Hi everyone,

Just got hired into the airline pilot ranks and I'm very excited to get started with my class next week.

But I had some questions, and since most everybody here seems knowledgable, friendly, and helpful, maybe you could share your $0.02.

I assume nobody uses typical GA David Clark headsets in the airlines (or do they?), what sort of headset might you recommend?

I also don't have much in the way of luggage, so I may need to make a purchase this week. Does every pilot take a small roller suitcase on every trip? Any size requirements for that (does it need to meet typical carry-on requirements?). Also, where do you put it while you're flying?

Anything else a new regional FO should really, really have? Thanks all!

 

Actually, a lot of rj guys use David Clark's. Some use clarity aloft, and some use the bose x. It really depends in the airplane what is best, as some are louder than others. The crj for example is very quiet. I often forget to turn the ANR on, and it's not a huge difference since the engines are so far away.

As far as luggage, most use either the luggageworks stealth 22" bag, or something from travel pro. There are a few other decent brands out there, but most off the shelf suitcases will disintegrate in a few months. You didn't mention who you're working for, but I'm sure your carrier offers some sort of discount on at least the LW bags. If you decide to go with LW, don't get the 26", get the 22". Two of those is almost exactly the capacity of the crj7/9 bin. I've never flown a 200, so I'm not 100% if those bins are the same size.

Some guys don't bring a suitcase on certain trips, however you can always get reassigned/jra'd and get stuck with a last minute overnight, so it's a good policy to always bring your suitcase.

One thing you may want to pick up is a 3-1-1 travel bottle set for shower gel/shampoo/etc. If your carrier allows the use of iPads for charts, look into portable external batteries. For that, I use the mycharge hub 9000 ($80 on ebay). It'll save you from ever having a dead phone/ipad.

As for pilot shirts, check out acutaboveuniforms.com. Either their fitted or tapered shirts fit WAY better than most other brands, and don't have several handfuls of extra material in the back. Get a pair of comfortable shoes that don't contain any metal, it will save you from needing to remove them when going through the magnetometer at security.


Otherwise:
-be nice to gate agents. They can sometimes work magic, and they will remember you.

-if you non rev somewhere, introduce your self to the crew and be polite. If you're trying for the jumpseat, remember that you're REQUESTING the jumpseat. If you're a jerk, they can always tell you to take a hike.

-don't take what people say on APC too seriously, there are trolls about. We all hold more or less the same qualifications and do the same job, don't look down on someone because they work for someone else based on Internet reputation.

-don't let the negative people you fly with get you down. Being a regional pilot is a grind, especially for he first few years. You WILL get bumped off of flights/jump seats, you WILL divert, and everything else you can imagine probably will happen. Just know that hopefully your investment will pay off some day, and keep your head up. A good attitude is contagious.

Lastly, good luck!

 

Thanks for all the info! It's tremendously helpful. My David Clarks give me a headache after a while (David Clamps), but maybe I can get away with them for a while then. I'm also learning about "TSO approved," do you know if David Clarks are?

Since you mention the carrier could make a difference, it's Mesa. Would they go through potential luggage discount information during Indoc?

I hadn't even considered uniform. Is that ever provided or is it the pilot's responsibility? How many shirts does a pilot typically need?

Thank you again.

 

Any interview gouge?

 

I'm not 100% about dc's being tso, but their website may say so. I work for mesa, so I can tell you that they're $190 or something compared to the usual $300 for the LW 22". They go though all of that during ground school. I used to use a DC, but switched to the bose x. You can get them used for about $400 on ebay. Bose refurbishes even the most broken ones for $175.

On your initial uniform order, they pay for half of your outer garment (blazer, leather jacket), and half of your 2x pants order. Each year they'll pay for 1/2 of replacement pants. I bought 8 shirts, but 6 is probably plenty. Again, they walk you through all of that during ground school.

Another trick is when you're shopping for belts, being a kitchen magnet with you. A buckle that doesn't stick is better for not setting off magnetometers.

 

"When can you start?"

I think I got it right.

 

Just pick up the phone...

 

Sounds like a good deal on the suitcase. I don't suppose Mesa offers any Bose or Clarity Aloft discounts... Good to know about the uniform info too, and glad they walk you through it. Obviously I want to be prepared, but it's a little weight off knowing that.

Thank you again Navmode, I really appreciate it. First friend on these forums! Out of curiosity, where are you based? Maybe I'll get to fly with you sometime.

 

You can't help it can you?

 

Clt. You'll probably get IAD out of training though.