T Minus 1

We have one Simulator session left. At this point if we don't know it, we hope we don't need it on the check ride. So As i may have commented on before, training is different than what I am used to. The training here feels like the they know we will pass, so now we are checking boxes. In the 1900 Sim, when we got done we would be sweating... the seat damp, pit stains under our arms. When we finished, we had worked. This airplane is a totally different experience. At one point in the 1900, i was flying an "airplane" with 1 engine inoperative, a leak in the fuel tank on the good engine, flaps stuck halfway down, gear stuck down and wind shear on final. Had to make it though because we didn't have enough fuel to go around etc... That was time limited and stressed... just get it down - oh, not to mention that was on a circling approach in tight weather. in the Q it seems that they take a more logical approach. We have 1 failure... say a generator, or flap drive or engine. Never multiples, unless we cause it. Not going to lie... if you cause it in this airplane, you deserve it. This almost makes me distrust what we are doing, because i am not sweating while working.

One cool toy that this airplane has an option is a Flip down HUD (Heads Up Display) This is an optical lens that flips down between you and the window. A projector behind the pilot projects an image onto this. It looks like the display that fighter pilots get... the green lines and stuff you see in the movies.

Looking through the HUD while on the ground at night.

You can dimly see the runway in front of it, the green lines are the projected images.

It was hard to get a decent picture of this, I will try again later, but you can see the green horizon bar on it, and see how it is projected in front of the window, so you can see outside. When you use it to shoot an approach, it is 8 times more sensitive than the normal approach indications. The pilot flying using it is making tons of rapid control movements to keep it lined up. You get a Small circle that is the airplane position / trend indicator, and a larger target circle. The idea is to keep the little circle inside the big circle. At this point it is just like a video game. To keep the Circles lined up it take lots of small, fast control inputs. For the Pilot who is not flying, his instruments are 8x less sensitive. So He sees the Pilot flying making TONS of corrections are a high rate of speed... but it looks like nothing is happening. It can be quite comical. This system is so accurate, that you don't need to be able to see the runway until 50ft above the ground. 50 Feet is where we start the flare for landing. The Little ball will actually indicate your pitch attitude for the flair, and because you are already looking out the window, yuo don't have to look up or down to see the runway for landing. This is an INCREDIBLE tool for pilots... and i hear our company "MAY" opt for this option.

Our Q400 Simulator building is in the old TWA training center. Back when TWA was still flying, St.Louis was their big airport. American Bought TWA, and this is an American 757 on take off out of STL

We have to go in the back of the building, right next to a ghetto air conditioner that sounds like it's about to explode at any given moment. Today they replaced one of the fan drive motors, so at least now you don't go def while entering the training facility.

(Note the Small entrance door right next to the HUGE A/C unit)

My schedule for the next few days is Sim 7 (last one) on Tuesday, i have Wednesday off, then Oral exam on Thursday, followed by Type ride on Friday. Then i get a newer element to training called LOFT, or Line Orientated Flight Training, on Saturday. The LOFT is a pretend flight, where we actually act like a real flight. Normally in the Sim we never exceed 180 knots... which is about 30% power for this airplane. On the loft we will turn it up and cruise at 286kts at 25,000 feet. This works out to be nearly 400mph over the ground. This will be the fun one, where the instructors have to sound like cranky flight attendants.. and really is more of a stress relief than anything else. Due to the high performance and complexity of this aircraft, the FAA requires that I ride in the observers jump seat for 10 hours, then do 25 hours of IOE. Once I am on the line, I will have higher weather minimums for the next 50 hours, and I will not be able to fly with a newer (green) FO for the next 100 hours. I am not sure yet, but i believe that i got Albany as a base. I have mixed emotions about this... Yes, it is drivable for me, and I will be able to hold a line... But ALB is a Maintenance base.. so I may end up doing lots of extra work moving broken airplanes. A Paycheck is a Paycheck these days... and i feel confident that my position is secure... That can't be said for a lot of pilots these days. Good Luck to all, and Goodnight.