Onwards and Upwards (at least in a simulator anyway)..
Okkkk.. three weeks into the TR and ye I guess there is one thing that all members of the illustrious FR133X can conclude as fact at this stage- it really has not been easy! None of us for sure considered this easy and sure enough we weren’t disappointed as the last 14 days has provided an endless onslaught of information to deal with. Talking to one of the latest additions to ryanair last night, he did enquire as to just how challenging the work load would be and I think just for the information of all my 100′s at FTE currently.. mathematically the most demanding phases of FTE x110%. However to now be sitting at the end of the Ground school phase of the type rating is a huge relief looking ahead to our first sessions in the multi (multi) million pound flight simulators here at East Midlands next week.
Theres no doubt its been hard, but it has been interesting and at times even enjoyable! As a course we’re getting on tremendously, but from now it is mainly focused on our individual ‘crews’ whom which we will each be simming together while pushing on to the LST. The ground school phase itself is devised mainly of computer based study and classroom lessons, covering the main aircraft systems of the 737-800 as well as the Standard Ops procedures and performance. Towards the end of the course, 3 exams then tested our knowledge of the material covered prior to releasing us for the simulators which are due to start next week. Together across the board of exams we averaged a commendable figure as a course in the high 90′s which is a considerable achievement considering the volume of work in the course and the time available to study it. Some people have asked me has the type rating thus far been fun, and to be honest I think that I’d find few who would agree that that would be the right word. Has it been interesting? For the most part yes- and after all it is material that we want to be learning about but the stress of the exams and daily schedule for sure has been telling on all of our faces thus for sure it is a huge relief to be through. Will it be Enjoyable? Judging on the stories and the experiences of those on the line, the chances are it will be better.
There have been various highlights however of the past month, a night out in Nottingham for example a week ago being one of them.. I would comment at this point that whilst I’m not particularly familiar with Nots, I do have numerous friends at the Uni there who all offered good advice on the best places where I could take my European counterparts.. Unfortunately both by getting lost and through confusion I selected a particular bar opposite the famous Oceana, which as those local to Nottingham will understand all too well to be what it is.. As a result an Emergency evacuation drill covered during SEP was required to vacate the area. Going out in Nots was unsurprisingly very different from Jerez (frankly I much prefer the Spanish nights but there we are), but as a course it was great to get to know everyone that little more in an environment outside of talking shop. I will comment also of the Fantastic Indian cuisine available at Ghandi.. to which we are now incredibly familiar.. I can’t leave out the rather ‘colourful’ owner who now knows us all by name in particular my sim partner Chris, and leaves nothing to chance in ensuring we enjoy our evening.. including not allowing us to order meals he considers ‘not good!’…
The ground school phase has resulted in a few treats, not the least following the issue of my East Midlands ID pass being able to visit the Air Traffic Control tower. This was the first large airport tower that I had been up and I must comment that it was a fantastic experience, not least to be able to actually meet the people on the other end of our comms to the ground. The controllers were terribly friendly (just like everybody i’ve met in the midlands thus far but will comment on that later..) and were kind enough to let us take some pictures of which I have shown below. Perhaps the most amusing part of the trip was the phone ringing in the radar room, and the resulting conversation being heard as: (ring ring) ‘ Hello Air Traffic… right.. so how many balloons do you want to release.. one thousand.. righttttt!’.
Following our final performance examination on wednesday, I decided that with my FTE uniform and ID pass to have a go at getting a jumpseat ride from East Mids on Thursday morning. Was I realistically expecting to get one well I had my doubts, but after passing through security and talking to Servisair I was thrilled with the opertunity to fly on the Jumpseat on a rtn service to Palma. It was the first time that I’d sat in the front of a 737 and what a superb experience it turned out to be, taking off and turning south towards London (flying directly overhead my house at FL390) crossing the channel and then across France towards the Med and island of Mallorca. I could talk all day about it but I have a funny feeling that theres a fair few more flights to come in the 737 thus all I’ll say at this point is that having seen what the light at the end of the tunnel looks like I really don’t want to mess this TR up! I must say that the Captain and FO were incredibly kind to allow me to sit on the front and I must thank them so much for the opportunity to do so, in particular for putting up with my never ending selection of questions. A rather concerning part of the flight however, whilst the passengers where getting off one approached and having seen my uniform enquired if I was the pilot. When I replied ‘no just an observer today’, his reply of ‘well thank god for that- you need to finish school first!’ was as I understand it a taste of what is to come and according to the likes of Mike Wood and Max Williams something that I will need to get used to!
Otherwise for this weekend am back home again, albeit briefly before returning to EMA on monday morning to prepare for my first simulator ride on weds afternoon.. At present our LST is due on the 13th nov (yes like a month away!) and then it is the real deal.
For now I’ll leave it there, but heres some snapshot highlights of the few weeks just gone. I will also take this opportunity to thank Martin Johnson and his team of premiership footballers for utterly embarrassing us as a nation, not to mention the fact that on my course there are Welsh and French Members thus I can online imagine the jokes that will be on offer come next week.
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