1st Trip out of I.O.E

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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: Airline and Commercial Pilots. 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!

update: I know this is an old post but link to the bls was broken. I recently redirected it their updated site and also received a link to https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/topics/occupational-outlook-handbook Cheers in that new career!

Buffalo and Snow IOE

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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.

finally some time...

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I'm blogging from a hotel room in Montreal now only because I've been in the middle of moving to a new 5 bedroom house loaded w/ 8 guys. I took the master bedroom with 2 other doods and it should hold up pretty good for a good crash pad. I've already completed 2 days of IOE and today was actually my third full day. It was blocked for almost a full 8 hours. I had to wake up extra early today because I forgot to pick up my dry cleaning last night (my fault) and in order to pick them up, drop my car off at Flight Safety for a car wash tomorrow and then take the shuttle from the Red Roof Inn to the airport just added up to about 2 extra hours. I got to the airport still with about 30 minutes to spare before I had to check it so it all worked out just right.

IOE is going well. I'm just demanding a lot from myself which is getting the best of me. To my surprise, an FAA Check Airman rode with use today to GTR and back and that just heightened my nervousness. It really wasn't that bad after it was all said and done but man, I have to say that it was a little nerve racking. The current captain that I have is awesome too. He's really good at explaining and teaching me things. I know that tomorrow will go well. I just hope that Thursday and Friday will also be awesome!

I'm about to head out by myself and just explore a little. I'm also going to try to wake up early and do some good morning exploring. Not sure exactly what to do yet, but I've got some ideas. Enjoy some pictures at http://www.elijahnicolas.com/cphoto

The Chargers have a trailer like commercial on their website for the new uniform. I can't wait for one! I'm trying to get some Atlanta Thrasher tickets against the San Jose Sharks. Should be a good game.

Chargers new Uniform!!!

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It's time to get some new jerseys for the San Diego Chargers of 2007!!! Check them out! I think that the powder blue outline on the bolt is sick! I can't wait till they are officially unveiled this upcoming Wednesday! Saty tuned!

Oh yeah, I really love flying! I just finished my first two days of IOE and the overnight was cool, and New York flying was awesome around the Long Island Sound...I'll post more later on once I finish moving to the Loxford Lounge!

to Wiggle

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I'll be wiggling my toes each and every second I get tomorrow morning starting the moment I wake up. I'm already having a hard time go to bed tonight just thinking of all the checklists and things that I have to test and do on my first flight. I am officially beginning my Initial Operating Experience after completing 8 legs of jumpseating to various places around the Eastern US.

My first trip is to KPHF then an overnight at KILM. Like I've said before, check out http://www.pilotcrossings.com and then add me as a friend. It's free and I'll be updating my schedule there often if you want to follow along. They also show you on Google Maps where the airports that I'm flying into are. You have to sign up for pilotcrossing.com in order to see my full schedule or you could just do a day by day thing by checking out the mobile version of the site that I use on my Palm Treo 650 Web App by clicking pilotcrossings mobile page. I will try to update my schedule on Google Calendar, but this website it just so much easier to do. Stay tuned on the results of my first land! See you on the other side!