You'll be waiting a while to hear about my IOE. I still have 6 sim sessions, LOFT and 4 jumpseat flights to go before IOE. I was supposed to have another sim session tonight, but it got canned due to not enough sim instructors. Got another tomorrow night and I THINK tonight's is re-scheduled for Monday. I still have one more to get re-scheduled in addition to that one, and I'm caught up. But for those of you jonesing for an airline training fix.....
Sim 3
Ass....kicked....hard. Started out at gate A-11 in MEM (push back to an active taxiway, so we have to call ground instead of NWA ramp control for our push clearance). APU broken, snowing, and 1 degree C. Nice day, huh? So, we had to do our external air start sequences, pushback, then do a crossbleed start. From there we taxied over to the de-ice pad to do the de-ice/anti-ice procedures. Taxied up to the hold short line, did the supplemental checklist for an unpressurized takeoff (due to the APU being deferred), before takeoff check, then got cleared onto the runway. Stick shaker on the t/o, so abort. Reset to the beginning, normal t/o, re-pressurize on the way up, normal climb (all with the anti-ice on). Get to 10K and do stalls. My sim partner basically did a textbook demo of stalls. Mine, in a word, sucked. The past two sims I did them alright, but something just jangled me this time around. I didn't lose more than 150-200 feet, but they weren't stable or anywhere near what they were supposed to be. Pissed me off because I know I can do better.
From the stalls, we were cleared direct to the FAF for 36R at MEM, do not exceed 225 kts, expidite. So, set the altitude, hit speed mode and threw out the flight spoilers. Descent was marked with multiple cloud layers, so we got practice turning on and off the anti-ice. As soon as we turned it on, we magically broke out. As soon as it went off, "Look! Here comes another cloud deck!" TAT was around 7 degrees C.
We get close to the fix, then we get the dread "Hold at the FAF, L turns, 2000 ft, 7 mile legs." I know all you CFIs just went into horror shock. The CRJ makes it easy as long as your FMS isn't failed.
Oh, and my autopilot failed right about then, too. Told to expect the ILS approach for 36R, glideslope out of service. So, called for the approach to be prepared, did the brief and got set up. Started in on the LOC approach, and that went pretty well. As long as you think ahead and know the profile, it's a pretty descent deal. But, as expected, went missed. Did the go around, and cleared to fly the published missed. Got a GEN 1 OFF message, and ran the appropriate checklists, told ATC we needed to come back around. After proving that we knew how to get around that, we did a couple of landings. Those are coming along alright. I was actually able to hold the centerline with a 10 kt crosswind. Now, I just need to work on not landing halfway down the runway.
Re-set at 5000 feet and told to expect the ILS 27. Once again, no autopilot. I have to admit, I am DAMN proud of that handflown approach. I hit a zone and made all my calls on time, had the plane configured right, and never went off glideslope or localizer. I had to get a printout to frame.
I even managed to land in the touchdown zone and on centerline. So, after the hideous stalls (which never left the back of my mind) I was happy to end the night on a good note.
Next sim lesson is gonna be almost all single engine, mostly with no AP. I can't wait for that one.....