SkyWest Ground School

[Garf]

Does anybody have some pre ground school advice for a EMB120 class.

I would appreciate some feedback.

 

[ClearRight]

Nope! Come as you are!

They'll send a packet with your memory items. Know those, otherwise there's really no way to prepare.

 

[Garf]

Thanks

 

[WMUdz]

sorry if this is being a bit repetative - just havent gotten a good answer yet..

Do most people bring their cars to training?
What is the dress code - business casual?

 

[FlyboyPhil]

Groundschool

Business casual, collared shirts, no jeans.
As for cars.. depends.. lots dont bring them.. depends on distance from your current home, where your domicile will be.. etc.. usually enough bring them that rides can be arranged for anything that the hotel shuttle wont cover.. that is if you use breath mints!

 

[WMUdz]

Can you jumpseat starting the first day of training? If not, how long after do you have to wait?

 

[tjmoser]

They will give you a letter that you can use to jumpseat the first weekend. I used it to go home on the weekends, but it took a little explaining to the gate agent. You should have your ID by the third week of class. My only advise would be get lots of rest before you get to class: I worked a 12 day trip with my previous company, then went to class on a redeye from ANC, then went right to FTD and sim- a very long 45 days. You can bid your sim sched, and may be able to get up to 10 days off after groundschool. Congrats! Lots of growth here now.

 

[ILStoMinimums]

What is the wash-out rate at SKW? I have a friend who washed out at 1000 hrs - all HI flying in a twin Cessna.
What would be the key to success and making it through GS w/out any problems?

 

[Tahoe1]

SkyWest

Best advice with groundschooll is to keep a good attitude, know the limitation packet that they send you, and listen carefully in groundschool. Make sure that you spend a couple of hours daily working on your flows, and just study. Sorry if this sounds a bit like what everyone else has said. Congrats and welcome aboard SkyWest Airlines. You'll meet a lot of good people. Have fun.

 

[Splert]

The key to ground school is time management and concentrating on what needs to be completed for the next day. For instance, don’t get caught up in the ”war story” game between breaks in class and at lunch. The time you scud ran a 152 at night with one mag. inop. is cool and stuff but it does not help learn all the crap they will throw at you. Instead, use this time to complete the homework that is due the next day. Also bring and then eat lunch at your desk and again work on your homework. You will be the only one on the first day and by the 3rd most everyone will be doing the same as you.

If you know someone who already works at SkyWest then have them give you access to SWOL and down load the SOP. Call FS in SLC and get a copy of the flight deck diagram and start the learning the flows. Specifically the safety check and the originating flow with FFOD checks. Not just where the buttons are but what lights come one when you press the FIRE TEST BUTTON, etc. Then chair fly the normal and emergency calls and profiles. If you get these handled BEFORE class then class will go a lot smoother for you. GS is barely enough time to get everything done. GS is 6 days a week 6:00 to 23:00 job. Take a break on day 7 and work form 7:00 to 22:00.

Also is you are senior within your class then bid for the last session of FTD and SIM, if you are not, then make friends with those who are and bid with one of them.

Most importantly have a good attitude.

Good luck.

Splert

 

[GuppyPuppy]

If you are a bit shaky on turbine systems (electrical, hydraulic, bleed air, etc...) I would highly suggest you get a copy of "Advanced Aircraft Systems" by Lombardo. He explains systems in a manner so that even I understand them now! Make sure you know about inverters, accumulators, air cycle machine, RGB, etc...

Things to bring to class:

1. Lunch and snacks
2. Different color highlighters
3. Mechanical pencils (plural)
4. Sticky tabs
5. Engineering graph paper with pre-punched holes
6. Water bottle (buy a 2 gallon jug & keep it in your hotel room)
7. Fine point pen (use this to write details of each light, switch, button, etc on your overhead panel poster)

Helpful things to have with you

1. A car (for convenience and when you need to get away from the Candlewood and/or your roommate)
2. Laundry detergent
3. Enough savings to make it through until you get paid


It also helps to have an understanding wife and/or girlfriend.

Eat at the Red Iguana if you like Mexican. Also try Red Rock brew pub and Green Street pub. Rodizio's for Brazilian food...$20 all you can eat.

You will have trouble jumpseating on another carrier until you get your company ID. I think you can start using your SKYW flight benefits after 14 days of employment (without your ID you WILL need to go to the ticket counter before trying to get through security).

Do not plan on going home every weekend, especially if you live in a non-SKYW city.

By all means blow off some steam once in a while. Go jogging, skiing, golfing, drinking...whatever. If you try to study ALL the time you'll go nuts. There is a point of diminishing returns. Know your point. When you reach it, do something else to get your mind off of class for a while.

Keep a positive attitude, especially when you get to FTD/SIM.

Have fun and realize that you will be out there on line soon!

GP

 

[Jeepman]

As far as the flows are concerened I would try to learn the flow first. When I first went throught the E-120 initial, I tried to learn what each item on the flow was. Learn the flow first, then as you practice the flow, stop at the items you are wondering about and try to learn about them, but get the flow down first.

Good Luck!

 

[JBcrjca]

Splert makes some good points as always. But I was always way too lazy to bring lunch with me. Most days I grabbed lunch from the 'Taco Truck' and proceeded to chow down on the 'Lido Deck' with the other guys from class...and remember, the FAs in training sit out there during their lunch breaks too. Never in my life have I had so much chow put together in a van. I looked for any excuse to get out of the classroom. Granted, this was a transition class, not a new-hire class.

As GP noted, it's extremely helpful to have a car. You can't possibly study 24/7...you'll fry your brain. I spent a fair amount of time at Starbucks/Barnes & Noble reading magazines. A good buddy was in class with me, and we did some quality 'study' time at Hooters down in Midvale, and at Port o'Call downtown. And there's always Lofte's right behind the Candlewood. Have a beer or two. The weird part...my buddy and I got the highest scores in the class on the final systems test. Sometimes it helps NOT to go too deep into the systems. Some guys confused themselves by trying to know too many little details. You'll figure out what's important and what's not.

For the CRJ, the FTD portion is a bear...no fun at all. It's nonstop system failures meant to show you how the systems work and what the EICAS screens look like. It makes you feel like you should turn in your pilot certificate. Once you get to the sim portion, you'll start having a lot of fun. The instructors do a great job.

Welcome aboard.

 

[pa34driver]

When I went through training, I drove 14 hours to have my car in SLC. It was nice to be on my own schedule, than the Candlewoods. Know the BOLD items in your packet. You will be tested on those a few times. My sim partner didn't know them 100%, and he did not pass the final. The final is alot of these numbers. If you know them day one, that will make things much easier. Pay attention in class, and when the instructor says you should know this, or stomps on the floor, highlite, circle or whatever you need to do. If you can, get a copy of the flows video, it might be old, but it will at least give you a good idea of all of the flows, they have changed a little, but you'll be able to fill in the rest. Good luck.

 

[ILStoMinimums]

What great info - Thanks! Are all GS's in SLC?

 

[CRJ puppy]

a bit of an overkill??

Not at all, actually.

 

[whiff]

Definetly bring a car. The candlewood will only drive to the grocery store or the training center. Even if you don't spend much time anywhere other than the hanger or the hotel it's a nice feeling to have the option. Also nice for the weekend if you want to go up to Park City and get away from studying for a bit. enjoy

 

[Deerkiller]

EMB Domiciles

hey guys,

don't mean to hijack the thread or anything, it just seems that the people responding to this one know what they're talking about.

My question is:

I'm going to the April 5th EMB120 class, i currently live in Houston. What are the chances of getting based in Houston straight out of class?

thx

dk

 

[whiff]

Pretty high. Houston is our most junior emb base.

 

[bayoubandit]

Just remember everyone has their own way of doing things. Don't blow your brain up before you go to class. They will teach you what you need to know minus a little I found the most valuable tool for learning the systems was the CD-rom they give you. The manuals are near impossible to learn from. It took me until upgrade to learn this, but the I found the CD very useful. I've been through alot of groundschools, my best advice is to take some time for yourself and relax. Most guys who bust out are the ones who study 24/7.