Line training, which manuals?
 

Starting line training in a month or so, the airline basically just dumped hundreds of documents in an ipad library for new FOs to read and i have no idea where to start. In between the AFM, FCOM, FCTM, OM part A, B2, B gen, C, D etc. etc. where do i even begin? what should my starting point be? surely they cant expect us to absorb thousands of pages worth of knowledge. My rough idea iis to focus on tthe SOPs of the FCOM and normal procedures of the OM part A & B2 type specific section. Other than that i have plenty of other manuals to read such as the EFB manual and charts.

You're onto line training and they've only just given you the manuals? What happened on the type rating?

Start with part B 2 and 2a to make sure you get your SOP flows & calls down, normal profiles etc.

Part D should tell you exactly what your line training syllabus is.

" surely they cant expect us to absorb thousands of pages worth of knowledge"

Yes! You're lucky it's not overnight!

OMB, normal procedures is the bread and butter. Learn that very well.

FCOM is more for reference, you should have a good working knowledge of it, and most importantly know where to find things.

What may be obvious but nobody explicitly explained, FCOM abonormal procedures should exactly match ecam procedures.

Learn what is in the QRH.

OMC and OMD have a flick through but don't spend too much time.

Surely you will have a ground course or an induction phase where they will tell you how to get started.

The OMB is going to be your bible, but where I work for type related normal SOPs, flows and abnormals refers to the FCOM. You should have read the FCTM alongside the FCOM normal and abnormal procedure section during your type rating. The Part C will contain route information and airport briefings.

If it's your first line experience you may feel overwhelmed at first, but you aren't supposed to commit everything to memory. You need to know where to look for things.

thank you for the responses, as for type rating we just used generic airbus manuals and i have absolutely no idea why our airlines' ops were not used. Yes we have been doing ground training but everything is rushed and condensed too, i've just been taking notes on specific references for certain modules so that i will look back to it when im reading the manuals. I have a good idea now thanks to the feedback, thank you very much for all the help i will focus on the manuals listed/advised.

On another note, i've just been given my roster and i will be starting in 2 weeks! do you think that is enough time for me to study to a satisfactory level for my first line training flight!? 12 days to be specific

OM-B you need to know inside out.
OM-A chapter 8, again know it inside / out.
The 2 above are the most important, the ones below you should have been well familiar with during your TR. Depending on company they can still ask you some obscure questions from the FCOM, but this is more about you being able to find the information in the FCOM or FCTM.
FCTM as reference
FCOM Limitations, and various Procedure chapters there in the FCOM.
I would read them in that order.

There is one important aspect in line training many people seem to overlook: what is to be known, and what is to be known where to find the info.

Line training is "operational" training: learning to operate your aircraft, and operate as a "second in command", able to take over if there would be a case of pilot incapacitation. So learning to operate under time pressure (flows & procedures, takeoff, climb-cruise-descent management and be able to land). FCOM and OM-B SOPs, limitations, memory items, failure management is stuff that is to be known without looking in books as they are important for the cooperation in a 2 man cockpit environment where each pilot has his own responsibilities.

The OM-A chapter 8 is not the target in line training. It is a reference document, it will "resurface" during preflight occasionaly. It gives a good impression if you can work along with your training captain, but you will never be left alone on these subjects. It becomes more and more important to understand the document when you start to prepare for the left seat.