engine approaches and landings, non precision approaches, CAT II ILS's, Visual approaches, and QRH stuff.

*MT's is the start of "dynamic scheduling" if you are in MSP for sims. This basically means you're on reserve. You get 6 days on call, two days off with I think like a 16hr call out usually. Some guys get done quick. Others only get like one sim a week. I think it sucks from a student standpoint. Also in these you'll prob have a new sim partner for each session.

If you're one of the lucky ones, like me, you'll go to PHX (or anywhere that's not MSP. During my time PHX was the only sim outside of MSP). You'll get 24/7 per diem for the whole time your there, a set schedule, likely the same sim partner every session, and a smaller group of instructors. I loved it there. You can put in a request for it but there's no promises. I think only 6 out of 16 people in my class went to PHX. The PHX group's were the first to finish training for us. The only con that I can think of to PHX is there's only one sim there. If something breaks, your screwed. I had 3 days on 3 days off in PHX

-LOS's These are simulated line flights with little instructor input. There are 3 lessons of these. Pretty straight forward flying from point A to B and maybe diverting to point C or D.
-LOE. The checkride. I was told this is the only PRIA reportable training event. You'll have a sort 15ish min oral on basic systems operation and a very easy pictorial preflight. I wouldn't sweat the oral too much, just read the systems workbook though a few times between sims and review limitations. The flight was straight forward. If you get signed off for LOE you're ready for it. Forgot to mention, your sim partner will be an upgrading CA or a sim instructor.

A couple things I forgot to mention.
-You'll get a 75hr's of pay in training.
-No per diem for any time in MSP
-Aircraft assignments go out during the first couple weeks of training
-Your sim partner is prob another new hire
-If you incomplete a lesson it's not a huge deal. Just put in the work and don't make a habit of it
-This is my 700/900 experience.
-Everything in training is manageable. There's nothing that's too hard, there is just a lot. Ask for help when you need it.
-The training staff was overall 9/10.

Originally Posted by Lowflyin

How far out are class dates now and how long after applying until you are offered an interview?
assuming you are offered an interview..

Originally Posted by PurringRaccoon

Hey everyone! My class is starting soon and just got an email about bidding for bases.
Im living in a van so I am able to move to any base - so 'choose where you can live in base' is not really a concern for me.

I am very interested in CVG and DTW 900s. I hear those bases are somewhat junior and I can -maybe- get them if I bid for them.
Here is what I have gathered from research so far -

CVG is a smaller base of the two, maybe fly with familiar faces often, and maybe faster upgrade time?
DTW has more flying opportunities, longer legs, maybe get shot at while driving around?

If you guys have any info / advice about choosing between CVG / DTW, I would greatly appreciate it.

Apparently a lot of ppl are getting NYC as well - I would love to avoid that lol

Originally Posted by Zerosilver84

Well if you go cvg you have to live by the river 😂.

But seriously you could get probably either one off the bat. Depending on your SSN. If not then def near the end of your training. Only reason cvg would give you faster upgrade is you most likely will have a line a month or 2 sooner than in dtw. Allowing you to hit the 1000hrs faster. But barely as rsvs are flying a lot too. I'd favor dtw for better release and report times.

You can park your van in Ann Arbor which is about 35 min from the airport. No getting shot there. Detroit isnt as bad as it used to be. Just have to end up on the west side of the city /airport

Originally Posted by Zerosilver84

Well if you go cvg you have to live by the river 😂.

But seriously you could get probably either one off the bat. Depending on your SSN. If not then def near the end of your training. Only reason cvg would give you faster upgrade is you most likely will have a line a month or 2 sooner than in dtw. Allowing you to hit the 1000hrs faster. But barely as rsvs are flying a lot too. I'd favor dtw for better release and report times.

You can park your van in Ann Arbor which is about 35 min from the airport. No getting shot there. Detroit isnt as bad as it used to be. Just have to end up on the west side of the city /airport

Originally Posted by Casualinterest

Im so mad you beat me to the 'down by the river' joke

Originally Posted by renatodep

I have Indoc now beginning of Feb. I imagine NYC will be easy to get if requested. What's the reserve time like there?