I'm just putting this out there for kicks...what is your story? How did you survive the crazy hours, repeated maneuvers, emergency on top of emergency, and overall ups and downs?

 

I had a lot of help from Jack Daniels.

 

Get one of those cases of 5 hr energys. It's key.

 

My sim partner and I kept a close eye on each other. We would study everyday before the simulator and after. I kept a close watch on him when he was pilot flying and he kept a close watch on me when I was pilot flying.

We also had little "codes" we came up with in the event we forgot or missed something during the lesson. For example, if things got hectic and the pilot flying forgot to call for a checklist the non-pilot flying would tap the checklist loud enough above the autopilot panel to get his attention. There was more and I can't remember it all, but its stuff like this that made each and every lesson successful for us.

There is an excellent article out there about how to survive the sim portion of ground school. It was pretty much a summary stating your simulator experience is dependant upon your simulator partner. I can't find it, but maybe someone else has it?

 

I just told the instructor up front that this would be pretty easy for him since I already have a SIC type from Jet U so I know everything about the CRJ anyways. We may as well go out for a beer...




but as a serious note, know your profiles/callouts before you get in the sim

 

The biggest two things about surviving sim training as a newhire at a regional:

1) Initial new-hire is not party time. Its not college all over again. Hunker down and study, save the drinking and partying for once you're on the line and bored at the crashpad. Definitely get some relaxation time in, but only after the studying is done, and make sure you leave enough time to get a good night's sleep each night.

2) No matter how much you learned at your jet-transition course, you don't know more about the RJ than your instructors. Be humble, try to keep your mouth shut, and learn. As a side note to this, nobody cares about stories from your previous job or your previous airplane, especially if they start with "Well at ____, we did it xyz way.."

 

Study hard. An instructor told me something once that has stuck with til now. Memorizing the call outs in the sim, V1 cuts, go arounds, etc. is like memorizing the lyrics to a rap song. Repetition is key until you don't even have to think about it. The words just come out automatically.

Your partner is your greatest asset. I can remember times hand flying single engine approaches in the sim, get a little busy and notice the rudder paddle moving by itself. It was my partner adding correction where he saw it was needed.

 

Having my sim parter look out for each other... Like, if i forgot to call "flaps up" he would put his hand by the flap lever to remind me... Little things like that really helps.

 

Bring lube, you are going to need it. But really, just ask Cruz!!!

But in reality make sure that you learn from your mistakes as well as your partner mistakes. It helps if your partner is someone upgrading or who has flown in this type of environment. Study, Study, Study... Take time to relax and there is nothing wrong with going out on a Friday night with the classmates as long as you are not behind (don't get to drunk that you have a hangover the next day), then get good breakfast and hit the books again!!!

 

All great information. I'm very interested in hearing any and all advice also as I begin my initial new-hire training in a couple weeks. I come from a 6 year CFI background. I think the articles you were referring to are below:

Playing The Game

Surviving The Simulator

I'd appreciate more DOs and DONTs of initial new-hire training too. Thanks.