Any advice for a newbie?

[BrokeFOsho]

Howdy,

Well my class date with JB is only a couple days away. Seeing as how this is my first commercial experience, what advice would ya'll have? Thanks in advance.

 

[Huggyu2]

I guess my first piece of advice would be to post on the "Majors" forum, not the "Military" forum.

 

[BengalsFan]

love you Huggy!

 

[BrokeFOsho]

Huggy,

I am coming from the military, going to the majors...

I was asking for advice from other military folks who've done the same thing.

So if you have any real advice for someone in my position I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Huggyu2]

I wasn't trying to be rude. But in the "Majors" forum, you'll find a number of JB pilots,... and many of them are former military pilots.
Seeing as it's a "what to expect in the airlines" question, it would get more attention over there.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

I am JB, still fly with the reserves. Actually deployed right now.

Advice:

1) Don't bring any attitudes to training. You may be much more cool than your peers, you just don't have to tell them you are. You have lots to learn.

2) Respect the civvie dudes. While you have probably done more interesting and demanding flying, they own part 121/135. They are good pilots, they know their sheet, and they probably have lots of flt time/experience/multiple airlines under their belt.

3) Find out the dork in the class and distance yourself from him.

4) Bring a vehicle. Use it to invite the FAs in training to the Orlando Ale Haus. Every night.

5) Invite the FAs to your class party.

6) Believe 40% of the koolaid. No more, maybe even less. Time to build your defenses up.

7) Never refuse a breath mint. But that works pretty much wherever you go.

8) Don't crack a "book" (actually, CPAT) for the first 7 days. I recommend you do the OSC pub crawl: Chilis, Bennigans, TGIFridays, Hooters over and over again.

9) Bring lots of cash to Rachel's. The ATM fee is 10 bucks a withdrawal.

10) Go to the Rennaissance bar on Sundays. Either Virgin or BA 747 crews there (admittedly dated, they may have since moved), meaning lots of government sponsored health care b00b jobs. Sometimes even the female stews have them.

11) Register with the JBPA and take part in your future.

12) Remember: some on this forum would have you believe that is is dishonorable and shameful to fly french/brazilian airplanes, not to mention work for JetBlue. So to speed up your self-loathing process, I recommend that you do numbers 4,8,9 and 10 often and early.

13) Don't PM me for more advice.


not sure if any of this helps. good luck and welcome. bring sarcasm and plenty of underwear -- you'll be thankful you did.

 

[Huggyu2]

THAT is pretty good stuff.

 

[ATRCA]

Great post chef.

 

[AlbieF15]

...note to self...drink beer with Chef...

RF...I found the key to landing the 727 in the sim was to show up for the sim 8.5 hours after a good hard night at the Tunica casinos (no $hit). The study all night routine wasn't working, so I said "F...it", went boozin' and gamblin', and said "its a freakin' jet...fly it like a -38..." From that point on, training was easy. No kidding--night before checkride--blackjack, booze, and craps... It worked fine.

To date, I've never needed even an additional sim period.

And remember, a breath mint is one of the 3 things you never turn down...

 

[BrokeFOsho]

Chef, thanks for the advice! I promise no PM's but if I ever catch you on the line I'll slip a bottle of duty free into your rollaway. Thanks again!