Off To IOE!!!

[MusketeerMan]

Well, after being in St. Louis for about 8 weeks (with time off for Christmas and a break in between systems and Sims, I finished my checkride and LOFT this past weekend!!!

IOE starts in a week and I'm once again excited but also very nervous!! I'm expecting for IOE to be a great learning experience! Layovers in DC, Dallas, Portland, Maine and Burlington, with half the flights in the 170 and half in the 175. Have never really spent anytime in any of those cities, so anybody have any good suggestions??? I have long layovers in DC and Dallas.

Training was overall a great experience with Flight Safety and had an incredible Sim instructor who cared about our success. The sim sessions were a blast as well. Without a doubt, the highlight was my dad flying out and sitting in on the LOFT session and getting thrown in the left seat for 30 minutes because we finished early. He's still grinning over it...though he had a few carrier landings in SFO.

Thanks to all of you that have given me great advice throughout the entire process...from submitting an application to ground school tips.

[darrenf]

Originally Posted by MusketeerMan

Well, after being in St. Louis for about 8 weeks (with time off for Christmas and a break in between systems and Sims, I finished my checkride and LOFT this past weekend!!!

IOE starts in a week and I'm once again excited but also very nervous!! I'm expecting for IOE to be a great learning experience! Layovers in DC, Dallas, Portland, Maine and Burlington, with half the flights in the 170 and half in the 175. Have never really spent anytime in any of those cities, so anybody have any good suggestions??? I have long layovers in DC and Dallas.

Training was overall a great experience with Flight Safety and had an incredible Sim instructor who cared about our success. The sim sessions were a blast as well. Without a doubt, the highlight was my dad flying out and sitting in on the LOFT session and getting thrown in the left seat for 30 minutes because we finished early. He's still grinning over it...though he had a few carrier landings in SFO.

Thanks to all of you that have given me great advice throughout the entire process...from submitting an application to ground school tips.

Good luck, have fun. While in DC I would hit Tony W up and have dinner at the same Italian restaurant I met him at last year.

[USMC-SGT]

In BTV check out....ANYWHERE! It is a college town and always a blast up there.

When you are in Portland check out the Old Port Tavern or OPT as it is called there, not the most "hip" of places but a great place to get a beer and have a decent time.

Or for $30 bucks I will drive the 30 minutes north and pick you up and you can buy the beers and we will drink on the tailgate of my truck in a old dirt pit new england style. After we get drunk enough we will then shoot an old fridge or car or 55 gallon drum (whatever is avail) with a shotgun. When in Rome as they say.

[MusketeerMan]

Originally Posted by USMC-SGT

In BTV check out....ANYWHERE! It is a college town and always a blast up there.

When you are in Portland check out the Old Port Tavern or OPT as it is called there, not the most "hip" of places but a great place to get a beer and have a decent time.

Or for $30 bucks I will drive the 30 minutes north and pick you up and you can buy the beers and we will drink on the tailgate of my truck in a old dirt pit new england style. After we get drunk enough we will then shoot an old fridge or car or 55 gallon drum (whatever is avail) with a shotgun. When in Rome as they say.

Thanks for the picks. I think I'll try your first suggestion in Portland...I'll wait on the shooting stuff until I get a longer layover!

[Captain_Bob]

Congratulations!!!

Got your message...

Glad you had a blast in training... and after seeing this:

Originally Posted by MusketeerMan

Layovers in DC, Dallas, Portland, Maine and Burlington... I have long layovers in DC and Dallas.

I've just got to say... Duuuuuude... we so need to trade lines! Guess where I'll be when you are in Dallas... yep... cruisin' through SMF!

Oh the irony...

As to PWM... I've got ton's of suggestions but many depend on the season, how much time you have, your crew, and where you are put up of the night. Most hotels will drive you down to the Old Port... so definately take advantage of that... but I must warn you, the cold weather won't feel good on your warm california sensibilities.

Treat your wife to some really fresh haddock or lobster... you can buy them (and other fresh fish) right down on the docks by "Becky's" diner (Just ask.... everyone know's where Becky's is). The fish place will wrap 'em, ice 'em, and pack them in a cooler that will easily keep them fresh for two days. Then... just use your Fedex discount and ship them home on the cheap.

Oh yeah... and you can't beat Becky's for breakfast. Best ever blueberry pancakes! It's the type of joint were you'd find what appears to be a homeless person eating at the bar next to you... and a guy in a 3 piece suit eating on the other side of you, and a guy who's been diggin' for clams all morning on the other side of him.

Last time I was in PWM (last week), I rented a car on hotwire for $23/day. So... if you wanted to drive up to freeport to visit LL Bean (open 24/7/365) then that's always a treat. Also, there are some awesome lighthouses and views in the area. If it were spring... I'd send you out to Cape Elizabeth for lunch on the ocean at the Lobster Shack. If you ever eat there... the views are worth the overpriced seafood alone... and... I used to live 5 houses down from the cove.

As for Dallas... if I was here... I'd pick you up myself and show you around. There's a quite a few other DFW/JC folks that may still do that for you. But, unfortunately, there really isn't much to do at any of the usual DFW overnight hotels, since they typically tend to be out near the airport which is 15 miles from Ft. Worth, and 25 miles from Dallas.

Hope you get some more of those overnights in the future... but typically... your IOE trips will be better than what you'll get once on reserve. Since you are actually flying your check-airman's line... and they tend to be fairly senior and have learned all the schedule bidding tricks by then.

Oh... and by the way... having your Dad in the sim with you... That's totally awesome!

Bob

[Captain_Bob]

PS: Time to change your JC Profile...

Bob

[Qgar]

Great news, MM! Congrats!!!!

[adreamer]

Congrat.

[MusketeerMan]

Originally Posted by Captain_Bob

Congratulations!!!

Got your message...

Glad you had a blast in training... and after seeing this:



I've just got to say... Duuuuuude... we so need to trade lines! Guess where I'll be when you are in Dallas... yep... cruisin' through SMF!

Oh the irony...

As to PWM... I've got ton's of suggestions but many depend on the season, how much time you have, your crew, and where you are put up of the night. Most hotels will drive you down to the Old Port... so definately take advantage of that... but I must warn you, the cold weather won't feel good on your warm california sensibilities.

Treat your wife to some really fresh haddock or lobster... you can buy them (and other fresh fish) right down on the docks by "Becky's" diner (Just ask.... everyone know's where Becky's is). The fish place will wrap 'em, ice 'em, and pack them in a cooler that will easily keep them fresh for two days. Then... just use your Fedex discount and ship them home on the cheap.

Oh yeah... and you can't beat Becky's for breakfast. Best ever blueberry pancakes! It's the type of joint were you'd find what appears to be a homeless person eating at the bar next to you... and a guy in a 3 piece suit eating on the other side of you, and a guy who's been diggin' for clams all morning on the other side of him.

Last time I was in PWM (last week), I rented a car on hotwire for $23/day. So... if you wanted to drive up to freeport to visit LL Bean (open 24/7/365) then that's always a treat. Also, there are some awesome lighthouses and views in the area. If it were spring... I'd send you out to Cape Elizabeth for lunch on the ocean at the Lobster Shack. If you ever eat there... the views are worth the overpriced seafood alone... and... I used to live 5 houses down from the cove.

As for Dallas... if I was here... I'd pick you up myself and show you around. There's a quite a few other DFW/JC folks that may still do that for you. But, unfortunately, there really isn't much to do at any of the usual DFW overnight hotels, since they typically tend to be out near the airport which is 15 miles from Ft. Worth, and 25 miles from Dallas.

Hope you get some more of those overnights in the future... but typically... your IOE trips will be better than what you'll get once on reserve. Since you are actually flying your check-airman's line... and they tend to be fairly senior and have learned all the schedule bidding tricks by then.

Oh... and by the way... having your Dad in the sim with you... That's totally awesome!

Bob

Wow Bob! You should create "Captain Bob's Northeast Layover Guide" and get it printed!

Hopefully I'll get a chance to head into town in Portland, I have about 14 hours there, so I can definitely get someplace. I just may try the sending the seafood home, my family would love it. St. Louis already took care of my cold weather issues when I was there for 2 months...plenty of days in the low teens, so hopefully it won't be too much of a shock. I'll be sure to bring my camera and send you some pics from PWN. I won't be able to hit up Becky's for breakfast as we have a 6:30 show...but I'll be back there with hopefully a longer layover sometime.

Shame on you for not being in Dallas when I'm there and even more so that you have the nerve to hang out in Sac at the same time. I have 19 hours there, so I'll try to figure out something. I had no idea that DFW is 25 miles from the city...that's crazy...I thought SMF was far.

So, I can thank the check airman for the better trips, huh? It makes sense. I should be getting a dose of reality in March. We're expected to have no reserve out of CMH due to no pilots there. I'm just hoping for some commutable trips that end early enough to catch a flight home the same day.

I'll run it by the company and ask if we can change trips for the week. Shouldn't be a problem.

Take care and thanks for the 411.

Andy

[granlistillo]

Congrats! I have the same opinion on FSI . They are great! Good luck.

[USMC-SGT]

You will find that commutable trips work both ways unfortunately. You will get an early duty off which helps you get home without spending the night in base but that typically comes with an early show that causes you to commute in the night prior. That is what I have run into, I will have a noon showtime but then a 2140 duty off so I can commute morning of but am then hardpressed to get out that night. Look into Fedex though or UPS, fedex works for my schedule with a 0235 and a 0330 flight.

[mtsu_av8er]

Congrats on knocking out the sim, Brotha! Now it's time to have some fun out on the line!

Enjoy IOE. It's a little nerve racking, but the check airmen out there are the finest Captains on the line. They're gonna spoil you into thinking that all Captains are that great!

[meyers9163]

Man congrats..... Saw that 175 today... damn man time to get that first officer payscale up... that is a sick thing.... didnt realize how huge it was!

[MusketeerMan]

Originally Posted by meyers9163

Man congrats..... Saw that 175 today... damn man time to get that first officer payscale up... that is a sick thing.... didnt realize how huge it was!

Don't bring it up...I'm crossing my fingers that they fix the payscale in the current negotiations. At least the CA's make more flying it...$73 in year 3 as a CA on the 175, which is what I'm "hoping" for.

[MusketeerMan]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Congrats on knocking out the sim, Brotha! Now it's time to have some fun out on the line!

Enjoy IOE. It's a little nerve racking, but the check airmen out there are the finest Captains on the line. They're gonna spoil you into thinking that all Captains are that great!

Thanks man!! The great part is that in my line in March, I'm flying with 2 CA's that were in the upgrade class with us that came over from the 145...so I already know them. I guess we'll be a green crew.

[SIUAv8r]

Originally Posted by MusketeerMan

Thanks man!! The great part is that in my line in March, I'm flying with 2 CA's that were in the upgrade class with us that came over from the 145...so I already know them. I guess we'll be a green crew.

Well you can have fun swingin' gear for those trips!!

Congrats on your checkride and have fun on IOE!!

[flyTotheSky]

Congrats! Good luck on IOE and be sure to fill us in along the way if you have time! Glad everything worked out over at rjet...

[Airdale]

Andy - Congrats again my friend!! Thank you again for helping me out behind you, and especially for the Fridge and Microwave! You increased my training QOL by 75%!!


Best of luck on IOE and have FUN!!! Keep me posted bro and I'll do the same. Catch ya later!

[MusketeerMan]

Originally Posted by Airdale

Andy - Congrats again my friend!! Thank you again for helping me out behind you, and especially for the Fridge and Microwave! You increased my training QOL by 75%!!


Best of luck on IOE and have FUN!!! Keep me posted bro and I'll do the same. Catch ya later!

No problem Dave! IOE in 5 days...definitely nervous. I got my schedule for March and I have a line!! Extremely excited!! Good luck in systems and let me know your Sim schedule...I have a layover in STL next month.

[sigpilot]

Originally Posted by MusketeerMan

IOE starts in a week and I'm once again excited but also very nervous!! I'm expecting for IOE to be a great learning experience! Layovers in DC, Dallas, Portland, Maine and Burlington, with half the flights in the 170 and half in the 175. Have never really spent anytime in any of those cities, so anybody have any good suggestions??? I have long layovers in DC and Dallas.

DC's hotel is nice just small rooms, McD's next store not much else to walk. Portland has a great restaurant right across the street looking towards the mall, forgot the name, but they got in house brews and great food. BTV is a nice hotel to cause at 8pm the bake fresh cookies!! Just get em before all the old people waiting do! Surprisingly the pool is EXTREMELY warm, its actually TOO warm, but still nice to swim up there when its 12 below out. Congrats on the checkride, who was ur instructor?

[inside0ut]

Originally Posted by MusketeerMan

No problem Dave! IOE in 5 days...definitely nervous. I got my schedule for March and I have a line!! Extremely excited!! Good luck in systems and let me know your Sim schedule...I have a layover in STL next month.

Nice job man! Congrats on getting out of STL lol. Did they put you guys up at the Westport? Ahhh... the Trainwreck on a Friday night.

Where did you get based?

[MusketeerMan]

Originally Posted by sigpilot

DC's hotel is nice just small rooms, McD's next store not much else to walk. Portland has a great restaurant right across the street looking towards the mall, forgot the name, but they got in house brews and great food. BTV is a nice hotel to cause at 8pm the bake fresh cookies!! Just get em before all the old people waiting do! Surprisingly the pool is EXTREMELY warm, its actually TOO warm, but still nice to swim up there when its 12 below out. Congrats on the checkride, who was ur instructor?

Thanks for the helpful hints!! Especially the cookies!

My FS instructor was George Kirnsch and Mike Kenney did the checkride...a great group of guys!

[MusketeerMan]

Originally Posted by inside0ut

Nice job man! Congrats on getting out of STL lol. Did they put you guys up at the Westport? Ahhh... the Trainwreck on a Friday night.

Where did you get based?

I was at Earth City Holiday Inn for Indoc/Systems and Westport for Sims...at least they had free food/beer 3 days a week at Westport!

I'm based out of CMH...