When I started this blog it was to help detail what my experiences were like flying as a regional airline pilot. For those who have been following for a while, you know that I've completed training, Initial Operating Experience, and am now working to obtain 100 hours of flight time in the CRJ-900, so that I will no longer be considered "green" or inexperienced. As of today I have 50 hours, and I can think of no better day than today to help me truly explain what this life is like. Today I played in the Big Show, and made a hundred bucks.The only thing unusual about today was that the day started with Cathy by my side. Because I over-nighted at O'Hare last night Cathy and I were able to spend our Anniversary together, and although we were both under the weather, the crew van was very late getting us to the hotel, and the pizza did not arrive until 10:45, we managed to have a very nice evening together. Back to today. Up at 0630, check the weather, shower and dress and pack. Because Cathy drove to the hotel I did not take the crew bus, instead having Cathy drop me off at O'Hare at 0745. Through security and at the gate at 0800 for a 0903 departure, early because there was a maintenance request. Arriving I discover the cowling on #2 engine open, and the gate agent notifies me that Maintenance wants to perform a post-maintenance run on the engine before we can be released. I head out on the ramp to perform the first-flight-of-the-day security checks where I open every door and hatch on the aircraft to see if anyone may have put something there that goes "boom". Captain and crew arrive at about 0815, still no Maintenance folks. With less than 45 minutes before departure we ask for departure paperwork, but no one knows why it is not available, until Dispatch notifies us that until they know the maintenance job is complete they won't file our paperwork. Still no Maintenance. At 0830, Maintenance arrives and tells us that because we were late (!), they now have to go perform maintenance on a Northwest aircraft, and that we'll have to wait.
At about 0915, Maintenance shows up and tells us that they need us to start up and run #2 engine for 2 minutes, which we do without issue. They then reopen the cowl for inspection, close it back up, then inform us that it will be 15 minutes while they prepare the paperwork. I leave the flightdeck to go take another look at the aircraft and to ensure that the cowl is buttoned up, which it is. Maintenance paperwork arrives, Captain notices it is incomplete, sends it back. I'm begging for departure paperwork with which I can program the FMS system, no joy. Phone calls to Dispatch yields promises that paperwork is on the way. Departure paperwork shows up, incorrectly showing the problems that Maintenance just fixed. Phone call to Dispatch to get amendment to paperwork indicating fixes performed. Maintenance paperwork shows up corrected, amended paperwork in hand I program the FMS, now being told that all of our passengers have been re-booked and that we are going to ferry the plane sans passengers. Quickly program weight and balance, routing, run checklist, call for clearance, and close the passenger door. The time is now 1024, two and a half hours after I arrived at the airport, busting hump the entire time, and I have just now started earning pay.
Welcome to the Big Show. O'Hare ground operations and departures are not for the feint of heart; you'd better damn well know what you are doing, know to keep your eyes and ears open, and for the most part, your mouth shut. This is my departure, O'Hare-3 radar vectors to Petty, and I'm up for it. Seven minutes from engine crank to liftoff, things happen quickly and in no time a VERY light CRJ-900 jumps skyward and heads toward Detroit at 23,000 feet, limited to 25K because one of our air conditioning packs is out of service (this bird seems to be a hanger-queen). Speed 310, ATC helps with a few shortcuts, and we're at the gate in DTW at 1254 local time. Great flight, super landing, no time to bathe in the limelight of success since we only have 30 minutes before we leave again. Please note this...30 minutes from the time the door is opened, we load passengers, close the door, and we're off again as flight 3621 service to Chicago Midway. Yep, Midway, still in the Big Show. No deice this time, but we have a short hold waiting on ATC release which leaves me plenty of time to get the boxes programmed while we taxi to runway 4R. Position and hold, cleared for takeoff, and Captain Doug flies this one toward Chicago. We push the speed profile a little and make up a little more time, landing at Midway at 1332 which is less than one hour behind the scheduled arrival of 1242. Not bad considering we started the day hours behind.
Open door, start programming for flight 3518 back to Detroit, and before you know it we're out at 1358, only 25 minutes behind the original schedule. My leg to fly, push the speed profile again, another super landing (I'm starting to get the feel of the CRJ), and our passengers are stepping off the plane at 1600, only 4 minutes later that the original schedule. Since strapping into the right-hand seat this morning at O'Hare, I've not once taken my seat belt off to stand up. We started out with a complete cluster F%#k, and ended up the day getting our customers back on schedule. My reward? 3 hours, 40 minutes of total pay at $24 per hour. But wait, the fun is still afoot.
My day starts tomorrow at Montreal Canada, with a 0600 departure time, so my crew gets to "dead-head" to Montreal. This means we gather our chart and suit cases, run from DTW terminal B to terminal A gate 57 and board a Northwest Airlines flight and fly as passengers to Montreal. Good side - leave the driving to someone else. Bad side - only get $12 per hour for the 1.5 hour flight. I'd rather fly myself anyway, as would the rest of the crew. At Montreal it is off through customs, to the shuttle bus and to the Hilton. Crew muster is at 0445 tomorrow morning, so no time for dinner, just enough time to talk to Cathy and capture these thoughts. With less than 7 hours available to sleep, I'm going to wrap this up now.
Three legs today. Some unhappy late passengers, some happy on-time passengers. 3.6 hours additional flight experience. Compliments from Captain Doug on how I'm progressing, and more importantly, no significant mistakes. $106 of earned gross pay, minus taxes, FICA, uniform deduction, and President Obama's pension fund, and I'll bank enough to pay for the Internet connection at the Montreal Hilton tonight. BUT...today I got the "look". A small boy, maybe 5, holding his Mom's hand walking through the DTW terminal. As I pass I smile and nod a greeting, and watch as the little boy slows and stares. I hear his Mom say "Sean, that's a PILOT. He's going to fly an airplane like what we're flying on". I stop and talk to Sean and his Mom, discovering that they're off to Florida. Mom thanks me and says I'm made Sean's day, but little does she know that he's made mine. The "look" is damn well worth a lot more than $106, and it is what keeps some of us in the Big Show.
Thanks for the "look" kids. Safe skies.
No comments:
Post a Comment