The time has come to do work. The four and five day long vacations that are frequent and enjoyable during training are pretty much done as far as I use to know them. The new four and five day vacations will be while I sit and baby sit my phone during my on call period for reserve.
Some how I was lucky enough to get called yesterday evening, before my on call period (of which I of course did not answer), and alerted via voicemail to check eTrip and to acknowledge at some point that I had been assigned a ready reserve period for tomorrow.
So here I am - enjoying *sarcasm* sitting at the airport. Fortunately, they actually have something for me. Appears to be a round trip from Atlanta to Lexington and back. It'll be interesting to see what happens after I get back in from Lexington - be it they release me, or have me finish sitting out my ready reserve period, or even have me continue to sit for an additional 2 hours after my ready reserve period ends so that I can fly another trip that is within that 2 hour window.
Who knows. . .time will tell. . .
Monday, June 23, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Oh - yeah. . .I'm done alright.
Yeah, IOE finally did start, and IOE is finished. Has been for some time now.
Sorry for no update otherwise.
Enjoying it so far, and looking forward to what the next few months and year bring to the industry.
Sorry for no update otherwise.
Enjoying it so far, and looking forward to what the next few months and year bring to the industry.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Still waiting
Still waiting for IOE to start. Really frustrating to be honest.
First, I'm worried I won't have a job. And well, so be it. I have Plans B and C set up if I must pull the trigger.
Second, I'm frustrated that they expect us to go through training on their time, and then after you have your SIC ride they want you to sit around and wait almost a month before you actually do anything related to flying an aircraft.
What type of training program is that? Much less how efficient is it? Or is it just a sign of the times when all of our companies are having trouble making money because of Joe Six Pack consumer crying about the price of a ticket and by keeping us new FO's off the aircraft that means they don't have to pay us our Reserve guarantee and can keep us on Training pay for another month, two months, who knows how long.
But hey whatever. Really goes to show that this industry is really a joke and nothing more. I thought we all would be treated like the professionals we are, but I have yet to see that treatment from the support staff. It's just a shame.
I've also reached the point where I can no longer recommend coming into the professional piloting arena these days. Hell, ever. The days of being treated like a professional are long gone - unless you want to leave your family and go work overseas.
I don't know, I'm really seriously tempted to just throw in the damn towel before even starting IOE and head back into the General Aviation realm of the industry to enjoy flying again.
First, I'm worried I won't have a job. And well, so be it. I have Plans B and C set up if I must pull the trigger.
Second, I'm frustrated that they expect us to go through training on their time, and then after you have your SIC ride they want you to sit around and wait almost a month before you actually do anything related to flying an aircraft.
What type of training program is that? Much less how efficient is it? Or is it just a sign of the times when all of our companies are having trouble making money because of Joe Six Pack consumer crying about the price of a ticket and by keeping us new FO's off the aircraft that means they don't have to pay us our Reserve guarantee and can keep us on Training pay for another month, two months, who knows how long.
But hey whatever. Really goes to show that this industry is really a joke and nothing more. I thought we all would be treated like the professionals we are, but I have yet to see that treatment from the support staff. It's just a shame.
I've also reached the point where I can no longer recommend coming into the professional piloting arena these days. Hell, ever. The days of being treated like a professional are long gone - unless you want to leave your family and go work overseas.
I don't know, I'm really seriously tempted to just throw in the damn towel before even starting IOE and head back into the General Aviation realm of the industry to enjoy flying again.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Awaiting IOE
This previous week meant the conclusion of my initial training with ASA. I am now anxiously awaiting a phone call telling me that my IOE (Initial Operating Experience) has been scheduled.
Spoke with the scheduled this morning and she indicated that there were people in front of me who are still waiting for a schedule (of course). Ran into a friend yesterday who said his was not starting until the 19th of this month. So, I figure mine will actually end up being much closer to the end of the month.
Nevertheless, I took a few hours out of my day on Friday to jumpseat on four of our flights. First up to Roanoke, VA and then down to Ft. Walton Beach, FL.
Here are a few non-professional pictures that I managed to snap.
Spoke with the scheduled this morning and she indicated that there were people in front of me who are still waiting for a schedule (of course). Ran into a friend yesterday who said his was not starting until the 19th of this month. So, I figure mine will actually end up being much closer to the end of the month.
Nevertheless, I took a few hours out of my day on Friday to jumpseat on four of our flights. First up to Roanoke, VA and then down to Ft. Walton Beach, FL.
Here are a few non-professional pictures that I managed to snap.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The quizical wonderings
Man. It has been a while.
A couple of things. First, I am finally done with check-rides for a while. Who knows how long, or honestly how soon my next one will be. But the next one will hopefully be a sim ride at a 121 operation next Spring.
Second, I'm really not too sure what to think about this whole instructing gig. I mean, I enjoy it, but sometimes I'm not too sure what I'm doing - more importantly, why I'm doing it. And I don't mean why I'm teaching, or even flying for a living. It has more to do with the fact that maybe I'm actually - finally - doing something that I enjoy, and I'm not too sure how to really feel about it.
I take what I do, and more importantly how the industry as a whole is doing, very personally. I grew up and spent many a cross Atlantic trips in a Delta L1011. As a young boy, enjoying the view out the L10's larger than life cockpit windows - and the simple fact that the guys up front were in charge and loved what they did for a living really stuck me as a young boy. Sure, it was novelty, but flying for a living means a lot to me. Moreover it means a lot to me that I expect my fellow professional aviators to not sell themselves short. Have some professional pride and demand the most from your employers, they will do nothing less than that when they ask things of you.
In other areas of aviation I've found another forum to join and take part in. I had heard of www.propilotworld.com many months ago, but since I lacked the required membership minimums (a commercial pilot certificate) I wasn't able to join until a few months ago. Unfortunately, I just joined up a few days ago. All you other professional pilots who come through here from either Jetcareers.com or Airlinepilotcentral.com be sure to check out PPW. You won't be disappointed.
I'm also approaching 400TT. About 130 of that is dual given. I enjoy what I do, no doubt, and I'm pretty sure that is what is causing this unknown development of why I'm wondering what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.
But anyway - as scatter brained out as this post is I hope it's some consolation for going over a month without updating this thing.
All the best, and happy new year!
A couple of things. First, I am finally done with check-rides for a while. Who knows how long, or honestly how soon my next one will be. But the next one will hopefully be a sim ride at a 121 operation next Spring.
Second, I'm really not too sure what to think about this whole instructing gig. I mean, I enjoy it, but sometimes I'm not too sure what I'm doing - more importantly, why I'm doing it. And I don't mean why I'm teaching, or even flying for a living. It has more to do with the fact that maybe I'm actually - finally - doing something that I enjoy, and I'm not too sure how to really feel about it.
I take what I do, and more importantly how the industry as a whole is doing, very personally. I grew up and spent many a cross Atlantic trips in a Delta L1011. As a young boy, enjoying the view out the L10's larger than life cockpit windows - and the simple fact that the guys up front were in charge and loved what they did for a living really stuck me as a young boy. Sure, it was novelty, but flying for a living means a lot to me. Moreover it means a lot to me that I expect my fellow professional aviators to not sell themselves short. Have some professional pride and demand the most from your employers, they will do nothing less than that when they ask things of you.
In other areas of aviation I've found another forum to join and take part in. I had heard of www.propilotworld.com many months ago, but since I lacked the required membership minimums (a commercial pilot certificate) I wasn't able to join until a few months ago. Unfortunately, I just joined up a few days ago. All you other professional pilots who come through here from either Jetcareers.com or Airlinepilotcentral.com be sure to check out PPW. You won't be disappointed.
I'm also approaching 400TT. About 130 of that is dual given. I enjoy what I do, no doubt, and I'm pretty sure that is what is causing this unknown development of why I'm wondering what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.
But anyway - as scatter brained out as this post is I hope it's some consolation for going over a month without updating this thing.
All the best, and happy new year!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Dual Given
Good Morning. I really don't know how many, if anyone really, even visits this damn thing. But anyway.
With about 40+ hours of dual given under my belt I'm still wet behind the ears to this instructing thing. I think I've had it pretty sweet thus far though. My student load right now is 2 Instrument students, both in stage I which is Basic Attitude Instrument flying. Good ol' Pitch + Power = Performance. I also have one pre-solo Private student, her first (second following the intro flight) is scheduled for this morning in about 45 min. Hopefully the frost isn't too bad this morning and we actually get to fly.
I've flown with more than just those three students though. Flown with a commercial student who is working on his maneuvers, two other instrument students - one who is getting ready for a checkride, and the other who is finishing up the program with cross country trips.
I've also managed to get some ME time. Flew with two guys who I've flown with before in the twin prior to becoming an MEI.
I haven't encountered any boneheaded moves yet, but I'm on the look out. :)
Wish me luck, I'm off to work.
With about 40+ hours of dual given under my belt I'm still wet behind the ears to this instructing thing. I think I've had it pretty sweet thus far though. My student load right now is 2 Instrument students, both in stage I which is Basic Attitude Instrument flying. Good ol' Pitch + Power = Performance. I also have one pre-solo Private student, her first (second following the intro flight) is scheduled for this morning in about 45 min. Hopefully the frost isn't too bad this morning and we actually get to fly.
I've flown with more than just those three students though. Flown with a commercial student who is working on his maneuvers, two other instrument students - one who is getting ready for a checkride, and the other who is finishing up the program with cross country trips.
I've also managed to get some ME time. Flew with two guys who I've flown with before in the twin prior to becoming an MEI.
I haven't encountered any boneheaded moves yet, but I'm on the look out. :)
Wish me luck, I'm off to work.
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