R2F's American Eagle Training Updates

[ready2fly]

Day 24

Today was the bizomb!! First day of full motion sim. A lot of the profiles were the same from the days before with the exception of the approaches, which were ILS (two standard, two ILS/PRM) and a couple of visual approaches.

OH - and Windshear. Windshear on the takeoff roll. Windshear after takeoff. Winshear on approach......

[sic]
Windshear in the mornin'
Windshear in the evenin'
Ain't we got FUUUUUUUUUN!


Anyway....

I really couldn't tell much difference from the full motion to when the thing was sittin' with the bridge down.......until.....

PCU runaway.

Un-freakin'-beLIEVEABLE how heavy that sumbitch is!!! I was literally sore from holding the ailerons to the stops to keep the wings level.

That was, of course.. a few seconds AFTER we basically rolled inverted.

I got `er upright (there's a joke in there somewhere) - we ran the checklist which included engaging the Roll Disconnect giving me my airleron and both cross-side and on-side multifunction spoilers. STILLL was a bear to fly.....and I don't mean Pooh either - we're talkin' GRIZZLY, baby!!

The rest of the session I was as rattled as hooker on Judgment Day. Couldn't put two thoughts together....or remember my approach profiles....or my name.

Fun stuff!! I suggest you all try it.....once....In a SIM!

Afterwards, on the way to debrief, I remembered one very, VERY important procedure I forgot......when the PCU runs away and the bird wants to roll.....(listen up all ya'll you ever end up with the brown side on top).....UNLOAD the aircraft!!! = meaning - push the freakin' nose FOWARD ....do not pull back!!

I wasn't pulling back so much as I was not pushing forward. That will not happen again. Once was enough. You find out REAL quick just how heavy your plane is. Believe me.

Overall, I'd give my performance a C-. Lots of room for improvement, but I have six more days to get there. The ride is next Saturday (the 16th).

Off today. Decompressed and we're back in the saddle tomorrow.

More later.

R2F

[SteveC]

A T/R deployment at high altitude can be a bundle-o-fun too.

[Aero_Engineer]

Happy to hear stuff is going the way you want, keep them coming. They are really enjoyable to read.

Armen

[crashmbern]

i just got back from flying the ATR, airplane not the sim. It was pretty awesome. its was pretty neat sitting in the jumpseat watching everybody else go, but i can't really remember myself flying, kind of just zoned in and flew it. oh well its 230am, day off tomorrow and checkride on monday nite, then IOE the next week in SJU, should be fun.

adam

[BobDDuck]

Originally Posted by SteveC

A T/R deployment at high altitude can be a bundle-o-fun too.

On the CRJ (200 anyways) it really wasn't too bad. Just a distinct rumble and shake from the back. I remember when getting a briefing on the Citation that the ONLY immediate action item I need to know was to press the TR stow button if I saw it light up. In the RJ it isn't even an action item and the plane will keep flying on autopilot in a slight slip.

Also, PCU runaways are teh suck! It depends on how fast the breakaway bungie catches it. I had more problem with the stab trim runaway as I didn't catch it very fast to disconnect and it got almost all the way down to 1 before it stopped. Try landing a heavy plane like that.

[ready2fly]

Day 25

Got a new Master today. Most of the guys will work with more than one instructor through sim training...so, my new guy started today. All I can say is WHEW! Thang GOD for this guy!! He's extremely laid back. Nowhere NEAR the type A+++ instructor I had last week. I actually could sit and LEARN things from this guy. He'd give me time to ask questions - and more importantly - he'd LISTEN and aswer JUST that question - and not try to impress me with how much he knows.

The lesson, overall, went very well. Still working on not over-controlling the trust levers for power settings, but it's coming.

Today's lesson took off from PSP (Palm Springs) and was filed to LAX, where we shot the ILS to 25L, went missed, out to the Seal Beach VOR to hold, then divert into SNA (Santa Ana/John Wayne Airport).

When we took off from PSP, he purposely vectored me towards the mountains so that we'd get an EGPWS warning "Whoop, Whoop! Pull up! Pull up!". Had to disconnect the autopilot, set max thrust, and pitch up to 20 degrees.

Cleared the mountains, then off to LAX. ILS went well. Had a couple of small failures thrown at me where he took the plane and let me work through the checklist.

Failures we worked on today were:
Landing Gear Disagree (both with the gear up and down = two totally different actions)
Main Landing Gear Overheat
And a couple of others...

Did the LDA into SNA. That went okay. Still got squirrely on the landing, so after we finished, he repositioned the plane on about a 7 mile final and let me shoot visual after visual until I and he felt comfortable. Took two more landings to quit overcorrecting.

I'm really going to like working with this new Master!! I have him today through Tuesday, then back to the Old Mater for Wednesday, then finish up with the new guy.

More later!

R2F

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

On the CRJ (200 anyways) it really wasn't too bad. Just a distinct rumble and shake from the back. I remember when getting a briefing on the Citation that the ONLY immediate action item I need to know was to press the TR stow button if I saw it light up. In the RJ it isn't even an action item and the plane will keep flying on autopilot in a slight slip.

Yeah, the memory list items for T/R deployment is pretty short; basically hit the stow switch to emer, disengage the autopilot, make sure the throttle has come to idle, slow to 150 knots to allow the hydraulics to close the bucket, and clean your shorts. It'll sure get your attention in the Citation sim if one deploys when you are at cruise speed (slow as that may be in the Citation). I had 60+ degrees of bank and it was increasing fast before we could even hit the stow button. The instructor said that a good number of people end up close to inverted, and some just continue the roll all the way around. Fun ride.

[ready2fly]

Day 26

Today was really fun! We did "stalls" today. I say "stalls" (in quotations) because we don't actually take the sim to the stall. Just to the the aural warning and first indication of stick shaker. (yes, the stick actually shakes....and if you let it go too long....it'll push itself forward too....don't ever let it go that far.).

We did stall in the following configs:
In cruise - clean - autopilot engaged;
In takeoff config - 20 degree bank
In approach/landing config

Pretty fun once you get the hang of it.

Then, it was Engine Failure time!!!!

First, we did what I hope NEVER happens = dual engine flameout!! We started at about 11,000 ft. and had the checklists run and both engines restarted by 6,000 ft. In real life, I was informed - chances are, we'd probably (a) never have a dual engine flame out (God willing); and/or (b) if we did, we'd probably not be able to re-light.....(nice).

Cleared that up, came into the ILS for 36R at MEM, broke out, went visual and - TADAAAA - aircaft on the runway (there was actually a simulated 727 positioned and holding - that'll wake you up! )...went missed, had an engine catch fire, ran that checklist - shut it down and came around for the ILS again with one engine - autopilot on. (until visual contact with runway was confirmed my PNF, that is), then hand-flew on down (a whopping 200 ft or so. ).

Got down to about 50 ft. AGL and went missed.

Kept single-engine profile going back around to another ILS - this time the autopilot "failed" - meaning, I was not to use it - so I hand flew the approach to a full stop landing.

Pretty wicked!!

I hope those of you who have stayed around long enough to read these - enjoy them. I enjoy tellin' ya'll about my lessons. But if they're boring you, let me know and......well.... tough. I only have three more and a wake up and it's checkride day so deal with it!!

Peace!

R2F

[JEP]

Boring....HeII No! It is great reading and it beats sitting at work in the data center on the night shift......

Oops, who said that.....

[Bigey]

Friggen sweet man!! I love reading your daily updates!!!

[ComplexHiAv8r]

Originally Posted by JEP

Boring....HeII No! It is great reading

[BrianNC]

Originally Posted by ready2fly

But if they're boring you, let me know and...

Yep. Pretty boring stuff. I'll just keep faithfully plowing my way through them. Hurry up and get to the checkride where I won't have to read these boring posts every day.

[B767]

They sure have you doing a lot of go-arounds!

[ready2fly]

Originally Posted by B767

They sure have you doing a lot of go-arounds!

Less time-consuming that doing full stops. Kind of like when you do touch & goes for PPL training.

[B767]

So do touch and goes *sarcasm*

I don't know the sarcasm tag

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by ready2fly

Day 26

We did stall in the following configs:
In cruise - clean - autopilot engaged;
In takeoff config - 20 degree bank
In approach/landing config

Pretty much the same thing we do except the cruise has FD, no AP and the approach/landing has AP and FD.

First, we did what I hope NEVER happens = dual engine flameout!! We started at about 11,000 ft. and had the checklists run and both engines restarted by 6,000 ft. In real life, I was informed - chances are, we'd probably (a) never have a dual engine flame out (God willing); and/or (b) if we did, we'd probably not be able to re-light.....(nice).

They gave us this in the CPT the other day. From what they've told us, if you can keep the N2 spinning, you SHOULD be able to pull of a windmilling re-light. You just have to more or less dive at the ground and some point to get the N2 up enough.

Cleared that up, came into the ILS for 36R at MEM, broke out, went visual and - TADAAAA - aircaft on the runway (there was actually a simulated 727 positioned and holding - that'll wake you up! )

Damn FedEx pilots think they own this place. That was something that wowed me the other day when we had to do a go around; an honest to god provisioning truck just pulled out on the runway in front of us!

I hope those of you who have stayed around long enough to read these - enjoy them. I enjoy tellin' ya'll about my lessons. But if they're boring you, let me know and......well.... tough. I only have three more and a wake up and it's checkride day so deal with it!!

I'm enjoying the compare and contrast b/w the two airlines. It's nice to see some similarities and some differences. Hope ya don't mind me popping in with my two cents.

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by B767

So do touch and goes *sarcasm*

I don't know the sarcasm tag

fixed your editor choice so you can see your smilies etc...

[crashmbern]

got some good news on my front. I passed my checkride in the airplane at ft. myers. pretty cool flying the plane at night empty and all. now i have a week off and i start IOE in san juan next tuesday.

adam

[ready2fly]

Originally Posted by crashmbern

got some good news on my front. I passed my checkride in the airplane at ft. myers. pretty cool flying the plane at night empty and all. now i have a week off and i start IOE in san juan next tuesday.

adam

OUSTANDING, Adam!! Way to go!! Enjoy your time off!! Great to meet you!! Best of luck down and SJU....and as a word of advice from a former Floridian......BUY SUNSCREEN..not just 8 SPF, bro....35 bro!!

[ready2fly]

Day 27

Today was V1 Cut day.

First hour of the lesson was great!! V1 cuts were a non-event.

Second hour of the lesson, I kind of lost focus and BAM .....single-engine work = no focus= plane almost upside down.

Did about 4 to 5 V1 cuts just to get "comfy". Then did engine failures after V1....after T/O.....in second stage......etc. Fun stuff.

Quote o

[ready2fly]

Day 27

Today was V1 Cut day.

First hour of the lesson was great!! V1 cuts were a non-event.

Second hour of the lesson, I kind of lost focus and BAM .....single-engine work = no focus= plane almost upside down.

Did about 4 to 5 V1 cuts just to get "comfy". Then did engine failures after V1....after T/O.....in second stage......etc. Fun stuff.

Quote of the day:
Re: Aerodynamics 101 = swept wing
"It's not anything you need to know...but, you do!"

WTF??????

More later
R2F

[BrianNC]

So it was so much fun you had to post it twice?

[ready2fly]

Originally Posted by BrianNC

So it was so much fun you had to post it twice?

What the.............?????

User error, I guess.

[fender_jag]

Thanks for the updates, R2F and Kellwolf!

Good luck to both of you.

[kellwolf]

Major hurdle passed today.....the oral.

After studying my butt off for three days, it was more or less a "What? That was it?" That being said, I probably woulda been over my head if I HADN'T studied so much. To start things off, the guy said "I'm going to ask you things you probably don't know on purpose because I need to know you know where to go to find the information." Basically, they want to know that you know where to look up all that info you "used to know" when you were in training once you get on the line and forget it.

Performance problem wasn't too bad. Gave me an airport, a temperature, and had me compute zero fuel weight, t/o weight, stab trim setting, V1, Vr, V2, t/o thrust, climb thrust and cruise thrust. Then hit me with "Okay, rain showers pop up right before you take off." So, he had me re-figure V1, Vr and V2 (which really was only re-figuring V1). Followed by "We have to abort at 95 kts. How long do we have to weight before taking off again? What if the BTMS is inop?" Then that was it for performance.

Next was memory items and limitations. If quoted vebatim, they tend to give up pretty quickly.

Then he pulled up a slide show of walkaround items and I got the standard "What is this?" "What are we looking for?" questions with an occasionaly systems question thrown in.

For the systems stuff, it was either worked in with limitations, touched on in the walkaround, and I got about 4 or 5 straight up systems question.

That is it. Total took maybe 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the guy actually pulled off doing two orals at once. One guy computed the performace problem while the other guy was getting questioned, and then we switched.

Now that all of that is out of the way, it's on to the sims on Sat. 10 sim sessions, then my checkride, then LOFT.