Well, today marked the end of the first trip out of training. I flew a total of 4 legs on this two day trip, 3 yesterday and 1 back to Atlanta today. Definitely a good trip being that each leg was just about 2 hours long. Within those two hours, I got a chance to continue learning more about the plane and various techniques that the Captain has learned throughout his career in the CRJ 200. I consider myself very luck to get a Captain on my first trip that was really cool.

The overnight in Islip, NY was pretty cool, but once again, I didn’t get a chance to venture out only because we arrived late, and I just wanted all the sleep I could get. The Radisson has some great contract with SleepNumber and I had a chance to sleep on one. It was great, but I have to admit that it still felt like my current air mattress from Wal-Mart. It wasn’t that bad really, but it’s just an air mattress that can inflate and deflate with you on top of it. One of the guys in the house just got a “tempurpedic” from Wal-Mart and it definitely feels quite comfortable. His bed was $280 and mine was only $59 or something like that. Huge difference, but like my roommate said, “It’s a lot cheaper than back surgery.” I might turn in this air mattress maybe 1) if i can find the receipt 2) if i really want to spend that kind of money. I don’t even have a frame to put it on top of either. I’ll see what’s up sooner or later.

I got to go home to San Diego again and spend sometime with friends and family. I’m starting to actually commute if you will and hopefully I’ll get the chance to go back home sooner than later. I’m looking at a flight for Wednesday right after I get off of my flight from Providence, RI but I’ve never traveled in uniform and I’m a little hesitant. I still have to check out my schedule too for the upcoming reserve line that I have for April to even make sure that this trip would be worth while. I’m going to use this trip as a last one for a while until I get the reserve thing figured out and to spend more time here in ATL finding a part time job. I need to definitely do something else to cover my ass.

The Luggage Works Pilot Bag that I ordered a while back finally came in. It was a pretty penny and it has already scratched me a little bit with its metal frame, but I’m definitely impressed with its build. I’m just glad that I don’t have to carry my flight case in one hand and drag my suitcase in the other.

To answer all those questions about pay, etc and stuff, here’s a print shot of an awesome website called AirlinePilotCentral on ASA’s Pay Rates. It might look like a lot, but remember that here at ASA, we are contractually held to only 97.5 hours a month while the government allows 121 Carrier Pilots to 100 hours a month. The hourly rate is the pay we get when the plane is moving, so once again, we don’t get paid while we are on the ground. We do get a per diem if we are on shift for that time which is $1.50 an hour. But hope that this little spreadsheet enlightens you all. Here’s also a government description of our occupation: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos107.htm It’s probably the best description out there except for a few details left out.
Got to get some rest for another 1 legger tomorrow and 3 the next day!

The Chargers new uniforms kick ass and they are opening up against the Chicago Bears! That’s going to be just pure awesomeness!

This is my ear! Awesomeness eh?

Getting an impression for my new pilot headset!

These are a couple of new pictures from my last flight up to Buffalo. The captain and I thought that we would have been canceled but because the storm moved so fast to the east, Buffalo wasn’t that bad at all. It was my leg because the IOE Captain wanted to fly his last trip back to Atlanta and it just worked out that way but I was excited because of the conditions that I would be flying into.

I landed on a runway that wasn’t that slippery or contaminated at all, but the light snow and the snowy taxiways were something that I’ve never done before. We also had a chance to get de-iced which, of course, I have never done before. What better timing than to do it with an IOE Captain. I really hope that the next few lines that I get from Crew Scheduling are okay and are with an awesome captain. I heard that you get spoiled with your training instructors and that some of line guys aren’t that friendly. Always have to stay positive and just make the best out of any situation. I get my first call tomorrow afternoon probably.

The picture to the right is just outside of my window on board the flight deck. It’s pretty awesome I think! Oh yeah, from what I know now and have been awarded, I have April 23-26 as my Golden Days. Anyone going to come to town? Either than that, I’m on reserve till then. Oh joy!!!

I forgot to write lately about my diet too so here goes. I now weight in at about 173 lbs. which is closer to my goal of 165. I still have a waist that I need to run off but the diet of Tuna, bread and Ritz Crackers or whatever else on the plane is just awesome. I’m also able to save quite a bit of money bringing along a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and try to ease my appetite along the way with some various trail mixes too. I found a place called the “Nut House” just right down the street which has just about any trail mix that I would have imagined and I can’t argue that it’s expensive either. Over a span of 2 days for 2 people (the Captain and I), we shared $5.00 worth and I thought that it was perfect. I could of course maybe had it last longer but I’m the type to always share. I also have some Special K Cereal in the morning and or a shake of sorts. I think that I could lose that extra 8 pounds too by the end of the month. That’s my goal at least!

Here’s another picture of a frozen lake (I have no idea which one) on the final approach into Buffalo.

I'm officially released from IOE (Initial Operating Experience)! I'm now a fully qualified line pilot!

The walk around sucked! I froze and almost slipped and face planted on the stairs! Windchill bring the temp to 10F