Going back to Delta from mil leave
 

All,

I'm currently on mil leave doing some mil aircraft training and after 5 months of seasoning I will be returning to the company in February 2016. I left around May of this year so I'm looking at roughly 10 months away. I plan to return to the same jet, so I was wondering what to expect training wise...will it be the standard CQ training with an extra day or two? Is there a specific reference that details the training course/track I will attend based on time away?


Thanks!

If it's a CQ program, there is a schedule of required re-training events based on how long you've been gone. I'd call your type training mgr.

Greater than one year will typically require some dedicated ground (probably one-on-one unless there's more than one of you returning) and a couple practice sim sessions followed by normal CQ footprint.

Less than one year they might be able to just do CQ but I imagine they would give you at least one courtesy warm-up sim.

Nope. I was out on MLOA for 7 months and had one day of sim training and then a maneuvers validation and LOE flight (757/767).

On day one they threw EVERY scenario at me in one four hour sim. I was braindead after that. The sim ride was in the training book and there was even an instructor guide for it. They gave me a Normal Takeoff, normal landing, abort, V1 Cut, SE Go-around, SE Landing, Windshear takeoff, in the pattern, and on landing, terrain escape maneuver, Critical terrain divert, NAT divert, flap malfunction disagree to a landing, crosswind landings, and taxi. I might be leaving something out. It was the hardest single event I've ever completed in my career.

Then on the second day I did a mini-maneuver evaluation, break, then a JFK-PHL profile LOE.

Two days. That was it. I thought I would be given more sims but I wasn't. Good luck.

Make sure you follow the USERRA rules and Delta's Guide for Military Leave and give proper notice and return when you are supposed to.

Dang! Thanks for the detailed reply fellas. The mil handbook is a good guide and I have been following it accordingly. I plan on alot of self study prior to going back before the fire hose you described above. Also, good advice to touch base with the training manager to see what to expect.

I am almost considering bidding the 7ER and maybe go through a month long initial qual in another jet, but I figure I can probably handle the quick spin up...hopefully!

I read your post again. I thought you were only gone 5 months. 10 months might trigger additional training. I would definitely call the training department and ask questions.

You get a special RQ: 2 periods if you are solo, 3 if there is a balanced crew.

Five years ago I was out 9 months for a medical issue. When I came back, I called the Fleet Captain/Training Capt. and asked what to expect. He said (as said above) I'd get a 2 day 'special requal' which was basically the standard 2 day CQ training, also as describe above (one day of all hell breaking loose, day two a maneuvers validation).

When I said I didn't think I was ready for that, a CQ event in 2 days, as I hadn't been in a cockpit in 9 months, he said, "Well, if after the first day you don't think you are ready, you can ask for more days...."

I then looked up my sim instructor (go to DLNet and check the sim schedules) and called him, told him what was up, and that I wanted more Sims but the Boss said no, unless I fk it up. He said not to worry, "...we'll take as long as you want, when you feel comfortable, we'll score it.".

So, big picture wise, the IP was great and willing to work me out, non-jeopardy, and then work with me, until I got ready and said, "OK, I'm ready".

I had a great seat filler too, which is worth it's weight in gold. In fact, I just flew with him on my last trip (an F/O IP doing his line flying) and I bought him beers. When he asked why, I had to remind him it was ME he was carrying on his back that day five years ago!

They aren't trying to fail you, they are trying to help you get back up to speed, so just be upfront with them and offer to buy the beer!

Awesome thanks Timbo! I am already looking forward to get back to DAL, and the details you described above are why. Regardless I will study my memory items, review the LOD, Vol 1 and 2 and hopefully have done enough self study to ease the pain a bit.

A buddy of mine in the same boat as me (same indoc class and also on mil leave at the same time) is thinking about bidding another airplane when he goes back to avoid the short requal and just go through a month long initial, but I would rather just rip the Band-Aid off and get 'er done.

Interesting. I may be in the same position next year.

If you or your buddy bid a new aircraft but the conversion window is a month or more after your return from MLOA, will they put you through the 2 day CQ on your old aircraft, send you to the line for a month (or however long) then send you to your new aircraft?

If you come back to a new aircraft (I'll be gone for over 6 months when I get back from my MLOA), do they just put you into an initial qual syllabus?