The Base Training

Sleep… If I remember rightly for the most part of the previous post that word was perhaps the most frequent but perhaps also the most important, as recovering from our escapades in the sims really did take a wee while… I think I also briefly commented on it that I required another batch of root canal in my front teeth, which we won’t discuss but after a stinging attack with drills, injections and all these other tools of torture (and £250 out of pocket!) my ordeal was complete.. untill next time arrghhh!

It was pleasing to be able at long last to welcome Captain Kemp and Aviator Adam to East Mids as they begun SEP last week, and it was an absolute pleasure showing them around the beautiful elements of the M1 as we all trekked back up to EMA on sunday evening together..  The familiar sense of excitement and raw terror in evidence on their faces, almost identical to that of my own back on the 4th september.  However whilst they were beginning the course, I guess 2 months ahead our roster was ever so slightly different.

My remaining colleagues arrived the following day, and together we braced ourselves in Ghandi that evening- enjoying the marvellous hospitality of the ever flamboyant Manager in preparation for the following morning.  nervously that night we tried to sleep before the pre-programmed iphone alarms sounded and an unforgettable day was about to begin.

We met in the ever familiar sim building (all in our freshly pressed uniforms i haste to say..) to be greeted with our Captain for the day.. and after a brief introduction we were informed that due to low vis at East Mids we would be heading to Glasgow Prestwick immediately to make use of on paper, near perfect weather conditions.  Walking out to the aircraft and after a quick coffee in the terminal our Captain showed us briefly around the aircraft (in the Cold, Rain, grey etc..) before loading up, closing the doors and taxying out to the hold.  Perhaps the most terrifying aspect-on reaching Prestwick I was just ever so slightly nearving as we mentally prepared ourselves for the day.  The bonus to this however, was that the Captain allowed me onto the jumpseat on the trip over to Prestwick..  It was a bit strange really, as we were in cloud most of the way even up to FL260 but then just crossing Hadrians Wall it suddenly cleared and the most stunning panoramic photograph emerged in the windows.. Visibility stretching almost to the horizon, staging Snow capped mountains and crystal blue bays right out into the Scottish Islands.  It was almost a privilege to look at really, and whilst it was pretty amazing, during the approach to land the clock was winding down to zero hour and for the switchover.  After landing we taxied back to the holding point for Runway 31, and the Captain gave the request to the F/O to swap places with me in the right seat.

‘So then mate how are you feeling?’.. ‘The strongest cocktail of terror and excitement’ I think was the reply, but after the take off checks the call from the twr (still ringing in the ears), I advanced to 40%, and gave the call to set take off thrust.  The emotion was pretty hard to explain, being pressed right back into the seat watching the speed tape roll downwards.. ‘V1, Rotate….’ And we were flying.  Am not really sure what we were all expecting, perhaps the biggest surprise was just how light the aircraft felt, and with all the ‘power steering’ it felt no heavier really than the seneca.. In fact in many ways I’d almost say it was easier than the Twin to fly.. Turning downwind we carried out the checks before turning base and then final back onto R31..  I would say again that landing the aircraft felt no heavier than landing the seneca.. but everything does move a hell of a lot quicker.  The you approach the runway and it gets bigger much faster than the twin, before the American chap calls 50,40,30,20…. 10.  After bringing the thrust lever back and slowly pitching up the sense of satisfaction as you felt the main wheels (A LONG way behind you!) touchdown.. the nose-wheel slowly followed and then the Captain pushed on the power, flaps to 15 and off we went again.  6 Circuits later (and one orbit due to traffic.. dare I say it in a B737-800.. what on earth people on the ground must have thought!) all was over.  Looking back the Captain and F/O were both absolutely outstanding on the day and were fantastic at making us all feel at ease with what was a massive, massive step in our lives- walking out of the flight deck the smiles and feeling of elation on each and every one of our faces was incomprehensible as all five of us one by one completed our circuits.

During day sitting in the cabin, while each of us flew in turn the banter was flowing fabulously as each landing was critically assessed by each of us to give an average from a business class passengers perspective with grades out of 10..  Together we concluded that Adam was the comprehensive winner of the day, scoring an extremely impressive average of 9- with 2 invidual 10′s… one of which his first landing!  We were joined during the day by an RAF Tristar, who joined us in gallivanting around the circuit during the afternoon.. Prestwick is reknown for circuiters and the benefit of having outstanding air traffic controllers means they can handle more than one heavy jet in the circuit at a time.  It did make me reflect on the day that Mr Tonna forced the A340 to Go Around during his circuits in Jerez, as we were also joined by little warriors and Tomahawks trunderling about.

After all was complete, the Capt and F/O returned the aircraft to EMA.. this time the weather very clear and we had fantastic views of the Liverpool Docks and the Mersey.. passing Manchester and then coming in from the East onto Rwy 27 at East Mids.

Exhausted we all returned home (and albeit then out for a celebratory meal…) but with a real smile on a face in the knowledge that all that money, work, stress, fatigue, and Aspiration over not just 2 months but many years had come good, and goes to prove to anyone that if you really want to achieve something nothing is impossible.

The following day we were greeted by Owen, a fantastic SFI with a remarkably dry sense of humour, who basicly ran through a lot of the ops procedures we will have to be familiar with on the line.. before showing us around the crew room and how the day to day ‘job’ is going to be.

So thats it really.. I returned home Via Dublin to pick up my license from the IAA, and the connection at Dublin dare I say the SHOCK as both Pal and myself said bonjour to Captain Durand who happened to be rostered on it for his Sny’s yes that was a surprise haha.  This week I will be doing my own SuperN from Bristol in the West Country, and as I understand it alongside Adam, extremely excited but equally slightly nearvous as next week- I will be flying passengers.

A

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