Robert Stogsdill’s Flyblog

So lets not beat around the bush, AMR, the parent company to American and American Eagle had to make a decision due to rising fuel prices. Their decision was that for AMR to start making some cash ($300 million dollar loss in the first quarter of this year,) they would have to ground planes. Between 70 and 80 plane, 30 - 40 of those planes are going to be Eagle planes. That comes out to be about 400 pilots. At the point this decision was made, they decided to cancel all future training classes. Which included my class.

When did I find out this information? Just after I had successfully completed the RJO course with Flight Safety I was sitting in LaGuardia, waiting for my connection to Washington I saw this on the national news. I then got a phone call from HR notifying me of classes being canceled. It was a pretty crap day.

Fast forward to 3 weeks later. I walked my resume into Chuck Colgans office. The outcome seemed fairly grim. Colgan had raised its minimums to 1000/100. I dont even come close to those minimums. Chuck and Cathy and I talked anyway, and I left feeling like I wouldnt hear anything. A day later Chuck emailed me with an invite to LaGuardia to interview and sim test. Well that was yesterday, and again I left feeling like I had not done my best.

This morning I received a phone call from my sister who works in Colgan customer service. She asked me how my interview went, I told her it went so-so. She said that Karen and Cathy thought it went really well. I said “oh really? thats good.” My sister then told me that I was hired!! I didnt believe her at first, I thought it was my sister just playing around. Chuck and Cathy apparently thought it would be a good/funny idea for my sister to let me know, and to be honest I thought it was great. If it was not for my family’s support, I wouldnt be where I am today.

I start Saab class next Wednesday and Im thrilled. In these dark times of aviation, the chance to even interview somewhere is an amazing thing.

1 Comment » Posted by v1valarob / Airline Interview(s) and Eagle Transition Course - Flight Safety

So my roommate and I are not quite sure if this is a vacation or training. Because the training has changed, as said below. The only thing we are doing is instrument refresher stuff, and if you havent been able to grasp instrument flying by now, you shouldnt be here.

Yesterday my rommate and I (who is also my flying partner) sat by the pool for 3 or 4 hours, threw a football around, and then went to the Seminole frasca for 4 hours. We both shot 3 approches. 1 ILS, 1 Back course, and 1 VOR DME Arc. The first portion of the flight we acted as if it was a real flight with vectors and following victor airways. Our instructor said we did very well. We where both pretty pleased.

Today was pretty much the same thing. We sat out by the pool, threw around a football and then in 2 hours we are going to fly the frasca Seminole.  So far this hsa been fun. We will see what happens when we get into the ERJ Sim.

1 Comment » Posted by v1valarob / Eagle Transition Course - Flight Safety

Well on Sunday I arrived into Orlando at about 1130am, the van was not scheduled to pick us up until 430pm. The drive from Orlando to Flight Safety is about an hour and 30 minutes, so they dont want to have seperate transportation for everyone. I checked out the aiport, which is more like a very nice american mall, got some food and just hung out. At about 2:30 I went to the meeting point of the shuttle and just sat down. A few minutes later a person walked up to me and asked if I was with Eagle. I replied yes, and he said he was too, and that there where other guys upstairs. He then mentioned after hearing my name that he had read my blog.

4 Hours later we arrived at Flight Safety. We where supposed to have 8 guys ride with us, but due to some confusion only 6 made it at the time. Once arriving we stepped out and a guy smoking outside asks if we are with Eagle. He then says that he justs finished the 3 week course and tells us all about it. He says that you basically have flows and crew management to study the first few days, then you hop into the seminole for 6 hours of pilot flying and 6 hour non-pilot flying. You then go over systems and flow for the Erj145 and then you get your Erj145 sim time. We where then greeted by Shane Johnson, the guy in charge of the RJO program. He had heard the other student explaining the program to us and said it was going to be different for us. Apparently Eagle called up Flight Safety and said “Hey, these are the current problems we are having with guys… so work on this stuff.” That new stuff is instrument skills, apparently new hires are having difficulty flying STARS, SIDS, and non-precision approaches. Shane then hands us our keys, and then shows us the class room which we will meet in the next day and then walks us into the dormitory. The dorm rooms are not bad. Its 2 persons to a room. The rooms include 2 desks, a TV with cable, microwave, fridge, toaster and restrooms in each room. Washer and dryer are free as well.

The next 2 days comprised of 16 hours of ground school. The instructors mentioned that they where just winging it because the program had changed at very short notice and that they weren’t sure what exactly to cover. They said this was supposed to be the new order of things: 2 days of Jepp Charts. 2 seminole frasca sessions 2 hours a piece. 6 hours of seminole time, 3 days long, 2 hour flights each. Then we have ground school for 3 days and talk about the navigational systems on the Erj145. Then we have an Erj 145 cockpit procedures lesson. Then 4 sim sessions, 4 hours each, 2 hours pilot flying and 2 hours non-pilot flying. We are actually scheduled to finish before the 3 weeks finish.

You can tell that the instructors are confused on how to throw us into an Embraer full motion sim without ever going over systems with us. Apparently the last classes where able to do V1 cuts, stalls, steep turns as well as instrument procedures. We will NOT be doing any of this, we will be strictly doing instrument procedures in the sim. Im a little disappointed as I really wanted to do a few V1 cuts before heading to Dallas, but oh well.

So far the instructors are awesome. We have been dealing with the older guys who don’t actually seem to fly for Fly Safety anymore. One guy mentioned not having a medical anymore, another guy is a retired 20 year captain with ASA and another guy flys a caravan for fedex feeder. He has been doing that for 15 years.

Anyway, I will update a little more after a few more days.

1 Comment » Posted by v1valarob / Eagle Transition Course - Flight Safety

As said in previous posts American Eagle makes low time new hires go through a jet transition course. Going from a Cessna 172 doing 110 knots to an Embraer doing god knows what is a huge step. I have to successfully complete the course to be allowed to go to American Eagle ground school. Here is the information about the transition course which I have received so far:

Welcome to the American Eagle / FlightSafety Academy RJO course. The course you will be enrolled in is three weeks long and will include the following:

- 40 hours of ground school

- 4 hours of Frasca 142 flying

- 6 hours of Piper Seminole Flying

- 2 hours of ERJ-145 Cockpit Procedures Training (CPT)

- 8 hours of ERJ-145 training.

Training will consist of all aspects of IFR flying to include ILS, VOR, Back course, DME Arc, and GPS approaches, as well as, performing holds and flying SIDs and STARs. During the first week and a half, you will be flying the Frasca 142 and Piper Seminole as a single-pilot operator. The purpose is to verify your IFR flying abilities. The second week and a half will be in the ERJ-145 level D simulator. The purpose of this training is to get you familiar with flying turbine powered aircraft.

In order to complete the course, you will need to be proficient in IFR flying. It is recommended to get as much IFR flying done as possible before coming down to Vero Beach. In addition, make sure you are familiar with the use of the HSI, RMI, Garmin 430 GPS and, if possible, the Piper Seminole.

American Eagle will cover the expense of training and lodging. Food is not provided and will be at your own expense. For those who are not driving, Eagle will provide transportation to Orlando International. FlightSafety will be providing a shuttle from Orlando to Vero Beach. Within a few days of your arrival, expect another email with shuttle information.

4 Comments » Posted by v1valarob / Eagle Transition Course - Flight Safety