IOE and What To Expect
 

Hey guys,

Just finished training on the 175 and first IOE trip out of ORD coming up. Could someone give me some insight as to what to expect when I show up?

Any advice for successfully completing IOE?

Thanks

Get in touch with the LCA before the trip, he'll probably want to meet early on day one.

Make sure you know how to find and access the crew room (info is on SKWOL, LCA can help if you can't figure it out).

Review the charts for the destination airports the night before each day. Company 10-7's have important info.

Review approach profiles, memory items and limitations each night. Focus on "normal" approaches, ILS, LOC, RNAV, RNP. You probably won't need the memory items, but anything's possible. You'll probably bump against a limitation or two during IOE.

Review GA profile each night. On each approach, be mentally prepared to execute the GA profile specific procedure. It happens sometimes in 121, usually when somebody doesn't get off the runway (they pack them tight at ORD).

If (when) you get behind on a visual, turn the automaton off and fly the damn plane. Discuss speed and altitude "gates" for visual approaches with the LCA on day one. This is where most failures occur. The downwind has to be further away from the runway than you're used to (unless you've been flying jets).

Don't be afraid to use the #@$@ boards. If your CA gives you crap about that, ignore him. But remember to stow the boards when you level off.

Get good rest, eat healthy, go easy on the booze. Exercise if you normally do. LCA are no longer allowed to take you out for beer.

Have a good attitude. When the check airman corrects you, try to get it right next time. He'll be pleasantly surprised if he only has to tell you once.

Completing IOE on time will keep you out of special tracking.

Great info, thanks. I'll definitely be as prepared as I can. Out of curiosity, do a fair amount of people have difficulty in IOE?

It probably depends on the LCA, but does it generally feel relaxed or is it a strict evaluation type environment?

They will try to make it very relaxed... but you still have to perform. The first trip is more learning oriented. The second (last) trip is more evaluation oriented, but the atmosphere should still be fairly relaxed.

In the past people were more likely to struggle in sim than IOE, but that's no longer the case. It comes down to can you apply the sim basics to the real world (visual approaches, slam dunk high on the GS ILS, etc).

If you haven't struggled yet in GA or sim, you'll most likely breeze through. Putting in some effort helps.

Again, the automation takes time to program and then respond. Turn that crap off and fly the plane if you get behind. You'll need the boards so don't hesitate to use them.

[QUOTE=rickair7777;2652266]Get in touch with the LCA before the trip, he'll probably want to meet early on day one.

Make sure you know how to find and access the crew room (info is on SKWOL, LCA can help if you can't figure it out).

Review the charts for the destination airports the night before each day. Company 10-7's have important info.

Review approach profiles, memory items and limitations each night. Focus on "normal" approaches, ILS, LOC, RNAV, RNP. You probably won't need the memory items, but anything's possible. You'll probably bump against a limitation or two during IOE.

Review GA profile each night. On each approach, be mentally prepared to execute the GA profile specific procedure. It happens sometimes in 121, usually when somebody doesn't get off the runway (they pack them tight at ORD).

If (when) you get behind on a visual, turn the automaton off and fly the damn plane. Discuss speed and altitude "gates" for visual approaches with the LCA on day one. This is where most failures occur. The downwind has to be further away from the runway than you're used to (unless you've been flying jets).

Don't be afraid to use the #@$@ boards. If your CA gives you crap about that, ignore him. But remember to stow the boards when you level off.

Get good rest, eat healthy, go easy on the booze. Exercise if you normally do. LCA are no longer allowed to take you out for beer.

Have a good attitude. When the check airman corrects you, try to get it right next time. He'll be pleasantly surprised if he only has to tell you once.

Completing IOE on time will keep you out of special tracking.[/QUOTE

Rickair has some great comments. I’ll only add, IOE is the most enjoyable part of training! If you follow his advice, you’ll be well prepared and will have fun.

Most importantly, don't accidentally leave your passport in the ORD crew lounge. Because you will inevitably get reflowed to a Canada turn, and then when you land back at ORD, the short men with authority complexes in CBP will have a field day with you.

Ask me how I know...

I remember being the check airman on one particular Captain's IOE. He was SO nervous taxiing out that I noticed his lips moving and he was talking to himself. I got him to look at me and said "RELAX, this is going to be fun!!!" He did and it was.

This was a thing??? Wow alot of ways that could backfire there.

I’ve flow with 5 LCAs in my time at SkyWest with 2 of them as recently as May and 4 of 5 took me out for beers. The one that didn’t was Mormon I believe