How to prepare for the command
 

hello all...

i am just wondering on how to prepare my self in order to cover all the aspects for the command training ...what to read...and what to concentrate on....

i am looking for as much inputs as you can { captains }

thanks for everything

Do what comes naturally, stick to what you feel is right and be clear about it!

Above all be yourself. Know your Ops Manual Part A from front to back!

Enjoy

Absolutely positively never EVER argue with the Training Captain that will be sitting in the RHS, for that upgrade flying portion.
Us'uns do not like to be argued with...:E

When are you scheduled to do the training, what time frame are we talking about? :confused:

time frame is around a year...as it will be first the command assessment flights...then the command training phases (sim+flights)...

during this time ...i want to prepare my self properly .

the more inputs from you guys ...the better..

thanks

I would have to assume that if your in line for command, you have flown with numerous individuals that you would either like to emulate or forget, take the best characteristics and form your own style, know the equipment and the FOM, for command training they will look for conservative decisions, make a decision and stick with it, don't waffle. Just my 2 cents.

great....

so decision making is what the tr.captains are looking for...

but i am also wondering what type of question would i be asked...generally...i know it would be different from a tr.capt to the other...i just need an idea.

Well once again, the trainer is not going to be looking for some highly technical item to find your weakness in system knowledge, he will want to see how you operate under the gun so to speak, fuel and diversion planning, safety and crew coordination, crew duty limitations, minimum crew required. Things more on an operational level, for instance, if a long departure delay takes place for whatever reason, what is the minimum fuel you can still depart with (before having to return to the gate), things of this nature, he knows you already know how to fly.

great stuff.....

well i have one question came on my mind....the EXTRA FUEL ...

sometimes i notice commanders...in case of a bad wx at dest...they take extra fuel...

say the total required fuel is 8000 KGS...for the A320...

he will say to the dispatcher to make it 9000KGS ...soem will take 1000 extra ..others will take 500...and some will take 2000 ...

but the question is ...based on what they define the extra fuel weight...why he took 1000 instead of 500...why not 300 more..or 400 ?

thanks

Well, that's another can of worms all together, why exactly. Intuition, comfort factor, local knowledge, and your airline's fuel policy, are your CFP's accurate.

yes ....the CFP's are pretty accurate ....

what i know ...there is no limit for how much extra fuel you can uplift...if all the TOW and the LW are not governing ...

so extra fuel uplift is a matter of knowledge and information ....because i remember recently ...i was flying with one of the Tr.capts ...and the departure and destination weather were bad...so he asked me to decide on the total fuel....so i said i want to tanker more 500 kgs...then he said (why exactly 500 ?) why not 1000 or even more...so i said i just need more fuel but infact i don't know how much more should i take...then he said " son ...in these kind of situations where bad weather is in the departure and arrivale airport...the minimum extra fuel you should think of is a 30 min holding fuel" ...and at that flight according to the CFP the 30 min fuel was 1100KGS...

by the way....i am flying the A320...does any one here have the latest AIRBUS flight crew training manual (FCTM) the latest revision...the one i have were written in may 1998...there must be a newer version...looking forward to have it.

thanks

Well I'm sure your trainers will ask you about this subject, use your local knowledge and SOP as a guide, just be prepared with an answer, don't forget to mention the fact that you will also consult your FO :ok: . If your at a top notch operation they will usually include extra fuel, if it's a tankering sector, know how to compute this. How much fuel do you burn during an approach and missed approach, questions, questions. I wish some one like Old Smokey or 411 would speak up. :\

thank you guys...

waiting for further inputs

You called, Dream Land?:}
In addition to my one comment above, and as regards fuel uplift...one thing is for sure, if that new Captain shaves the fuel too close, he might find himself back in the RHS, pronto.
When the weather turns to c*ap, the last thing a Captain wants to worry about is a shortage of fuel in tanks.

Be confident, make sensible decisions based on the best facts available then stick with them unless it becomes blatantly obvious you're wrong. Shouldn't happen too often but when it does, figure out why you got it wrong and then go through the process again. Learn from experience. When you do cock up, don't dwell on it, take the lessons but concentrate on what's coming, not what's just happened. Communicate and keep your crew and ATC on your side. Be humble.

It sounds at the moment like you're trying to second guess your trainers to fly like they want rather than having your own ideas. That approach will never work in the long run. Fly the aircraft as you want to fly it and take what you can from the advice of the trainers and line captains you fly with. Always think as though you were the captain, ie "what would I do in this situation." and learn from what the captain actually does, bad solutions and good solutions are equally useful to you.

Be yourself, don't put on an act and good luck.

When I was going through command training I always saw fuel as time rather than a weight. LVP's - I want an extra 30 mins - in my case 1000 kg, going to a busy airport 15 mins, 600 kg. It shows that you are thinking about plans rather than a number

Good Luck

-Quote "great....so decision making is what the tr.captains are looking for...

but i am also wondering what type of question would i be asked...generally...i know it would be different from a tr.capt to the other...i just need an idea."


A good RHS pilot will most likely be a good CAPT. A good copilot will always try to fathom the reasons behind a Captain's decision and always keep track as to whether the decision was right or not at the back of his head, off course if it unsafe - CHALLENGE.

Reading on some of the advice it appears as if command is a regeneration of a "self" as opposed to assuming additional responsibility. It is like "What is the best way for me to cheat my way into LHS."

Fortunately these days aircraft are so reliable that pilots will soon be cheaper than truck drivers - "no offense meant" -and as a result entry standards keep getting lower and lower.

thanks guys for the valuable inputs.....

Try to do all the study required before you start the sim and line training. i.e the only things you should learn during the training is what you didn't know that you didn't know.
I wrote a four page checklist of the topics and material I wanted to study for the command and then systematically wrote an A5 binder full of notes with references to the company manuals. For my last year in the RH seat I asked all my Captains what they would recommend and added those to the list. It was great because I knew where I was during the study process and it gave me the confidence to know that I had covered everything beforehand. The whole preparation process took about 6 months.
The training is hard enough without staying up till 3am studying after a grueling day of flying in an unfamiliar seat.
Good luck and best regards:)

Firstly I totally agree with Beakor's comments.
As a Captain, you'll soon learn that flying the aeroplane is the easy part of your job. It's managing "the day" that requires a lot of your time. There's no right or wrong way of doing things, you have to do what's comfortable for you. If you want to put another 2000kg extra fuel on then do so, but make sure if asked you, can justify this with a suitable reason.
Know your manuals inside and out, especially SOP's.
Each airline is different, but in my final command Sim check I was briefed, "the only holes in the excercise are the one's you dig yourself ".
Have confidence in yourself and you'll be fine.
Cheers Sid D