Back in the Groove: Flying Feels Like Second Nature Now
It’s been a while since I last updated this blog. It’s more like a month update at this point rather. Luckily, that’s mostly because flying has started to feel… well, normal. The “novelty” factor is fading, and with it, fewer first-time experiences. But that’s not a bad thing — it just means I’m settling into the rhythm of this job, getting more confident, and enjoying the flow.
I’ve noticed a big shift in how I operate. Back in the beginning, I’d rush to the plane ahead of time, trying to set everything up early because I was worried I’d miss something. Now? I can get the aircraft set up in five minutes flat and know I haven’t missed a beat. I’m able to think a couple of steps ahead, which makes a huge difference in staying calm and prepared.
The same goes for ATC communications. Early on, I was hyper-focused on getting every call perfect, sometimes overthinking it. Now, after hearing the same patterns and seeing how things operate at certain airports, I’ve realized controllers are creatures of habit. The flow has become predictable, which makes those exchanges feel natural.
One “first” that did happen recently, though, was my first actual hold in the real airplane — outside of training scenarios. Honestly, I was surprised it hadn’t happened before, given how much time we spend in the busy New York, D.C., and Boston airspace. This time, we were inbound to DCA when ATC told us to expect a hold. The weather was perfect, so it wasn’t immediately clear whether it was volume, VIP movement, or something else. We slowed down early, but soon the airport went into a ground stop.
Fuel was getting low enough that we could only hold for about 20 minutes. That’s when crew resource management really shined. Without a single discussion about “who’s doing what,” the captain and I naturally split the workload — he coordinated with dispatch and ATC, while I spoke with the flight attendants and made announcements to the passengers. It just clicked. At the very last minute, we told ATC we’d have to divert to Dulles. They gave us a vector, and just as we were turning, the controller came back to say the hold was lifted — we could proceed to DCA. We shut down with just 20 pounds over minimum fuel, the lowest I’ve seen yet. Later, we heard a couple of other company flights had similar close calls that day. Still, it felt good to handle it smoothly, and the passengers’ gratitude after landing really made my day.
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Lately, I’ve also been able to explore a few new places in between the regular haunts like LGA, DCA, and JFK. Minneapolis and Memphis got added to my list — both great in their own way. I always try to get out and see a bit of the city whenever possible, but with these odd report times (either painfully early mornings or late-night finishes), sometimes the bed wins over sightseeing. That’s the life of a junior lineholder, I guess. Hopefully, a bit more seniority will mean better schedules down the road.
Flying might be “routine” now, but every trip still brings something to appreciate — whether it’s a smooth approach into a favorite airport, a passenger’s kind words about a landing, or a day when the crew works in sync without even having to say a word. This is the groove I was hoping to find, and I’m finally in it.