Professional Pilot Career Journal

November 7, 2006 – Successful IOE and FAA observation

Flying from the left seat is fantastic!

I have completed my operating experience and FAA observation ride, and am now on my own as captain. I completed a three day trip last week with an excellent instructor who helped me get used to doing things from my new chair. Then a quick day trip today with an FAA observer in the jumpseat to get the FAA’s official sign-off which is required of all new captains. It’s nice to finally have all this stuff completed.

The two trips were uneventful and taught me quite a bit about the responsibility I now have. I’m also getting used to taxiing the airplane. The difference between jets and light aircraft is that you actually do most of your steering with your hand using a device called a tiller, whereas in small planes you only steer with your feet using the rudder pedals. The tiller is very sensitive and can turn the nosewheel up to 76 degrees which means you have to have a very light touch.

I had good weather throughout the trips so challenges with winter weather are still ahead of me. I did however get to deal with nightmare delays in Newark, taking nearly two hours to get from the gate to the takeoff runway during one flight. I was able to fly out of all three hubs which was a good refresher since most of my time has been in Houston over the last year.

Now I am on my way home and will call the company tomorrow to get my schedule for the rest of the month. It will probably be a four-day-on, three-day-off schedule for the rest of November. I’ll get my schedule for December in a couple of weeks. I have to reiterate how glad I am to have waited to upgrade and not have to sit reserve.

Another chapter of this career is over. Now I can continue to learn as I start my new job.