Upgrade in 737 or waiting for 320
Join Date: Jul 2013
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I also applied EK just because long term wide body command dream. Plus I fly 90hrs regularly with 40-50 legs each month with 320 and getting paid like 3500 usd monthly. I am so close to left seat but money is not the best
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Always take a command
i have many 1000's hours on both types of aircraft. I prefer the boeing. It's a proper aircraft that flies like a proper aircraft all of the time and not just when 'the computer says no' and hands you an out of shape computer.
But honestly, once you have command hours they can never be taken back out of your log book. You are marketable worldwide on the 2 most popular types of aircraft currently in operation. Plus if they are offering you a LHS now, who knows what might happen to the companies economic standpoint in 6 months time.
After 6 years in the RHS, if you don't think you are capable of running a structured day in accordance with SOP and company procedures and know what it's like to do the job, then I would seriously consider your career progression to this point. You should be a more than compitant SFO and should be comparing your mental model to the LHS pilot on all aspects of the operation. Take each standard day as if you were the captain and ask the LHS if you can take the lead to see if your thought processes are the same as his. This is the only way you can start to reduce the workload associated with chancing seat. You should know how to fly a sector, manage a crew, and manage a turn around before even getting near LHS. Then all you have to get used to is the change in type and using your right hand instead of left for playing with the MCP/FCU.
I can completely understand your trepidation about changing type and seat at the same time, but believe me that changing operator SOP and type (regardless of DEC or DEFO) is a lot harder then type and seat within the same operator.
Good luck, but my advise is as above, ALWAYS take a command when offered!
But honestly, once you have command hours they can never be taken back out of your log book. You are marketable worldwide on the 2 most popular types of aircraft currently in operation. Plus if they are offering you a LHS now, who knows what might happen to the companies economic standpoint in 6 months time.
After 6 years in the RHS, if you don't think you are capable of running a structured day in accordance with SOP and company procedures and know what it's like to do the job, then I would seriously consider your career progression to this point. You should be a more than compitant SFO and should be comparing your mental model to the LHS pilot on all aspects of the operation. Take each standard day as if you were the captain and ask the LHS if you can take the lead to see if your thought processes are the same as his. This is the only way you can start to reduce the workload associated with chancing seat. You should know how to fly a sector, manage a crew, and manage a turn around before even getting near LHS. Then all you have to get used to is the change in type and using your right hand instead of left for playing with the MCP/FCU.
I can completely understand your trepidation about changing type and seat at the same time, but believe me that changing operator SOP and type (regardless of DEC or DEFO) is a lot harder then type and seat within the same operator.
Good luck, but my advise is as above, ALWAYS take a command when offered!
Join Date: Apr 2005
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I did the error not to take command when offered, I thought was too early ( barely 1500 jet hours)....Result: expelled from industry years ago when crisis hit, still struggling to be back.
Plenty of first officer with/without experience, not so many captains around or willing to move change company etc.
Based on my experience and what I still see never ever refuse a LHS upgrade
Plenty of first officer with/without experience, not so many captains around or willing to move change company etc.
Based on my experience and what I still see never ever refuse a LHS upgrade
I would suggest you take the command. There is a window for a smooth transition. Spend too long in the RHS, it is possible to loose the "command mentality" if that makes sense.
I am a true believer in crews, that are experienced, being checked out on both seats. Your leg, take the LHS. Not very common these days is it? It makes the upgrade a lot easier and therefore smoother.
I am a true believer in crews, that are experienced, being checked out on both seats. Your leg, take the LHS. Not very common these days is it? It makes the upgrade a lot easier and therefore smoother.
Last edited by Dan_Brown; 9th Sep 2018 at 19:44.
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update
I would like to inform all who shared their opinions with me. Begining of 2019 I started my 737 command course. It took 2 months including ground course and 15 sims(incl. rnav etops lvo).
So far I am very happy with my decision, first of all airplane is so much fun to fly! I realized how much I missed trimming and setting thrust etc on approach. Also it s nice to learn another way of automation. I am now able to compare two major airline jets and see the positives and negatives of each. Obviously I miss ecam : ) especailly during sims.
During the process I met lot of new ppl and did learn a lot from them. Now I am flying many new destinations which is also great in terms of experience. Also I was afraid that I would be losing my experience by changing type for command but it is not the case. I still keep the basic skills of aviation that I got during airbus plus I get new things everyday.
All in all I am happy with my decision but to be honest it wasnt easy. Actually I am not sure if I would do it again if I knew that I had to study that much : ) Now I am more confident about new airplanes and changing types. I realized first type rating is the hardest thn it gets easier. In my case the second was also hard since I was also changing seats. I feel more like a pilot thn an airbus pilot now : )
safe flights to all..
So far I am very happy with my decision, first of all airplane is so much fun to fly! I realized how much I missed trimming and setting thrust etc on approach. Also it s nice to learn another way of automation. I am now able to compare two major airline jets and see the positives and negatives of each. Obviously I miss ecam : ) especailly during sims.
During the process I met lot of new ppl and did learn a lot from them. Now I am flying many new destinations which is also great in terms of experience. Also I was afraid that I would be losing my experience by changing type for command but it is not the case. I still keep the basic skills of aviation that I got during airbus plus I get new things everyday.
All in all I am happy with my decision but to be honest it wasnt easy. Actually I am not sure if I would do it again if I knew that I had to study that much : ) Now I am more confident about new airplanes and changing types. I realized first type rating is the hardest thn it gets easier. In my case the second was also hard since I was also changing seats. I feel more like a pilot thn an airbus pilot now : )
safe flights to all..
I would like to inform all who shared their opinions with me. Begining of 2019 I started my 737 command course. It took 2 months including ground course and 15 sims(incl. rnav etops lvo).
So far I am very happy with my decision, first of all airplane is so much fun to fly! I realized how much I missed trimming and setting thrust etc on approach. Also it s nice to learn another way of automation. I am now able to compare two major airline jets and see the positives and negatives of each. Obviously I miss ecam : ) especailly during sims.
During the process I met lot of new ppl and did learn a lot from them. Now I am flying many new destinations which is also great in terms of experience. Also I was afraid that I would be losing my experience by changing type for command but it is not the case. I still keep the basic skills of aviation that I got during airbus plus I get new things everyday.
All in all I am happy with my decision but to be honest it wasnt easy. Actually I am not sure if I would do it again if I knew that I had to study that much : ) Now I am more confident about new airplanes and changing types. I realized first type rating is the hardest thn it gets easier. In my case the second was also hard since I was also changing seats. I feel more like a pilot thn an airbus pilot now : )
safe flights to all..
So far I am very happy with my decision, first of all airplane is so much fun to fly! I realized how much I missed trimming and setting thrust etc on approach. Also it s nice to learn another way of automation. I am now able to compare two major airline jets and see the positives and negatives of each. Obviously I miss ecam : ) especailly during sims.
During the process I met lot of new ppl and did learn a lot from them. Now I am flying many new destinations which is also great in terms of experience. Also I was afraid that I would be losing my experience by changing type for command but it is not the case. I still keep the basic skills of aviation that I got during airbus plus I get new things everyday.
All in all I am happy with my decision but to be honest it wasnt easy. Actually I am not sure if I would do it again if I knew that I had to study that much : ) Now I am more confident about new airplanes and changing types. I realized first type rating is the hardest thn it gets easier. In my case the second was also hard since I was also changing seats. I feel more like a pilot thn an airbus pilot now : )
safe flights to all..
Good for you, I would definitely agree
Only half a speed-brake
Congratulations, your first ever command decision! It must have been a leap of faith as you seemed to have an opposite view originally, but you chose to do something for your life and seize the tree with more fruits on it.
Thank you for coming back here. What was the deal breaker?
Thank you for coming back here. What was the deal breaker?
Join Date: Jul 2012
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I would like to inform all who shared their opinions with me. Begining of 2019 I started my 737 command course. It took 2 months including ground course and 15 sims(incl. rnav etops lvo).
So far I am very happy with my decision, first of all airplane is so much fun to fly! I realized how much I missed trimming and setting thrust etc on approach. Also it s nice to learn another way of automation. I am now able to compare two major airline jets and see the positives and negatives of each. Obviously I miss ecam : ) especailly during sims.
During the process I met lot of new ppl and did learn a lot from them. Now I am flying many new destinations which is also great in terms of experience. Also I was afraid that I would be losing my experience by changing type for command but it is not the case. I still keep the basic skills of aviation that I got during airbus plus I get new things everyday.
All in all I am happy with my decision but to be honest it wasnt easy. Actually I am not sure if I would do it again if I knew that I had to study that much : ) Now I am more confident about new airplanes and changing types. I realized first type rating is the hardest thn it gets easier. In my case the second was also hard since I was also changing seats. I feel more like a pilot thn an airbus pilot now : )
safe flights to all..
So far I am very happy with my decision, first of all airplane is so much fun to fly! I realized how much I missed trimming and setting thrust etc on approach. Also it s nice to learn another way of automation. I am now able to compare two major airline jets and see the positives and negatives of each. Obviously I miss ecam : ) especailly during sims.
During the process I met lot of new ppl and did learn a lot from them. Now I am flying many new destinations which is also great in terms of experience. Also I was afraid that I would be losing my experience by changing type for command but it is not the case. I still keep the basic skills of aviation that I got during airbus plus I get new things everyday.
All in all I am happy with my decision but to be honest it wasnt easy. Actually I am not sure if I would do it again if I knew that I had to study that much : ) Now I am more confident about new airplanes and changing types. I realized first type rating is the hardest thn it gets easier. In my case the second was also hard since I was also changing seats. I feel more like a pilot thn an airbus pilot now : )
safe flights to all..
