Astreaus Cadets - line training

[pjdj777]

Hello all.

Just thought it was time to let you know how things are getting on.

After the LST and base training we had to do more groundschool, induction subjects like CRM, First Aid, SEPs, Company paperwork and SOPs, security. manual handling, wet drill (get in the pool!!) and fire and smoke - great fun.

We're also out on the line now, the first few sectors are done from the jumpseat, it's amazing watching everything we've learned being put into practice, like all the training I've done I've found it really valuable to sit back and watch from the jumpseat/back seat.

Looks like a couple of us will be at the Gatbash this weekend (well, I will be anyway, never turn down the chance of a beer), so if you're going we'll see you there.

Cheers
(off to Turkey later)
PJ

[MJR]

Hi PJ,

I'm pleased its all going well, when will you actually start worrying ATC and passengers yourself?;)

Have you said "cabin crew doors to automatic and cross check" yet?

Keep the posts coming

cheers

MJR

[moo]

nice one PJ! as a felllow cwfc member I wish you all the best

[featherman]

Well put PJDJ....

Yes, well everything has moved along somewhat and gotten much more exciting. The jump seat rides are certainly invaluable. From my own experience I have a greater understainding of how the cockpit is run and both the intensities of workload and paperwork!

After a 4 hour sector you find yourself at an airport you've never been to before in a new country in the middleof the night. A barrage of of trucks, cleaners, caterers, dispatchers and the like descend on the aircraft and have it ready and boarded in 40 minutes for the turn around. Then follows the 4-hour trip back home. Next thing you know is your in the sack thinking what the hell was all that about!!

Well after so long getting the job I can vouch for the fact it's 100%worth the wait!!
:cool:

[Firestorm]

Good one PJDJ.

I can imagine how proud you feel, and it is well deserved. despite all the stress, financial hardship, emotional upset, waiting, waiting and more waiting, it is the best job in the world to my mind. Glad to hear that you're enjoying it too. See you at the Gatbash!!

[tailscrape]

PJDJ,

Hello mate.

Glad to hear I was in Turkey 12 hours before you get there. I didn't realise 737's were sooooo slow!! Only kidding!!

On line, on secondment at Air2000, so listen out for "Jetset" instead of "jmc"...or a combination of both botched together. Then you will know it is me!

Good luck with the flying Paul.

[pjdj777]

Tailscrape

Good to hear you're getting on at 2bob, you still in Man or based Darn Sarf now? Could be an excuse for a beer.

You can always tell when it's me too, listen for the Flystar callsign that's taking requests for Pearl Jam!!!!

Nah MJR, not got to say that yet, been practicing in the car though !!!

[VFE]

HI pjdj777,

Good to hear things are going well in the training.

You say in your post "a couple of us will be at the Gatbash this weekend". I thought the GATBASH was next weekend - the 29th June? Not being picky - just making sure I've got it right. :)

VFE.

[tailscrape]

Jonesy,

No mate, I am still "oop north lad, wit Whippet unt flat cap liiike".

Chances of getting near home? NIL.

Beers sometime in the future.

MW

[Snigs]

Beer's on me Peeeeej :D. See you soon!

[AerBabe]

Sounds like you're having WAY too much fun Peej ;)

VFE, don't panic, GatBash is this saturday, in 3 days time, the 29th June :D

[featherman]

First line flight completed…

After several jump-seat rides it was time to take the plunge and go for the right seat.

Gatwick to Zakinthos and back. All the training and hard work can’t quite replace the exhilaration and thrill of taking 148 passengers, baggage and crew into the air for the first time!!

Little time to soak in the atmosphere of landing at an idealic island, complete with blue skies and turtle beach, than its time to turn the aircraft round and get back home. Suddenly everything seems worth it…the hard work, late nights and flight-tests…this is what its all been about!

Now its time to get the line-training completed and start working for a living!

(Promise to get those calls right next time Hamrah!).


:cool:

[pjdj777]

Aaaaah those calls

yes the first line flight was a bit of a blur - LGW to IBZ and back, no time to enjoy but plenty of hard work. It's fun, it was worth all the stress, it's time to go to Athens soon ;)

It's amazing really, after all this hard work and study there's still so much to learn, I wouldn't change it for the world.

[The Greaser]

Green with envy doesn't begin to cover it! To read about these first line trips is an inspiration and testament to hard work and dedication.

Continued good luck with Astraeus, hopefully I and many others will be joining you guys/gals soon on the airways.

[Tinker]

Nice to see people are taking the time to keep us all updated. Long may it continue. (How about making this one a 'sticky' WWW/Scroggs) :) .

And it would would be rude of me not to wish you all the best of luck even if it is said with envious undertones :D

[monkeyboy]

Indeed!
Continued good luck for the upcoming flights, chaps and chappess!

Truely inspirational for all of us still at it!

:)

MB

[fonawah]

Envious does not even begin to describe how I feel!I am a wannabie planning a major career change from medicine to aviation! (you may have read my thread in May)Please keep these updates coming. They are very informative and encouraging. Good luck to all of you!

[featherman]

Thanks everyone,

Yeah, it’s a great buzz knowing that all the hard work has paid off! I’ve heard people say that after a while it wears off but even having instructed for a year before this break I still got a kick out of looking ‘down there’ thinking ‘yes, I did the right thing’.

At the moment it feels like you have to learn to fly all over again. The real satisfaction is in knowing that your going to work doing what you love doing and have waited so long for. Everyday is different and presents its own challenge.

We will be glad to keep you guys and gals posted and answer anything that comes to mind.

[calypso]

The first couple of flights from my corner too. I must admit that I had difficulty sleeping the night before, which wasn't as much of a problem as I had a 4,30 start. I had Hamrah and Danny himself for my sins...they where very good as they created a very positive atmosphere. The learning curve is pretty much vertical at the moment. The 737-700 is a slippery beast and I was paranoid of getting high on the approach but I was OK in the end. Amazing coming into Gatwick when ATC say "no speed restrictions" and you are zooming in at 300 kts IAS constantly working out height x3 + 7 miles to decelerate... In the mean time I was also thinking " in a couple of minutes I will have disconnect the autopilot and land this thing". And the calls, ah funny how I had already forgotten about them, again.

It was a brilliant day out and made it all worth it. The best part of all is that it was repeated the next day and will now be the stuff our every working day.

I know from my own experience that reading the Wannabes forum can sometimes get you down, hearing so many people struggling can knock your self confidence. Keep in there, your time will come and it will be worth it too.

Cal

[GROBIT]

Well done Featherman on the first line flight. I'm just about to start mine. Base training was great fun. Done loads of jump seats and am chomping at the bit to start for real. It's all definitely been worth it. I've also got the base i wanted which is a bonus. Good Luck with the rest of the line training and i'll talk to you soon

[featherman]

Well done Grobit, we both made it in the end eh!
Where are you based?

[MJR]

Now you 5 lucky dooders are all Thunder Gods what will you do about relocation? Can you afford to live in the vicinity of Gatwick or will you commute and how does that work out with your rostering?

A boring question I know, but I'm interested to know the answer.

Congratulations on what you have all achieved, If Astreaus offer the same scheme again I'm sure they will have some comfort in that the first 5 hopefuls all came through. If they dont offer the same scheme again then I guess we will all blame you, only joking!

cheers

MJR

[pjdj777]

Hey MJR

Relocation, well now there's a thing, it costs a fortune here in LGW, esp considering the prices I'm used to in Cardiff.

At the moment I'm staying with a friend nearby, once all the dust has settled Mrs PJ and I will make a decision on whether to move here permanently. She still works in Cardiff but may be able to get a transfer.

I get back to Wales once a fortnight or so, it's a bit of a trudge but worth it.

[calypso]

I have bitten the bullet and rented a small cottage nearby, 12 minutes drive to the office. It is great to be this close but I have all available fingers and toes crossed that things work out.

We are just beginning to feed into the roster and so the pace is still quite gentle. We have been assured that by September we will be begging for mercy.Excellent.

Cal

[featherman]

As Calypso said the pace hasn't quite reached fever pitch yet. I brave the M25 on the days I am rostered allowing a good 2hrs for what is essentialy a 1hr 15min drive. (I drive in from Chingford area). Hopefully things will pan out for us all in the end and I will be thinking about relocation on a permanent basis. The travelling is a small price to pay at this early stage.

[Snigs]

I'm really pleased for all you guys & gals, you give all of us wannabes hope for the future. :D

[McD]

Forgive me if this isn't practical, but just in case ... have you considered Yank-style "crash pad" type accomodations for this early phase? Or is it not feasible?

[BIG MISTER]

There was I - 0615hrs minding my own business at Gatwick...trying to wind down after another one of those 'saturday night'.....coffe in one hand....Icom in the other.....when what should I hear ????

Firestar....who's Firestar ????

There then followed two examples of what a Firestar is !

Great to see you in action guys n girls.....yes I was green after seeing your purfect departures....swop you for a T5 ????

:D :D :D

[aztruck]

.......erm its Flystar actually but well done for being up so early anyway.

[BIG MISTER]

I'm a firestarter....twisted firestarter.....

Yep sorry Aztruck - zzzzzzzzz - Just as well you can hear whats going on - and you with all that 'Marshalls' time too !

Good to see your old handle is up and running !!!



:)

[Ali Ronn]

:) Well, 4 sectors under the belt and it's all feeling decidedly surreal! I have to keep nipping myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. Think of one of those speed drag curves and triple it by two for how much there is to take in... Same goes for pleasure derived however! Now I can look back and say this - whatever the effort, whatever the cost, however gloomy and despondent we all felt after September, dont give up because believe me when you get the break - it's worth it! Good luck to everyone that's still waiting for that break to come - it will!

Thanks to the folk at PPRuNe, and everyone else that's made it all possible.

Ali:D

[HARRY GREYHOUND]

Why is it taking so long to line train you?I would have thougt that with the average 40 sectors you would have been finished by now. Are Astraeus short of work or line trainers or both?

[Ali Ronn]

HG - Neither! It's just a logistics problem. New airline with lots of flights. Every pilot that comes in is effectively 'new' and needs some sim and or line training. The company policy is that the cadets fly the first few sectors with a senior base training captain (makes sense really - safety and pax comfort being the priority) of which there are 3, and 5 of us! We also have to fly with a safety pilot for a while so we are a huge drain on the comany's resources. Naturally the guys and girls that needed least training have been done first. We'll shortly be able to fly with regular training captains and then the line training sectors will come thick and fast... Hope this explanation is correct or no doubt some higher being will soon put it right...

AR