jetcareers - View Single Post - Actual Air Time?-Maybe a stupid question

ROFCIBC · February 11th, 2005, 23:19

[ QUOTE ]
When being trained for an airline, do trainees get actual airtime in the plane in which they are training to fly, or just sim time? Just wondering because I noticed that Euro airlines do this, but havent heard about US airlines.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sim time exclusively at least at Delta Air Lines..

We used to get a ride in the real thing during training, but that ended in the early 90s I think. When I got checked out as an MD88 F/O I 1988 we went to AGS and shot touch and go’s for a while. Only time I ever got real seat time during training. From then on it was all simulators.

Once you get your training complete you get an IOE, aka Initial Operating Experience with a LCA, aka Line Check Airman. For a F/O it may be a single rotation of three or four days. For a Captain it's usually two rotations. For an initial checkout in a new airplane or as a first Captain check the FAA will be on board for the final "blessing". After the "blessing" you are on your own. At Delta if you were DFW based, you had to get some time in the MD90 as we were the only base flying them.

There may be some restrictions initially as you are a "low time" Captain. For example you can't fly a Cat III approach until you meet certain time requirements and get off of what may be called "high minimums".

All this varies from airline to airline depending on what sort of program they choose to run and what FAA approvals they have.

For some training it may just be a few hours of class time. For instance the MD90 is a special category that only one base of pilots fly’s. Those pilots can fly the MD88, but get an hour of extra training each year and fly the MD90. None of the other MD88 pilots can fly the MD90.

Some airlines , like Delta have a common 757/767 category rating. Others keep them separate.

It all depends on what the airline and the FAA agree to in terms of how an airline conducts operations under their particular operating certificate.

Hope this wasn’t too long an boring!

February 11th, 2005, 23:19	#2
ROFCIBC Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bossier City, Louisiana Posts: 591	Re: Actual Air Time?-Maybe a stupid question [ QUOTE ] When being trained for an airline, do trainees get actual airtime in the plane in which they are training to fly, or just sim time? Just wondering because I noticed that Euro airlines do this, but havent heard about US airlines. [/ QUOTE ] Sim time exclusively at least at Delta Air Lines.. We used to get a ride in the real thing during training, but that ended in the early 90s I think. When I got checked out as an MD88 F/O I 1988 we went to AGS and shot touch and go’s for a while. Only time I ever got real seat time during training. From then on it was all simulators. Once you get your training complete you get an IOE, aka Initial Operating Experience with a LCA, aka Line Check Airman. For a F/O it may be a single rotation of three or four days. For a Captain it's usually two rotations. For an initial checkout in a new airplane or as a first Captain check the FAA will be on board for the final "blessing". After the "blessing" you are on your own. At Delta if you were DFW based, you had to get some time in the MD90 as we were the only base flying them. There may be some restrictions initially as you are a "low time" Captain. For example you can't fly a Cat III approach until you meet certain time requirements and get off of what may be called "high minimums". All this varies from airline to airline depending on what sort of program they choose to run and what FAA approvals they have. For some training it may just be a few hours of class time. For instance the MD90 is a special category that only one base of pilots fly’s. Those pilots can fly the MD88, but get an hour of extra training each year and fly the MD90. None of the other MD88 pilots can fly the MD90. Some airlines , like Delta have a common 757/767 category rating. Others keep them separate. It all depends on what the airline and the FAA agree to in terms of how an airline conducts operations under their particular operating certificate. Hope this wasn’t too long an boring!