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In The Sky: Jon Reed (vol.9) |
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Written by Jon Reed
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Monday, 04 June 2007 |
Upgrade and Coming Home,
It had been almost a year and a half at SkyWest and I was having a great time. The people were great, the destinations and layover for the most part really fun and exciting. I was however excited by the prospect of upgrading and continuing my career. It was still looking like another year before I could upgrade on the RJ and when the captain awards went junior of the Brasilia (EMB 120) I decided to go for it. I put in my bid and three weeks later I was awarded an upgrade on a plane I had never flown. I knew it would take a lot of work learning both Captain and FO flows as well as a whole new airplane but I was up for the challenge and was excited for a change. I was to be based in Fresno, CA, and flying up and down the west coast. I am a west coast guy and was just as excited to get back to family and friends.
Upgrade was a great experience. One of my good friends ended up in the same class as me and we were able to be sim partners during the whole experience. It was a lot of studying with only about one hour a day for free time, but it went quickly and it has been an amazing year up till now flying from the left seat. I was happy to have some experience in turboprops from flying the Caravan but the Brasilia is whole different animal. It is a fun, fast and powerful turboprop and I really love flying up and down some of the most beautiful country in the US.
Captain, 121
The last year has been filled with incredible, sometimes nerve racking experiences but I now understand why the somewhat arbitrary seeming 1000 hours of 121 time is so sought after by the majors. I have grown as a pilot more during this last year than any other time in my career. To balance the needs of the company, FAA, passengers and crewmembers is a continual reminder of how much there is to know and the importance of continuing to strive to grow as a pilot and a professional. It is the most fun I have ever had in a job, but there have been a lot of nervous calls to Chief Pilots and friends to get input on difficult situations that always seem to arise.
Every time you go through something it does make you better though and one of the best things I have heard so far was from a senior captain in Sacramento. He said ?It?s not that I know more than anyone else, it is just that I am familiar.? It is that familiarity that helps you calmly make decisions, way the options and make good choices. There really is no substitute for experience.
During the last year I have had my first divert due to weather and mechanical as PIC, unruly passengers that had to be left behind, not to mention the countless small decisions that help keep the airline running smoothly when you are flying up to 8 legs a day. It hasn?t always been easy but the reward at the end of the day knowing that you have helped get people where they need to be safely, efficiently and professionally is an amazing reward. I still have a ton to learn but things are going well and it really is something to be a captain for a 121 airline. I consider myself extremely lucky and thankful for the opportunity.
Fly Safe and stay tuned for more to come as a lowly Brasilia pilot tries to make his way into the Majors!!!
Jon Reed
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Last Updated ( Monday, 04 June 2007 )
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