Type Rating So Far...

 

On the 19th November I began the start of my type rating course on the 737-800 at East Midlands Training. The first week involved lots of admin, therefore more paperwork, days in the classroom being taught procedures for safety and evacuation, carriage of dangerous goods, normal procedures at the airline and smoke and fire equipment training, which was all very serious but interesting at the same time.

Safety and Equipment Procedures training

Once this week was complete, it was onto the two weeks of CBT (computer based training), covering all aspects of the Boeing 737 aircraft and concluding in a technical test at the end of the fortnight. Despite being extremely interesting and great to study the aircraft I am learning to fly, I would be lying if I said it wasn't slightly monotonous at times!

CBT Room - Everyone Enjoying Themselves....

Following the technical test, we then had a classroom day the following week, which was to review the company SOPs (standard operating procedures) and you guessed it, this was followed by a test. All very simple and very well taught which meant it was passed and we all kept moving forward.

The final hurdle to the ground school was the performance exam, which involved studying how to manually calculate pre departure and inflight performance for certain flights with varying conditions. Again, two days in the classroom and very well taught.

I am extremely impressed with the standard of training at EMT and couldn't have asked for anything more from the instructors that are there to help.

I am now onto the sims and have finished my first 4 fixed base, non motion simulator sorties, generally going back and to between Dublin and Stansted. There is a staggering learning curve that requires a great deal of extra curricular study in order to keep up with what is expected of you, but like most things, the more practice, the easier it gets!

I have my first progress test in the sim on Tuesday, but I am told it's just a routine lesson which does involve some tuition, just to a lesser degree than a normal simulator session.

Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year and I will keep this up to date as much as possible!

Sam