Well, it’s finally finished. I’ve completed the colossal checklist of training items required to be released to the line as a regular line pilot. The trip from Hawaii to California to Atlanta completed my OE and line check which were the last items remaining. The next time I go fly, … Continue reading
Next week, the fam and I are going on a vacation of sorts. I’m not sure how many people make a family vacation out of a visit with a terminally ill friend, but that’s exactly what we’re doing. When I finished up my type rating, the forecast for going out … Continue reading
I made it home from my first trip in the left seat of the DC-10. It had its challenges but we all made it to the end. The trip started out with a delay. That landing I previously blogged about actually happened about 16 hours or so later than it … Continue reading
I’m not always good at remembering dates. In fact, I’m pretty bad at it, so I’m happy that God has been smiling on me all these years and keeping the number of dates down to a minimum. And I even get some nice reminders, from time to time. Our kids … Continue reading
Tomorrow, I’ll head back to work again. This time, it’ll be to actually fly an airplane (woo hoo)! Specifically, it’ll be to fly my first trip as a Captain in the DC-10. It has some domestic flying in it, as well as an Atlantic crossing (Baltimore to Leipzig, Germany, to … Continue reading
I completed my LOFT tonight. That finishes the training I have to do prior to going out to fly the line. I do have another simulator session tomorrow night seat filling for another (identical) LOFT, but my paperwork is already done. So that’s all good news. Aloha Airlines filed for … Continue reading
This morning we came back for another try on the checkride. The F/O who had been my partner all through training (Andy), was supposed to do his check today, which actually was just a Proficiency Check (not an FAA checkride). Our Chief Pilot was the FAGO (Flap And Gear Operator) … Continue reading
Thanks to those of you who sent good luck wishes. The good news is, I didn’t fail my checkride. The bad news is, I only completed about 30% of it. Last night, around 1:30 a.m., there was a thunderstorm here bad enough to produce winds that woke me up wondering … Continue reading
Thought I’d share a few pictures I got tonight in the sim. I didn’t take any ‘cockpit’ pictures because the sim looks exactly like the airplane (you could just go look up DC-10 cockpit pictures). The last one is kinda funny tho… V- DC-10 Sim This is the exterior of … Continue reading
Well, tonight was the last sim before the checkride. It was busy and long, but I think it went well. There were, as always, a few debrief items, but the last two sessions seemed to me to be continuous improvements over the one before those. Today’s profile was somewhat like … Continue reading
