Preparing for New-Hire Training

Indoctrination Training

It should be no surprise that pilots must be familiar with the federal aviation regulations governing their operation. Indoctrination training also covers related regulations not directly associated with flying of the plane, such as handling of hazardous materials, security measures, and firearm requirements. Finally, there are important company policies, such as required record keeping, handling of passengers and cargo, and aircraft dispatch procedures. These are all covered under each company’s operations manual. Under Parts 135 and 121 operations, the FAA must approve the manual. This is important to you because via FAA approval each company’s operations manual becomes part of the federal aviation regulations for that operation. Pilots who don’t conform to the company’s operations manual are likely to be violating federal aviation regulations.

Simulator and Flight Training

Once ground school has been successfully completed, most new hires are sent on to simulator training. While some corporate and commuter operators still do all their training in the airplane, this is becoming rarer, due to higher cost and lower effectiveness. These days, most regional and corporate outfits supplement thorough “sim” training with some flight time in the airplane. In the major airlines, it’s common for all flight training to be done in the simulator. (Major airline simulators are certified even for landing qualifications.) Successful completion of flight training is marked by passing oral and flight checks, not unlike the checkrides you’ve taken to earn ratings in the past. For Part 121 and some 135 operations, there is additional IOE (initial operating experience) training. In this case, the newly qualified pilot goes to work for a specified period with one or more “IOE captains.” These experienced training captains help new employees learn the ropes of operations on line.

It should be obvious that the quality of the extensive training we’ve just described is important to your safety, your knowledge, and your career. Unfortunately, while each training department may, on paper, cover the same topics, there are big variations on how well the job is done in different companies. A good training program offers a special opportunity for you to grow professionally as a pilot. Make quality training one of your top priorities in choosing a company to work for.

Preparing for New-Hire Training

If you’ve already been hired and will be training for a turbine flight position, you may be interested in some tips on how to prepare. Among your first acts after getting your acceptance letter, should be to call and learn the details of training, including the aircraft type to which you’re assigned. Ask which training materials may be checked out early for ground school preparation. Some operators are understanding about lending these materials out early, but a surprising number are not.

If your new employer falls into the latter category, check with other recent hires who are already on line. They’ll have collected extensive notes and probably copies of many required manuals and training materials. They’ll also know the training priorities and where you might best invest your pre-ground school study time. Find out if your new employer uses computer-based training (CBT) to supplement or replace traditional ground school training. If so, it might be possible to obtain a copy of the DVD or access the online resources used in class to study ahead of time. Some pilots also recommend various online study materials or DVDs offered in aviation magazine classifieds.

On the other hand, do not try to prepare using materials collected from companies other than the place where you were hired. Even though they may be flying the same types of aircraft, many operators prepare their own training materials, with a surprising variety in interpretation and emphasis. Besides, the difference of a dash number on a given aircraft model (say a 737-700 versus a 737-900) can mean a tremendous difference in the details of the aircraft. All Canadair RJs are not alike! (Nor are all Cessna Citations, nor all Boeing 747s.) Consider also that many larger operators order custom-tailored aircraft and work with the manufacturer to develop their own operating procedures. It’s a drag to study three weeks for a ground school and then find that all the specs and procedures you’ve memorized are wrong.

Preparing for Ground School

Ground school preparation is best divided into three areas. First, try to gain a general understanding of each aircraft system. You can’t possibly learn every detail of every system before ground school, but if you know the basics, you’ll have little trouble absorbing the instructor’s favorite details in class.

Secondly, get a list of the “must know” aircraft limitations from the training department or a recent hire. You can bet that there’s a long and specific list to memorize. Even if you don’t know what half the limitations mean before ground school, you’ll avoid trauma by memorizing them ahead of time. Most people do this by recording the limitations on index cards and then using them as flash cards. (You may be able to find flash cards ready-made for your aircraft. If so, for the reasons already discussed, be sure that they’re current and came from someone in your own company. For many people making your own cards is best because it helps in the memorization process.)

Finally, see if you can get your hands on your company’s operations manual. This will include the many policies and procedures applying to day-today operations, as well as samples of forms you’ll use on the line. A quick review of federal regulations applying to your operation would also be in order. In ground school itself, each information section will be covered separately and then followed with quizzes. You can then anticipate a written final exam that must be passed to complete the course. These days, most operators work under the concept of “train to proficiency.” That means that the instructors are on your side, with the objective of properly training everyone. The material is challenging, however, and some people do wash out of ground school. It’s definitely important to prepare ahead of time.

Preparing for Simulator and Flight Training

Once you’ve completed ground school, it’s on to simulator and flight training. (Depending on the operator, your training might include any combination of simulator training and actual flying in the airplane. The trend is toward simulators for much of or all flight training.) It’s possible to prepare pretty effectively for sim training ahead of time. Obviously, if you’re not sharp on instruments, you should brush up before attending training. This can be done with any number of private training companies. Your employer expects to train you on the airplane, so any hands-on sim practice beforehand should simply emphasize basic instrument competence. Even if you can access only a rudimentary simulator, practice as closely as possible to the recommended approach airspeeds for the plane you’ll be flying.

The next challenge, and for most people the biggest one, is mastering crew coordination aspects of flying in a multipilot crew. To prepare, get copies of the checklists you’ll be using on line. Find out when each checklist is to be called for. (This is usually in the company operations manual, but any line pilot can tell you.) Remember how you used to practice engine-out procedures in your car while waiting for a red light? Well now you can spend that time thinking through each flight sequence and calling for checklists at the appropriate times.

Another trick is to pick up large-scale cockpit posters or schematics for your aircraft, and mount them on the wall of your room. Then place a couple of chairs in front as pilot seats. (Some pilots go so far as to mock up consoles, side panels, and overhead panels.) This arrangement is known as a CPT (cockpit procedures trainer) and is something you may experience in a grander form at class. Gather some other new-hire pilots and practice normal, abnormal, and emergency checklists together using your mock-up. It’s best to include an actual line pilot in your first few sessions to teach you the ropes. This way you’ll quickly learn about the cockpit, locations of switches and controls, checklists, and basic crew teamwork. (Expect some interesting comments from your nonflying roommates!)

As for the flying itself, turbine aircraft procedures and maneuvers are designed to be performed in the same way each time. This standardization comes in the form of “flight profiles,” which are standard sequences for performing everything from steep turns to engine-out go-arounds.

Memorizing your company’s flight profiles ahead of time is very important. It’ll reduce your stress during simulator or flight training and will free you up to concentrate on the flying itself. Simulator and/ or flight training programs conclude with challenging oral exams and practical tests, much like what you’ve come to expect on other checkrides.