Your first flight as a regional pilot
 

Hey everyone, im new to this forum. I was wondering, what was your first thoughts of your first flight with a regional. was it what you expected? i'm working on my ratings now. are you happy where your at now? were you nervous, scared?

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

Nervous? yup. Scared? not really.

Behind the airplane?? Oh yeah!!!

First ever flight on a commercial airplane was Zürich-Munich in 2001. Snowing and an ILS more or less to mins. But pretty easy and after a couple days of handholding by the training captain (as they are known over there) and I was a seasoned veteran.

First flight in the US was ORD-MSN and I was neither scared nor nervous, but a bit confused because of how things operate differently in the US vs in Europe. I was very excited to fly into Wisconsin because that is where I grew up. Unfortunately I hardly ever got to fly to Wisconsin anymore...

Again, after a couple days it was old hat.

First flight was as the PNF, MKE-DAY with the #1 seniority guy at the company (obviously also a check airman)...we were being pushed back and I still taking it all in when he snapped "hey, I'll watch outside and you worry about starting the engines"...thats when it all sunk in that I was on the line for real.

tlorimer,
Right now...it's 3:57am...two days before my IOE. Over the past couple months, I've slept in until 10am and enjoyed my time off since my LOFT. Since being informed that IOE is next Tuesday (26th), I haven't slept a wink. My wife isn't sleeping either because when I am in bed, all I do is toss and turn. I've been scrambling to go over materials long since forgotten. I've had nightmares of forgetting checklists and all sorts of similar horrors. Nervous? Heck yeah.

Yesterday, I took a trip to find our Ops/Crewroom. That helped...atleast now I know where to park, where my mail is, and about how long it'll take me to get from where I live to where I need to report to. On my way, I ran into a fella I was at SIM with (for a bit) who was on his 3rd trip and he was kind enough to let me roll with him. I don't think he quite has all the butterflies out of his stomach yet either.

Despite how life seems for us behind closed doors, it makes me very proud to wear the uniform in public. The prestige look on most of the public's faces as you stroll through terminal is hard not to feel good about. At the same time, I'm incredibly nervous about doing a good job and I know that despite all my preparations, I couldn't possibly be entirely ready for the responsibilities expected of me. Four months ago, I was flying skydivers and now I'm about to take the reigns of a 50-seat jet for REAL. The SIM was one thing, but the REAL thing is something I thought I'd never have the privilege of flying. I can't deny the pressure of knowing that ~50 lives are depending on me (not including everyone on the ground) to do my best...but, I take comfort in knowing that I've been trained well and I have a captain willing to teach me. Seems like yesterday, I was spending hours on my parent's computer, flying Microsoft Flight Simulator and dreaming about all of this. I know it's coming, but I can't imagine a day where I take this feeling for granted.

Biggest thing they will be looking for on your IOE is:

- Callouts/profile
- Speed Control
- Situational awareness
- Willingness to learn
- Proper ATC

My first flight was back in 2000, at PHL. I saw my flight on the screen, and noticed a couple of passenegrs talking about and it was a good feeling. I was nervous and a bit scared. We had the GPU plugged in (US Airways Express-Dash 8) when I finally got to the airplane, my IOE captain introduced himself, and asked me to get the clearance. My deadhead flight was delayed so it wasn't my fault I was late. When everything was ready to go, a ramper jumped into the GPU-cart, and drove away, WITH the GPU still plugged in. He broke a couple of things, the flight was cancelled.

Am I happy where I am now?? yes, I'm at Netjets, wouldn't trade it for anything.

Well, I guess PHL hasn't changed much! This kind of thing still goes on.

My first flight was a pre-dawn departure out of RIC headed for PIT...Check Captain gave me the first-leg. It's funny - I never felt nervous, never got the pins-and-needles, just felt confident and very excited...I didn't even get stuck behind the aircraft.

My humbling came with all the 121 procedures: working two radios, coordination with company/operations, ramp-control, etc...Captain must have gotten a kick out of me behind my back ;)

I dont remember my first flight it was all just a blur ! LOL