My first three days of IOE.....

CirrusMonkey · March 19th, 2008, 22:20

In the CRJ-200 for PSA: It got real interesting on day 2 and 3!

Day 1: Nothing unusual, just busy for a FNG. I see exactly what all of you guys mean about radio communications on the ground!

DAY-PHL (my leg)
PHL-AVP (my leg)
AVP-PHL (my leg)
PHL-LGA (CA leg)
LGA-DAY (my leg)

My wife was able to ride along with us on every flight except PHL-AVP-PHL. She took lots of cheesy pictures which the CA and FA were more than happy to partake in!

Day 2: Radio work and procedures went much better!

Dead headed from DAY to CLT (arrived a little late due to flow into CLT)
CLT-OAJ (CA leg)
OAJ-CLT (my leg)
CLT-XNA (my leg)

We came in to XNA just after severe storms had moved into the area. We deviated the red spots on the radar for the yellow spots. At about 10,000 ft. we encountered severe turbulence. Broke out at minimums on the ILS and immediately got the amber wind-shear alert. Continued, with caution, did not get the wind-shear warning so I landed (not to shabby of a landing either). We arrived in XNA around noon and as soon as I arrived in the hotel room I laid down for a quick 3 1/2 hour nap (with a smile on my face).

Day 3:

We were supposed to go:
XNA-CLT
CLT-CAK

Buuuuuuuuuuut

It had rained so hard the night before that, in just 9 hours of the aircraft sitting in the rain, water had flooded the pitot system reservoir ! This caused the "stall fail" amber message to appear repeatedly. After attempting to troubleshoot the problem with maintenance, the flight was canceled. Now we are to ferry the aircraft to CLT without stall, wind-shear or terrain warning. There were thunderstorms along the entire route and in the CLT area. The CA kept me involve during the entire process and confirmed all of his decisions with me. Once we were all cleared and legal to go, the CA again handed the controls over to me and I brought us home.

For all of you going through the stress of the new hire process, I say to you: after being through all of this and having the pleasure of flying with the crews that I had flown with, I can say that I absolutely love what I do for a living! Keep your head down and keep going!

BobDDuck · March 19th, 2008, 23:53

Glad it went well. I don't know what it is with XNA but it seems like something breaks for me every time I am there. We had a deice "truck" hit our wing, we had a bird strike, we had a nasty engine vibe... the list goes on.

I start my IOE tomorrow. Hopefully all that weather has gone far, far away.

CirrusMonkey · March 20th, 2008, 10:17

Well, atleast the hotel there is nice! They even feed us! Good luck Ethan!

beechpilot · March 21st, 2008, 16:29

Well, as much as we all hate cheesy pictures, it will be cool to look back on those days.

EDUC8-or · March 21st, 2008, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

Glad it went well. I don't know what it is with XNA but it seems like something breaks for me every time I am there. We had a deice "truck" hit our wing, we had a bird strike, we had a nasty engine vibe... the list goes on.

I start my IOE tomorrow. Hopefully all that weather has gone far, far away.

Watch out! I'm calling in sick so I can stay out of your way.

meyers9163 · March 21st, 2008, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDUC8-or

Watch out! I'm calling in sick so I can stay out of your way.

I just realized I had 10.5 hours of sick time..... might have to use mine as well

!

BobDDuck · March 21st, 2008, 23:23

I managed not to kill anybody.

But there is a new NOTAM for a change in elevation for 18R at CLT.

ComplexHiAv8r · March 22nd, 2008, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

I managed not to kill anybody.

But there is a new NOTAM for a change in elevation for 18R at CLT.

Did it go down because of the landing pressure, or go up because you left something on the runway??

Carnival_Pilot · March 22nd, 2008, 14:39

hey man! sound like you had fun....ill be in those same shoes when i start IOE next month in memphis!!

N8389P · March 22nd, 2008, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by CirrusMonkey

we encountered severe turbulence.

Have to ground the plane?
Sounds like a good time man

have fun and be safe
Tony

SoCalAprch · March 23rd, 2008, 02:36

Congrats on IOE. Doesn't severe turbulence need to be checked out by maint? Where do you stay in good ol XNA? You should hit that bar up at the clarion if thats where you stay. Good pizza and beer!

youngflyer · March 23rd, 2008, 07:39

Nice man!!!!

ZapBrannigan · March 23rd, 2008, 07:52

Best bar near XNA is called Eddie Haskells. It's located across the street from the Embassy Suites.

http://www.ehpatio.com/

If you have the time to rent a car the best bars in the area are in Fayetteville on Dickson St. near the University. Of course sometimes that makes you remember that you are old and that college girls no longer find you attractive...

<sigh>

Congrats Ethan. Remember, the best part about upgrading is that you always get to fly with your favorite a__hole!

-Mike in XNA

BobDDuck · March 23rd, 2008, 11:16

Thanks Mike.

The runway in Charlotte was lowered to excessive ground contact. I hadn't flown a 700 in a LONG time and my sight picture was a bit off.

In XNA we stay no where near the Clarion. It's hit or miss if the van will take us anywhere. I haven't had an overnight there in a long time though. However, seeing as I'm back to the bottom, I'm sure I'll be getting all the garbage overnights now.

CM, as other's have pointed out, severe turb is probably going to ground the plane for an MX check. You'll start to figure out what to call stuff as you go along, but it has to be pretty bad before you pull out the word severe. I've had it once going from DCA to DAY and we diverted to PIT after we bounced the FA off the ceiling all the way from the back of the plane to the front. Good thing she used to do gymnastics. I think at one point we dropped about 800 feet and then climbed 500 feet in a matter of seconds. That and the 50 degrees of roll wasn't something I ever want to see again.

SoCalAprch · March 23rd, 2008, 13:10

Just be sure to ask the Captain first before calling anything "Severe".

We were in some outstation on the east coast and we were on a ground stop. There was an airmet for severe icing and we legally couldn't take off. Clearance told us that a 172 flying through the area had reported it in a pirep. We had to wait an hour before a PSA plane flew through it and called it light.

ZapBrannigan · March 23rd, 2008, 14:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

I'm sure I'll be getting all the garbage overnights now.

(offended)

Captain_Bob · March 23rd, 2008, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan

Congrats Ethan. Remember, the best part about upgrading is that you always get to fly with your favorite a__hole!

Don't you mean... "favorite Captain"??

Oh... wait a minute...

ZapBrannigan · March 23rd, 2008, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Bob

Don't you mean... "favorite Captain"??

I thought it was pretty clear what I meant.

BobDDuck · March 23rd, 2008, 15:11

I still have two IOE trips left, but I am beginning to see that a benefit of the left seat is at least you KNOW ahead of time that the captain is going to suck.

I actually don't mind the XNA overnight. The hotel is pretty nice, it's just that there is NO food anywhere nearby and at the time the van wouldn't take you anywhere. Apparently that has changed.

ZapBrannigan · March 23rd, 2008, 15:36

Yeah, i'll never understand why they put you guys at that hotel when there are ones ten minutes away with restaurants, movie theaters, shopping, etc all within walking distance.

meyers9163 · March 23rd, 2008, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

I still have two IOE trips left, but I am beginning to see that a benefit of the left seat is at least you KNOW ahead of time that the captain is going to suck.

I actually don't mind the XNA overnight. The hotel is pretty nice, it's just that there is NO food anywhere nearby and at the time the van wouldn't take you anywhere. Apparently that has changed.

Indeed they have.... good ole bbq place there too.... looks like all the good places which are a hole in the wall but it was mighty tastey! Also Ruby Tuesday delievers there during lunch!

Northeasterner · March 24th, 2008, 16:12

Show us some cheesy pictures!