Mach242

Getting ready for upgrade here in a few months. Any apps/programs etc to help with preparing? Study tips? Biggest hurdles etc.. Any advice on the topic that would help make the process a bit less overwhelming and painful would be greatly appreciated.

chrisreedrules

Show up prepared is my best advice. The only people who struggle through upgrade are those that show up thinking that they are going to be spoon-fed everything like in initial.

It should go without saying, but you have to know your limitations and immediate action items verbatim. All bold limitations must be 100%. Non-bold you have to know at least 80%. All immediate action items 100%.

Systems aren’t covered in any great detail during your ground school so spend some time on your own reviewing them. My oral wasn’t particularly difficult but it was thorough in the sense that it did cover all the major systems.

This is just my opinion, but I would save the weather and FOM/POH/Ops Specs stuff for when you're actually in class. It is definitely not a bad idea to skim and read through the major manuals to have a good idea of where everything is and where to find stuff (utilize the bookmark function)... But I would caution you not to study this stuff “incorrectly”. It is actually pretty simple, but when people study stuff on their own sometimes they have a tendency to over complicate it. Which brings me to my last piece of advice...

Study in a group and go over the homework every night together. Group study is key to success. Best of luck!

Mach242

Great read, thanks!!

joseolay

Good FOs should already know that stuff and back up their CAs. Don't be the FO that just sits on their ass on quick turns and while the CA is inside taking a dump. He comes back with 10 mins to go from departure and learns you need an alt and more fuel, but lazy FO didn't catch it because he was sitting on his but playing with his phone. Now you push late because of waiting for fuel. All could of been prevented with a good FO that checked wx, acars dispatch and called ops for fuel while CA was pinching a loaf.

AH64Retired

1. Don't just let the captain take you for an airplane ride. Go through the release and the airplane log for yourself.
2. Fly a -200 now and again. Depending on your base, that may take care of itself, or may require some effort.
3, While you are in that -200, use some of your airport appreciation time at the gate to run through the captain flows from the left seat. Sim sessions are a lot easier if you aren't bogged down in that stuff.

The fact that you are thinking about this months ahead instead of days means you should be fine.

PowderFinger

TMI but that was funny.

FlyyGuyy

Same goes for mx.
Scenario goes like this, go inside for coffees for the crew, come back,
Fo: hey we have xxxx broken.
Me: did you call mx?
Fo: *blank stare*

C'mon man. Pick up the phone, call mx, dx etc.

joseolay

Agreed, just don't be the guy that writes something up and calls mx to then find out what you just wrote up is on DAI/NEF list which you didn't check. I'm amazed how often this happens with FOs when I'm inside the term.

Quarryman

But in all fairness, we have CAs who would rather not have FOs do those things. When in doubt, ask the CA first.

Stratapilot

I did that...once. I learned my lesson that day. I’ll call ops, I’ll check the logbook, I’ll look over the release. But if there’s **** missing or broke I confer with the boss man first.