tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post8722185016932637094..comments2024-03-24T05:42:24.847-05:00Comments on Taking Wing: Blogging at FL350Sam Weigelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06332414897030323612noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-55901134712768257342007-12-21T09:07:00.000-06:002007-12-21T09:07:00.000-06:00Hi Sam,I have seen the Compass 'Junglebus' at YQR ...Hi Sam,<BR/><BR/>I have seen the Compass 'Junglebus' at YQR a couple of times this week subbing in for heavier Christmas loads on the MSP run. I noticed the high nose position right before landing, which is very interesting; yesterday, a 737-600 came in a couple of minutes later, so it was interesting to note the much lower nose on the Boeing.<BR/><BR/>Have a good holiday period and enjoy the new flying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-28713901532781184572007-12-14T01:28:00.000-06:002007-12-14T01:28:00.000-06:00Hey Sam - congrats on joining the ranks on the e17...Hey Sam - congrats on joining the ranks on the e175's. I'm on the 170/175 at RP. Its a great plane and I am sure that you will have a blast flying it. Hope things are going well at Compass!Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17944969307419443894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-13290885182682934492007-12-13T21:26:00.000-06:002007-12-13T21:26:00.000-06:00Congrats Sam. So, how do you like the ram horns? T...Congrats Sam. So, how do you like the ram horns? Took me a little while to get used to it but I like the feeling of riding a motorcycle in the sky!:)<BR/>Have fun.Capt. Wilkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07061222914521255607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-31695830629546183352007-12-13T13:03:00.000-06:002007-12-13T13:03:00.000-06:00There are a ton of reserve lines for the CAs, more...There are a ton of reserve lines for the CAs, more than regular lines actually. Until this month they were also covering all the FO open time, now we have enough FOs + FO IOE to cover all the FO flying.Sam Weigelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332414897030323612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-78221669971693727992007-12-13T11:53:00.000-06:002007-12-13T11:53:00.000-06:00Sam,Given there are 76 captains, are they bidding ...Sam,<BR/>Given there are 76 captains, are they bidding for FO lines, or do they get shorter bids, or just alot of reserve capts.?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-88157330898040165502007-12-13T10:38:00.000-06:002007-12-13T10:38:00.000-06:00great entry!! so happy for you, sounds amazing - h...great entry!! so happy for you, sounds amazing - hope to be in that same position in the coming years<BR/>good luck!Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03714327914305470327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-89293123111594007292007-12-13T10:05:00.000-06:002007-12-13T10:05:00.000-06:00Othersam - the chances are pretty good as we get b...Othersam - the chances are pretty good as we get bigger. We're getting 3 new airplanes every month and every month the list of cities grows by another 5 or 6.<BR/><BR/>Tom- they're building me a reserve line for the rest of December. I start bidding for January (just put my bid in, actually). Right now there are like 76 captains and only 26 FOs (I'm #25!). They built 32 regular lines for January but 10 of the FO lines will be reserved for newhires to fly with the 10 check airmen. That leaves 22 regular lines plus 4 reserve lines, so unless three people senior to me intentionally bid reserve (or forget to bid!) I'll end up with a reserve line. In February, however, I should hold a regular line...possibly even a senior line since a number of FOs ahead of me should be upgrading by that time. NewCo is still telling me I'll upgrade in Feb but I don't see it happening before Mar-Apr.Sam Weigelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332414897030323612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-66499398140512611232007-12-13T09:58:00.000-06:002007-12-13T09:58:00.000-06:00Got it - thanks, Sam.Got it - thanks, Sam.tp lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06178226786411173064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-5494996290828377822007-12-13T09:56:00.000-06:002007-12-13T09:56:00.000-06:00Anonymous 6:51- sorry, I saw your comment and have...Anonymous 6:51- sorry, I saw your comment and have been meaning to get to it, just been a little busy with IOE & all. I'll answer in the original comments section. <BR/><BR/>Anonymous 7:06- The entire IOE is done with paying passengers on board. Its really just a normal trip (actually two trips in my case, a daytrip on fri and then a 4-day sat-tues) with a check airman as captain. The line check is a non-event...it's normally done on the last leg of IOE and the only difference is that the Captain will just observe rather than teach (which they're doing by that stage of IOE anyways) and then debrief you on anything you did wrong afterwards. If you screw up badly, it's not typically counted as a busted line check, the CA will just recommend more IOE for you. At NewCo they schedule 25 hours of IOE for FOs with up to 25 more available before they send you to a review board. At other airlines I've heard of them giving newhires up to 90 hours of IOE before giving them the boot. At Horizon I had about 35; for the JungleBus 25 was more than adequate.<BR/><BR/>TpLowe- No, I've never said. It's not that hard to figure out. It's a new design from a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer that has various versions seating from 70 to 110 people. I fly a version with 76 seats (12 1st class + 64 coach).Sam Weigelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332414897030323612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-39609589843066037512007-12-13T09:06:00.000-06:002007-12-13T09:06:00.000-06:00Sam, the line check that you just passed -- was th...Sam, the line check that you just passed -- was that done with paying passengers in the back? If so, there was a captain, an FO (you) and the line checkman in the front? Or, was the line check was done in an "empty" airplane (no passengers)?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-67891462324026493112007-12-13T08:51:00.000-06:002007-12-13T08:51:00.000-06:00Sam, I posted this question a few posts ago and am...Sam, I posted this question a few posts ago and am still interested in your reply, if you feel like it and if you have time:<BR/><BR/>Sam, I love your blog. Here's a question for you. I've taken a few lessons in a Cessna and saw how one starts the engine just by turning a key, like a car. But I read in "Flying" magazine and other aviation blogs like yours that you can't just start a complex airplane by turning a key. There are a whole bunch of steps you must follow in order, and a computer usually handles the starts. And there is something called a hot start, which if done wrong can fry your engine, right? My question is: why are airplanes so complicated to start? Why must things be followed in a particular sequence? Basicaly, how do you start an airplane engine, like on an airliner? Dumb question: do you need a key?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-59693794220320386602007-12-13T06:10:00.000-06:002007-12-13T06:10:00.000-06:00Did I miss somewhere along the way what aircraft t...Did I miss somewhere along the way what aircraft the "Junglebus" is?!tp lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06178226786411173064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-84971368861976607832007-12-13T00:29:00.000-06:002007-12-13T00:29:00.000-06:00Hey Sam,the junglejet has such a cool cockpit!! Wo...Hey Sam,<BR/>the junglejet has such a cool cockpit!! Would you mind taking more pictures of it sometime, along with the plane itself? It's fantastic looking from the outside.<BR/><BR/>Now that IOE is over, are you on reserve or do you hold a regular line/route? I know your company doesn't have many routes yet so are there specific lines you will hold more regularly than others even on reserve? You're probably the first junglejet pilot blogger on the internet so I'm sure I'm not the only one dying to read more about your experiences on this new airplane...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-2346382003508640392007-12-12T20:02:00.000-06:002007-12-12T20:02:00.000-06:00What are the chances you ever start flying to Des ...What are the chances you ever start flying to Des Moines? None?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-15516391619237320652007-12-12T18:37:00.000-06:002007-12-12T18:37:00.000-06:00Congrats Sam!Try not to get too bored flying aroun...Congrats Sam!<BR/><BR/>Try not to get too bored flying around the midwest, it doesn't look quite as scenic as the pacific northwest...<BR/><BR/>Here's hoping you have a great (and short?) career at NewCo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com