Airline Recurrent Training

Airline Recurrent Training

Airline Recurrent Training

Folks, I just spent the last weekend in what we call Recurrent Training.

What’s that, you ask? Well, it’s kind of like a regular checkup at your doctor, but one that checks knowledge and skills.  It’s a short refresher course for pilots and flight attendants on operations, systems and procedures, as well as a chance to practice and test those skills.

Today, I’ll walk you through my Recurrent course.

But First . . .

Cap’n Aux Book Makes the Top Shelf!

Airline Recurrent TrainingAirline Recurrent TrainingI’m beyond excited to announce that, to my surprise, my novel,

The Last Bush Pilots

was nominated by the staff of Top Shelf Magazine for the Indie Author Awards!

What’s more, I’ve just received word that the book has been selected, from over 1,000 entries, as a Top 5 Finalist in two separate categories:

Action and Adventure, and Regional Fiction!

If you haven’t read it yet, and if you enjoy a good action adventure aviation novel, I highly suggest you pick up a copy today, available in print, kindle, and audiobook.

amazon.com/author/ericauxier

And, while you’re there, check out my other books as well, such as my nonfiction

There I Wuz! series,

and my Fly/Spy novel series,

Code Name: Dodger!

Link:

amazon.com/author/ericauxier

..

And Now . . .

Airline Recurrent Training

Airline Recurrent Training

The dreaded “Box.” Wanna lose 5 pounds in one day? Try flying 4 hours of emergencies in this sucker!

Airline Recurrent Training

Where’s my coffee?! Day one, hour one, of Recurrent.

Every six months to a year (our company has gone to a 9 month cycle), pilots attend three days of Recurrent training.

Day one is a ground school. Topics include such items as reviewing their airplane’s systems, procedures and company policies, as well as any updates to said procedures and policies. Other topics include security briefs, and general subjects such as weather as it relates to flying (such as thunderstorm, turbulence and windshear avoidance).

Days 2 and 3 consist of simulator flights. While many of you would no doubt give your right (state body part here) to experience a full-motion simulator flight in a high performance airliner, let me tell you: it ain’t no walk in the park! Each day consists of two, 2-hour sim sessions, during which we practice takeoffs, instrument approaches, landings, and general maneuvers.

Airline Recurrent Training

We review windshear profiles

But the real emphasis is on emergencies. Engine failures and fires, hydraulic, electrical, and computer failures. You name it, we practice it!

The procedures are always evolving as well, and this year was particularly challenging, with a complete revamp of the process of getting a crippled plane safely on the ground.

However, I am happy to say that, after having practiced our new system, I am very happy with the results. Vastly simplified, it gives the captain more discretion, more command, and more leeway in conducting the event.

Safety, I am happy to say, is always evolving, always improving.

Airline Recurrent Training

Airline Recurrent Training

Always happy to see a familiar face! I run into old buddy Cap’n Gary at the cafeteria.

First Officer Cory’s and my flights started with a 2-hour  briefing at 4pm, followed by the two sim sessions that lasted till well past midnight. This was certainly a challenge for the body clock, but it did give us time each day to crack the books, review our procedures, and better prepare for the rides.

Airline Recurrent Training

Studying approach plates in my room before the Big Sim Test!

The first session of Day 3 is our test, called a “check ride.” This consists of a simulated flight, from cockpit entry to engine shutdown, as if we were actually flying the line.

Inevitably, some type of failure occurs, and the FO and I must work together to 1) Fly the Plane, 2) diagnose and address the problem, and 3) decide whether to divert or continue to our destination. This year, we flew from BOS (Boston) to DCA (DC National Airport).

During our simulated flight, a dual flight computer failure kicked off the autopilot and forced us to hand fly. No biggie, but not a normal situation. Moreover, some of the flight controls were degraded, making the plane a little more squirrelly to handle.

Airline Recurrent Training

Working through a “non-normal” in The Box, during IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions.)

I assigned Cory flying duties, which freed me up to manage the failure—which, by the way, is the preferred method at our airline for any “non-normal events”. I agree with this philosophy: the Captain must be able to manage the situation and make the necessary command decisions and communicate with all appropriate parties (ATC, cabin crew, Dispatch, etc.) During this time, the FO, who is more than capable, will fly the plane and work the radios.

See my article,”You’re the Captain: Inflight Emergency!” in  Airways Magazine, July, 2018 issue, as well as my latest,  “Anatomy of an Inflight Emergency,” in the August, 2018 issue.

That article is also available online at:

https://airwaysmag.com/industry/southwest-flight-1380-anatomy-of-an-inflight-emergency/

Airline Recurrent Training

Airline Recurrent Training

In the end, the Check Airman complimented us on a good ride. Once again, (after sweating off 5 pounds), we passed! Yay!

But wait, there’s more! For our final sim session, we went back into training mode, practicing such maneuvers as instrument approaches into high altitude, mountainous South American airports, windshear awareness, avoidance and escape procedures, as well as practicing a rejected takeoff followed by an emergency evacuation. As is nearly always the case, we did fairly well, but learned gobs on how to do things better.

All in all, a great learning experience, both confidence-building and humbling as well!

For more simulated flying fun and a video, check out my old post,

Let’s Go for a (Simulated) Airplane Flight!

Direct Link: http://capnaux.com/vlog-lets-go-for-a-simulated-airplane-flight/

Airline Recurrent Training

Team Aux’s Bunny Stands Up to Cancer!

Airline Recurrent Training

As you may know, Team Aux Producer and my better half, Bunny, is a cancer survivor. A lifetime athlete and competitive bodybuilder, Bunny was diagnosed with Stage 3A lung cancer last year.

After an operation, chemotherapy and radiation, she has now fully recovered and has twice been diagnosed as in remission!

A couple weeks ago, the nationally televised event, Stand Up To Cancer, invited her to their live broadcast.

Along with our good friend, former NFL football star Chris Draft (who lost his wife to cancer—see our post “Dance, Smile, Live, Fly!“), Bunny rubbed elbows with such stars as host Matt Damon, Stevie Wonder, Katie Couric and Ken Jeong, and met other survivors from around the nation, and the world.

Congratulations, Bunny, on being a survivor, as well as a SU2C attendee—you’re a true champion!

Join us in supporting these great cancer organizations!

And Finally . . .

Airline Recurrent Training

Blog Buddy Spotting!

Airline Recurrent Training

Bunny runs into Blog Buddy Vance B!

Upon jumping on her flight back from the SU2C shindig in L.A., Bunny was shocked to hear a voice call out to her in the cabin. The man was none other than long time Blog Buddy and Hollywood cinematographer, Vance B! The two immediately called me, and I was so happy to chat with Vance for the first time in a long time!

Airline Recurrent TrainingJust yesterday, I got a call from an old friend: my buddy Alex D, whom I’d flown with wayyyyy back in the day, first down in the Caribbean with the Virgin Islands Seaplane Shuttle (& he with Eastern Metro, also flying Twin Otters), and later flying Dash 7s for Rocky Mountain Airways in Denver!

Alex is hands down the smartest person I’ve ever met. After a few years’ flying wide bodies for Continental (before the United merger), he became an aviation consultant. Now a full partner, he travels the world advising airlines on their operations, and still keeps his hands dirty by flying the company Citation!

Airline Recurrent Training

Alex and I flew Dash 7s together. I left for my current airline, while Alex stayed and flowed through to Continental Airlines to become a DC-10 FO, finally retiring his seniority number to become a highly successful airline consultant.

Bunny and I picked him up and wined and dined him . . . or was it he wined and dined us? Anyway, sushi and brews all around!

Airline Recurrent Training

Alex and Vance, so wonderful to run into you guys!

And, to all of you other Blog Buddies out there, if you’re passing through PHX, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Till then,

This is Cap’n Aux . . .

Airline Recurrent Training

Flying with Bunny’s friend Gidget!

Signing Off!

CLEARED TO LAND

Touching down in early October

A PODCAST CHAT

With Cap’n Aux, and Former F4 Fighter Jock,

and Airline Pilot-Author-Blogger

George “Hamfist” Nolly!

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