Hello everyone! 😁
I am a little more than two months into line training in Alicante now.
I really like the base in Alicante. Line Training captains are all very knowledgeable, prepared and nice. We do mostly two long sectors but we also have four sector days. I am happy with Alicante as it has a lot of different destinations.
In my experience, Line Training can be intense, especially some days with challenging weather, delays, tech problems or inconveniences in general, but it is also very exciting!
As for everything, good preparation and commitment are keys for success.
I don’t have a fixed roster for the moment but it is confirmed one week in advance and I generally fly at least 3-4 days in a row.
I have started with 8 sectors (flights) as a supernumerary, in which I would sit in the third jumpseat of the flight deck and observe the crew at work. It was a great occasion to ask questions and to see the things that we don’t really practice in the sim (filling out the flight plan for example).
Also you might get the chance to do something like setting up the Flight Management Computer (FMC), do some communications on the radio, walk around, update the flight plan, etc…)
<—Take-off in Alicante
After that I moved to the right-hand seat and I commenced flying.
At first, for a minimum of 12 sectors, there is a safety pilot on the jumpseat: they are a first officer (FO) who makes sure you are doing everything properly, catches any mistakes, helps the captain with some tasks so that he can concentrate on you and of course he would be there in case of pilot incapacitation. Everyone I had was very nice and super helpful, some of them gave me great tips and suggestions which I will always carry with me.
When you are ready, your safety pilot is released and you start flying alone with the Line Training captains.
During the training there is a list of items to complete and each of them needs to be signed off. Also there are some discussion items that have to be studied and discussed on board with the captain.
The bare minimum of sectors that a person needs to finish line training and be released is 66 sectors. Like for safety pilot release, the actual amount of sectors needed varies among people: everyone is different and has a different consistency in training due to roster and base.
In the middle there are 2 or 3 (depending on the number of sectors that a person needs to be released) checks, in which you are graded behind target, on target or ahead.
Once the cadet is ready then they are recommended for the Line Check. If released, then they can fly with normal captains and Line Training is complete.
I am almost at the end so I am starting to feel a little pressure, but so far everything went well and I have loved every moment. 😀
Wish me luck 🍀
<– Landing in Paris Beauvais