The One Where SHIFT Day Two Puts Us in the Real Cockpit
Today began with an early ride to the airport hangar, where a “hot reserve” E175 waited for us. Our time with it was brief because it was scheduled to move to the terminal, but I felt a lot more prepared after reviewing the preflight PowerPoint last night. The instructors shared helpful tips and personal insights, which brought the procedure to life. As soon as that plane headed out, we stepped inside the hangar for a closer look at an uncovered engine while another aircraft was brought in. It was fascinating to see such an intricate piece of machinery that, by itself, costs around five million dollars.
The morning air was a bit nippy, and we did skip a few details in our rush to complete the preflight before the plane left. Once we were back inside the break room, our instructors delved deeper into the parts of the preflight we had rushed through. Before long, a second aircraft became available, and we got the chance to examine the cabin for real. This experience felt similar to our GOS cabin trainer sessions, only this time everything was tangible. My partner and I were the last to hop into the cockpit, where we tested fire alarm systems and some other components of the flight deck. Sitting in the actual seats of the airplane we will soon fly was an exciting reminder that all our study hours are leading to the real thing.
After wrapping up at the hangar, we returned to the hotel. The bus driver kindly dropped us off near a grocery store, so we grabbed some quick lunch options. I stuck with Panda Express, while my friends chose Chipotle. I went straight to the lab and took about forty-five minutes to reinforce what we learned: matching each flow step to the corresponding flight deck panels and switches. That small window of review made a world of difference when we resumed training in the afternoon.
Later, the payroll team stopped by to explain how we will be moving from training pay to minimum guarantee now that our first month with the company is behind us. Starting from Day 31 of training, we also begin receiving per diem 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which felt like a welcome bonus after so many study sessions. Next, the training department introduced us to VR headsets for practicing flows. They mentioned a virtual captain who can guide us through procedures, plus a mode for simulating exam conditions. I have not tried it out yet, but I am eager to see how much it boosts my familiarity with the cockpit layout.
Before we officially called it a day, we revisited some emergency scenarios using the QRH, along with a quick refresher of the process from a cold-and-dark cockpit to takeoff. My partner and I stayed an extra three hours in the computer lab, allowing me a quick dinner break before we ran through the flows again. The extra practice paid off; we both felt far more confident by the end of the night. Programming the flight computer and performing the procedures is starting to feel more intuitive, and I am hoping for a solid night of rest now that I have seen how far we have come.