New Wings, New Chapter - Day Zero of IOE
Starting today, I’m kicking off a new series of blog entries to mark the next big phase of this journey: my first 100 hours of line flying, officially known as consolidation. This is where everything starts to feel very real—real passengers, real weather, real schedules. And it all begins with Initial Operating Experience (IOE).
IOE includes at least 25 hours of flying with a check airman who evaluates and mentors you through the early days of airline operations. At the end of it all is the line check, a kind of final handshake before you graduate from the training department and officially become a line pilot. This phase is important not only professionally, but personally too—there’s a lot of growth packed into a short window, and I’ll be documenting it here, one entry at a time.
But before the real flying begins, I had something even more important on the schedule: time at home. After my LOE on April 16, I was given the 17th as a travel day and then five much-needed days off. These days were technically for moving to a new base if necessary—but for me, based fairly close to BOS, it simply meant going home.
And it was glorious.
I picked up my older daughter from school, and she practically launched into my arms—attached herself to me like Velcro and didn’t let go for five days. She wanted to do everything with me, from backyard games to bedtime routines. As for the little one, when I showed up at daycare, she looked up, confused at first. You could see the wheels turning. Then, after a solid 30 seconds, her eyes lit up and she reached up for me with a huge grin. One of those moments that makes every sacrifice worth it.
It went fast. Between errands, catching up on housework, family time, and just recharging, those five days were over in a blink. I didn’t get to finish everything on my to-do list, but I suppose that’s always the case when you’re trying to soak up every second at home.
On the 21st, my IOE schedule dropped: three trips—first up, a five-day trip, followed by a one-day and then a three-day. I reached out to the training department to coordinate logistics, and thankfully they arranged a hotel for the gap between the one- and three-day trips so I wouldn’t have to drive back and forth. Huge help.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into IOE. I wasn’t even sure where to park (decided to park at the terminal for now—reimbursement pending!). I assume once I’m out of IOE, I’ll have to use the employee lot and shuttle in like everyone else. Ah, the perks of working at a major airport like BOS.
My check airman reached out with a practical packing checklist—not your typical checklist, but one that included things like food, layers, travel tips, etc. A thoughtful reminder that yes, we use checklists for everything in this business—even for our suitcases.
The first flight is BOS to SAV. It’s a longer leg, over two and a half hours, which is honestly perfect. It gives me plenty of time to get settled in, set up, and ease into things without the pressure of a rapid turn. It’s not a high-stress airport either, so that’s a plus. Based on our exchanges so far, the check airman seems awesome—approachable, experienced, and ready to guide.
Funny twist—because of a helpful captain I met during training who showed me how to use FLICA properly, I was able to bid for May’s schedule right before the window closed. And… somehow I ended up not on reserve. My IOE takes up the first half of May, but after that I’ve got a four-day trip mid-month and the rest of the month off. I have no idea how that happened, but I’m not complaining. Maybe it’s luck, or maybe it’s just another happy accident.
To top it all off, one of my first layovers is in IND, so I might get to catch up with some friends who are still finishing up their training. Wild how quickly things come full circle.
So here we are—on the edge of this new chapter. I’m nervous to leave home again, but excited to finally get out there and fly the line. With a little luck (and a patient check airman), I might even get to take the controls tomorrow.
Let’s see where this goes.