I've got a March 3rd class date (YEA!!!!) & I'm trying to get prepared... A few questions for those of you working there...

How does Delta feel about stickers on your flight case? Mine's in really good shape (1 year old) but I've got a few (tasteful) stickers on it. Am I investing in a new one before class, or am I alright with what I've got?

Regarding pass travel... If you are unmarried, can you add a Companion - even if they're not a "Domestic Partner" - like your sister or a friend? And if so, if you don't add a Companion while you're in training, can you add them at any time during the year or is that your one opportunity?

I understand there is a semi-formal dinner sometime during training for the pilots and their spouses. What is appropriate attire for the occasion, who else attends, and what goes on at this dinner (other than eating and drinking!)?

I've been reading about the need for a swim suit during training. Anyone care to elaborate what the wet t-shirt contest is all about?

Where do people from out-of-town typically stay during systems and sim training? If the answer is a crashpad, are there certain ones that are better than others (or ones to stay away from)? Are there any with transportation to the training center, or do people typically drive their cars to ATL or rent a car?

Thank you!

 

Delta officially discourages Flight Case decoration, but most folks do have stickers on theirs. I've not ever heard it being an issue, but you are correct to ensure it is tasteful.

Pass travel - the answer is "yes" and you can change your pass rider.

The dinner is something very nice that you will want to bring a date to if she is part of any significant future plans. Most folks wore their interview suits and the women seem to know an excuse to buy a slinky evening gown without much prompting. Senior Management will hand out your Wings (with the star which indicates Captain at most airlines), welcome you on board, take some pictures and give you the opportunity to tell everyone your story on how you came to be with Delta. It is a very nice evening that you will remember.

During your Evac / Emergency Ops training you get to actually inflate the life raft, use the flotation devices and generally have a ball. Guess the joke is what everyone looks like in wet T-Shirts. Got saggy man boobs? I dunno.

Most of the local Hotels run shuttles to the training center. Crash pads are cheaper, but I think a hotel is a little better for getting rest. When you get to Indoc there are bulletin boards and you can get good information from the class ahead of yours that will be all over the training center also.

Welcome Aboard - everyone is glad that you are here!

 

I've never seen or read anything that says Delta "officially discourages flight case decoration". I see more more bags with stickers than without. Good sticker suggestions may include: squadron patch, USMC globe and anchor, Rush is Right!, Fly Delta's Big Jets, Jah is my co-pilot, I (heart) MD-88, So Be It!, or Hollis Phone Home. Bad sticker ideas might include: Hillary 08!, Limp Bizkit, My Union Speaks for Me, Macintosh apple logo, I (heart) my wife, or anything referencing the New England Patriots.

Sounds like quite the shin-dig for the new hires. Back in the day, we got a soggy hot dog at the speed line, and that's the way we liked it.

BTW, at Delta, wings with a star indicate co-pilot. Plain boring wings are (were) for the plumber. Wings with a gold embossed wreath are reserved for el heffe.

Agreed with B. Bar - welcome aboard and congrats - may you live in interesting times.

J

 

Rush is Right!,


JTUOK,

Just threw up on keyboard

 

That was one funny post.

I read the Flight Bag remarks together with information about Uniform Guidelines. As you pointed out, the vast majority of folks decorate their flight bags.

Just leave your hat off and no one will give you any grief for flight bag stickers

 

You're right, it doesn't specifically say anything about stickers, but here's the section from the FOM, Part I, 11-6.5, Appearance Standards:

Miscellaneous Items
Flight Kit Must be plain black with no shoulder straps.
Suitcase Must be black, small to medium in size and conservativly styled



I've got a bunch of stickers on mine and it's never been mentioned...



Kevin

 

Another Delta training question. I understand that it is about four weeks for most aircraft after indoc (six weeks for the 767), and that you may have breaks in training. Does anybody ever go home, or do most people just plan to hang out in Atlanta the 4 weeks? I heard they will positive space you if you have more than 48 hrs between events, just wondering if anyone does this. Also, what is a typical IOE schedule like? Thanks in advance, I'm in the 18 Feb class.

 

Most people in my class are looking at 2 weeks to a month off before a/c training starts. I think everyone will be going home during this time off. It's all home study making where you are irrelevant. They do positive space you to and from training only. As for IOE it's usually 2 four days. They also throw in an observation jumpseat trip. Where you ride the pine for 2 or 3 day trip before you start IOE. I also have a 5 day gap off between FTD's and Full flight sims. The time off varies from person to person. As for you aircraft drop it will probably be mostly NYC ER and 88 with a few scattered 73 and 88 in other bases. The March class is the one that will start to see ATL slots possible.

 

Maybe just my paranoia kicking in. I thought "plain" meant, "plain," without racing stripes, promotion for my favorite third world bar, or the tupperware death tube that I flew before getting on board at Delta.

Most folks go home if they get a break. Some hang out. One bought a house. The training dept is trying to reduce these "breaks" and get folks through with less down time.

After indoc you should get a week, or two, "off" but you'll have plenty of systems information to study for your electronic systems validation. Then you launch into Procedures Trainers and start practicing the flows and procedures that you've gotten familiar with on your own time.

Probably you are smarter than me - but most of my "off" time involved a manual, a CD, or a cockpit poster.

 

Yes, you can book yourself a positive space seat to/from home during breaks in training of 48 hrs or greater. I was quite lucky and had a very gentlemanly M-F or Su-Th schedule during training with a 2 (once 3) day break in between each series of sims, so I did go home 3 of the 4 weekends. I would say that almost all of the guys/gals I went through training with went home at least once or twice during their "weekends", and several went home for every break.

Alot will depend on your sim schedule. I usually had a morning sim so was able to catch an afternoon flight home each time and come back to ATL the night before my next event. If you are on a late aftn or evening sim schedule, then getting home the same day likely won't work and you'd have to decide if it is worth your time/effort to wait until morning and turn right back around the next day to get back to ATL.

The IOE schedulers will schedule your first one or two IOE rotations usually towards the end of your 3rd or start of your 4th week of sims. I had a 5 day break after my last sim and then did a four day and two three day rotations with 3-4 days off in between each rotation. The IOE schedule will vary depending on Line Check Airman availability and you might find yourself doing an IOE flight out of base because of that.

I finished IOE towards the end of a bid month, but if you finish earlier in the month you can request that schedules builds you a line of open time for the remainder of the month, otherwise you will likely receive a partial reserve line until the following bid month.