Airline Pilot Central Forums - Your first flight as a regional pilot

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- - Your first flight as a regional pilot (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/22737-your-first-flight-regional-pilot.html)

My IOE check airman met me, then immediately turned in his resignation.

I was very familiar with the airspace and flying at jet speeds, just not so much with the doing everything required and the FMS. Coming from an 'on-time or else' airline, I was a bit nervous when we headed out one minute late due to my taking 'extra' time to get the W&B finished. The check airman wasn't concerned (yeah, it's his last trip!) as the bag count had arrived two minutes before departure time, so we had fun flying. By the second day I had caught up to the plane from the first day, and by the third day I was caught up to the front seat in the plane at that time. I made all of the required mistakes, such as completely blowing the passenger announcements, leaving the flaps at the first setting on the after landing checklist, flubbing a few callouts, trying to dive the nosewheel into the ground, bouncing down the runway a few times (the check airman only bounced once on the trip), and generally acting like every other new hire out there. On the fourth day of the trip, it was looking like IOE was going to be an easy pass.

What was it like your first time flying a 172 cessna?
Wierd feeling?? Is it hard to take off and land?
I haven't been through PPL yet.
What all is involved in a PPL checkride? What do you have to do/Say?
Is it difficult?

Quote:

Originally Posted by soldierboy (Post 342194)

My first flight was in a piper warrior, single engine low wing. It is used in training much like the 172. I was a junior in HS 16 years old, it didn't feel too weird flying. My High school had a program where students could dual enroll in the local community college because my school did not offer AP classes. I took advantage of that and started my PPL. I would fly half the school day and go to regular HS the rest of the day. The only thing that was kinda weird was when i had to do cross countries and i would fly to northern MI and be back at school by noon. It took along time before my friends and other students believed that i was flying all morning. One thing i thought was really cool was when i did my solo night cross countries, in the state of MI anyone under 17 can't be out driving past midnight yet i was out flying an airplane past midnight. As far as the check ride goes, your instructor will pound the regs and emergency procedures into your head pretty good before its all said and done. I was fortunate enough to learn at a towered airport so I was never scared to talk on the radios. During the check ride you will do basic aircraft maneuvers, slow flight, steep stuns, and stalls (not the engine).

Quote:

Originally Posted by soldierboy (Post 342194)

This would be better posted in the "flight training" section.
And i'm pretty sure you have to be a "professional pilot" to post in the airline sections... I just read a post about this over in the hangar talk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z_Pilot (Post 326438)

My first flight as a regional guy was back in 2000. It was a repo pt91 flight from GJT to DRO in a DHC-8. I was extremely nervous. I knew my stuff, but the pressure to do well and remember this flight after years of education, training, instructing & interviewing was a little overwhelming. To start off, I didn't know where to go: mx hanger...the gate...where the f-- is ops? After I found my OE CA, we were on our way. It was his leg. I stumbled with my callouts, but we made it airborne on a beautiful Colorado day. A very rewarding aspect of the flight is that the flight crossed directly over my childhood/teenage backyard in the SW San Juan range. I had spent all my free time with family and friends in those mountains hiking, jeeping, skiing and snowmobiling.
When we were finally approaching DRO...captain's leg...he decided to give me a lesson on how capable this DHC-8 really was. We were on a long final to rw20. He told me to tell him when I thought we were too high (altitude fellas :rolleyes:) to make the runway. Well, when we got to the point that I couldn't see the end of the runway off the nose (I think were roughly 4000' AGL) I said there was no way we can make it. We were slow at that point, and he called for props, flaps, flaps, gear, flaps (35). Next I found my myself decelerating (in what seemed to be at the time) a vertical dive...then we stabilized at 1000', touched down softly at the 1000' markers, and then came to a stop within...oh...500'.

I've loved the Dash since that day...and had a great OE experience.

...and that was my first airline pilot experience.

ZP

Kick ass story, thanks for sharing

Quote:

Originally Posted by k6mashak (Post 342208)

And we can fly 76 pax damn near across the country in a $25+ million Jet at 21 years old, but we still can't rent a freaking Chevy Cobalt to grab some grub on an overnight.

Well, I got the call and I have IOE this Wed! Getting a little nervous.

you'll do just fine, and....you'll probably screw up everything that we all did...perfectly normal, just take it in, enjoy it, and realize that the real learning is starting right now.

My first flight was from ORD to MKE. From takeoff to landing It took about 12 minutes. The captain was pulling in to the gate in MKE and I was still in ORD. Now that flight seems like it lasts forever. Especially if it is the hotel leg.

First turn down.. MSP-IAH-MSP. So far so good. A lot different than the sim world. My OE Capt is great which helps a lot. Have a DSM overnight now, hopefully it goes as smoothly.