Bizjet Rookie!

[Ricardo82]

Hey guys,

I just managed to bag myself a job flying the citation 560 (my first flying job) and was wondering if anyone could give me any tips and advice on being a successful pilot in the bizjet world of which i feel privileged to be a part of.

[LRdriver II]

ALWAYS have at least 2 days worth fresh clothes packed with you. even for a day trip.
Never make plans longterm as you will never make them anyhow. THis applies to all your social planning and/or holidays. Get used to the fact that your wife will start hating you, kids will forget you and friends will quit inviting you to anything as you never make it anyway.
Rosters/schedules are worthless.
Be prepared to come under HUGE pressure to complete flights..even if it is an AOC you fly under.
Other than that, welcome to the world of Bizjets!! You have a steep learning curve ahead of you and will be thrown into the deep end. Sink or swim.. :E

[Chippie Chappie]

Hi Ricardo,

Congratulations and don't worry too much about LRII. S/he's forgotten how good that first jet job feels :)

Just some thoughts that might help you:

Do pack the extra shirts :}

Flying makes up about 10% of the work bizjet jockey's do. Managing the passengers, catering, fueling, baggage, handling agents, slots, delayed flight plans, etc. is a lot to learn so watch the person in the left hand seat who's been doing it for a while.

You will be going into all sorts of airports that you've never been to before so take some time before the flight to go over the Jepps and read EVERYTHING on the plate.

The captain will have a lot on his/her mind so try offering him/her a tea/coffee while s/he is doing the paperwork at the end of the flight.

Last but not least, enjoy it!:ok:

Cheers,

Chips

[pithblot]

Hi Ricardo,

Congratulations on your first job!

Learning these three phrases might help:

"Clear right".
"Nice landing".
"I'll take the fat chick!"

Cheers - Pithblot :)

[redsnail]

A couple more
"Oh, I forgot to tell you about the cross wind"
"I'll carry your bags sir"

A variation on the fat bird is
"I think the fat bird fancies me"

[formulav]

Congrats!!!!!!

After you do all the other suggested things, remember this. Just because it is jet, it does not mean that you dont have to use you feet. It is an airplane, FLY IT LIKE ONE. If you move into heavies, it will do you very good to remember this. Good luck, work hard and fly safe!!!!!!!:ok:

[G-SPOTs Lost]

FormulaV
Wise words indeed

Good luck with the new job, Its a very worthwhile type rating over 1500 applicable airframes! Remember flying the aircraft is less than half of your duties as a GA FO. All the other stuff is just as important !

The Encore is a real performer, you will remember your first t/o in a light encore with the anti ice off!!! :p

[potatowings]

Great advice guys,

Ricardo, congrats on your first jet job.

What I'd like to add for Ricardo is that biz jet flying is so incredibly rewarding, and don't be put off by the nay sayers talking about rosters etc... 95% of the time it's not that bad, and compared to my airline buddies, it is a superior lifestyle. My origional goal was airlines, but no way would I choose to go there now.

The biggest part of the job is ensuring the whole product is perfect, not just the flying, so work hard at ensuring the cabin, catering, stock etc is spot on, biz jet captains have a lot to do, so it's often best to stay out of their way until they have done their thing, cup of tea or coffee is always a good idea.

Pack as many clothes as you can without taking up too much of the hold. I've gone away on day 1 for a 5 hr day and got home 7 days later having been everywhere from Gothenburg to Marackech. And especially pack your swimming gear in the summer.

If you find yourself sat in the cockpit while the captain is waiting for your passengers, look through the departure plates and arrival plates and reveiw the route. Preparation is key. With the variety of work, you don't get to learn the routes like the airline boys do, so this helps keep on top of it.

Most of all, enjoy the views. It's a great job with great variety and I wish you all the luck. You never know, maybe we'll bump into each other down route.

[Ricardo82]

Guys thanks for the encouraging advice, it's nice to know everyone has a good story to tell and is willing to share their experience. Going to dallace to do the rating in april...can't wait!

I'm trying to sort out the visas etc and am finding it increasingly hard to get a straight answer from anyone regarding what i require apart from the AFSP registration. The course is two weeks long and i have heard i can go as a visa waiver visitor, is this true?

I would appreciate some help if you can.

Once again cheers guys!

[LRdriver II]

oh man.. thats a bit tight for the AFSP checks. Hopefully you have filled out the several page questionaire online, and paid the money. Also you need to get fingerprints done when told to do so during your application.
You CANNOT go via a visa waiver as the flightschool cannot and will not allow you to start the sim part of the training.
Cant you see if there are any other sims for the type outside of the US?

[Ricardo82]

Its being sorted out by the company so i don't have any control really. They seem to think it will be okay but i'm very dubious. This is why i'm trying to sort it out myself cos i don't want to get there to be told 'you aint comin in!'

[StressFree]

LR Driver is spot on, you simply CANNOT go for flight training in the USA without complying with the relevant TSA regulations, even if you actually make it to the school they can only give you classroom instruction. For sim training you must have TSA approval...............
Chase it up now, the lead time quoted is 30 days.

[Crosswind Limits]

Well done Ricardo82! All the above is good advice. Catch you for beer next time I'm at Waltham! :ok:

[merlinxx]

Don't bug the folks, if paperwork is not correct, delay your arrival so's not to log you as a refused person, or someone who's tried to buck the system, they don't have a sense of humor, good luck and if you're gonna be at CSE/Stimuflite have fun, if Anne Stimpson is still there to greet you, give her my regards.

[Ricardo82]

I'm in the process of filling in the TSA form but can't move because the contact at CAE never answers her phone. Been trying to get a course ID number etc etc but haven't had any luck. It's a pain cos i'm booked on the course but can't get moving with the booking of my flights etc I'm concerned that if i don't get the form off within the next day or two, i won't get approval in time. I'm getting conflicting info about visas from everyone. Which visa do i need...M-1, B etc etc?

[LRdriver II]

You need the course ID number and your student ID number to complete the AFSP online application.. pay them the 130$ or so dollars to process it, receive an email telling you to get fingerprints done somewhere approved (Flightsafety Farnborough is one place).. pay to get them done and sent in.

You dont need a specific visa for typeratings as you are already a certified airman.. if I remember correctly.

Its bloody frustrating to be denied training due to others laziness and paranoia..Like I said, see if you find a JAA approved C560 sim outside the US.
You will need to push HARD to make sure all this done and dusted before going. Next thing you know, you are delayed, course postponed, company changes its mind etc..etc.. all due to paperwork crap and 130$ your career is toast.

[Chippie Chappie]

Doesn't FSI Farnborough have a C560 sim? I'm pretty sure that NetJets use it for their Bravos. No idea as to whether or not you have to get approval to train there though...

Chips

[LRdriver II]

No.. its only the paranoid US that requires TSA approval to a) aquire an FAA airmans license or b) do training IN the US or a mix of these.

I am assuming mrRookie is a JAA licensee so wouldnt need to go thru the hoops to undergo sim training if he does training outside the USA.

[unablereqnavperf]

Ricardo82 you can enter the US on the waiver scheme if your a British passport holder and you can start the ground school provided you have applied for your TSA clearance,however you cannot start the sim training until you fingerprints have been approved and full TSA clearance has been given. I just been through all this in November. Flight Saftey at Farnborough will do your finger prints think they charged about $150 for doing it but you have to have the prelimary TSA stuff done.

Hope this helps congrats on your first job,remember the following,
It must have been a gust
I'll pick the bill
I really prefer fat chicks
Chicken is my favorite
and of course I don't mind sleeping on the sofa

If you remember them you'll do well! A long with some of the other sensible advice that has been given here.

[saffron]

you CAN train in the sim under the USA Visa Waiver scheme I have a letter from the US state department authorising this,I did exactly this on a Gulfstream G550 course with flight safety in SAV in October 2006.There are mixed signals about this as TSA & State Dept do not work well together.If you have time to get the B1/B2 & C1/D visas (these are the 2 visas you need,but you can get both with one application & payment) that makes things easier.If you send me your contact details I will E-mail you the letter.You MUST have your TSA clearence before commencing Sim training.Good luck!

[potatowings]

That's right LdDriver, you've got it spot on.

Ricardo, don't worry, you do not need any visas, all you need is the AFPS website stuff, fingerprints and they'll send you an e-mail saying you're approved and then take it as you enter the States in case of any problems. So, no Visas, just the TSA sh*te.

[swervin'mervin]

You have plenty of time to do the TSA stuff - the quoted 30 days is a maximum wait period once they have received all the required info including the fingerprints. After I had submitted my prints and got an aknowlegement i had approval email to start training in 20 MINUTES!!!! Thats fast!:eek:

[Ricardo82]

Hey Guys,

I got an email from the consulate confirming that i can travel on the visa waiver program. Just have to get my finger prints at Farnborough and thats it.

Thanks for all your help.

By the way, does anyone know the best and most reasonable place to lodge at DFW whilst i do my training?

[pithblot]

With the fat chick!

[Grum]

Do yourself a massive favour and triple check that your passport is indeed machine readable!! If it was issued by a Embassy abroad it may not be!

I only discovered this at passport control on departure. :cool: Check your passport.

[potatowings]

And Ricardo, don't forget to let us know how it goes.