From a Cessna 172 to a Boeing 737: Trying My Hand at Flying a Jet As a Student Pilot
When boarding a plane, one can usually spot out the aviation enthusiasts
quite easily as they’ll often peek in the cockpit before heading to
their seat for even just a slight glimpse at the controls up front. For
pilots and non-pilot enthusiasts alike, the dream is to one day sit up
there with a plane full of people behind you.
While not everybody will have that dream come true, full-motion
flight simulators allow budding pilots and enthusiasts to have the
experience of flying their dream aircraft. Across the country,
full-motion simulator operators and training courses allow enthusiasts
to experience what it’s like to sit up front, even with as little as 15
hours at the controls.
Last month, I traveled to the American Airlines Flight Academy in Fort Worth, Texas for the Airline Training Orientation Program (ATOP) jet orientation course to try my hand at flying a Boeing 737-800 as a mere student pilot with around 30 hours.
ATOP’s orientation courses allow (almost) any FAA certificated pilot to “test drive” their dreams of flying a commercial jet and get a taste of what airline training is like. In order to attend the course, you must hold at least a Student Pilot Certificate, have at least 15 hours of flight time, and have an elementary understanding of ILS approaches.
The course isn’t for those looking to merely fly a simulator and includes an in-depth look at aircraft systems and what airline life is like. Participants can select either the Boeing 737-800 course held at the American Airlines Flight Academy in Fort Worth, Texas or the Airbus A320 course held at JetBlue University in Orlando, Fla.
The course is taught by Captain Wayne Phillips, an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Designated Pilot Examiner with a Boeing 737 type rating. Despite his stature in the aviation industry, having written articles in national aviation magazines and hosted workshops at some of the nation’s top-tier aviation colleges and flight schools, you’ll no doubt be referring to him as “Uncle Wayne” by the time the course ends.
The course includes a comprehensive tour of the pilot training center where the course is held, 10 hours of systems and procedures familiarization; two hours of cockpit management procedures using cockpit mockups and an ATOP “Mini-Manual” for either the 737 or A320 (depending on which course you select). Before you even step foot in the simulator, you will ideally have a general understanding of the systems and procedures regarding the aircraft you’ll be flying.
There are also some valuable takeaways for prospective airline pilots including an hour of loggable simulator time and an optional airline career and interview briefing. ATOP also gives the option to earn the FAR 61.31(g) “High Altitude Endorsement” depending on flight training device (FTD) availability when you take the course.
Signing up in September 2018 for the April 2019 ATOP course, I gave myself plenty of time to book travel and study up on the Boeing 737-800.
While most pilots spend weeks learning about aircraft systems, we had two days, meaning prior knowledge was key to ensuring I hit the ground running in Dallas and didn’t waste any time. My preparation included reviewing the checklists included with the ATOP materials, researching the 737-800, and viewing some cockpit videos of 737-800 takeoffs and landings.
I also used the mobile flight simulator app Infinite Flight in conjunction with the ATOP Profile and checklists to try and get some familiarity with the workflow I would experience in the simulator. Desktop simulators such as Microsoft Flight Simulator X and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D also offer some insight into what to expect from the cockpit of a jet airliner, especially with highly-detailed paid software.
While at times it felt like drinking from a fire hose, Captain Wayne
did a great job of presenting the information in an upbeat, clear, and
concise manner that makes it really sink in. This was clearly not going
to be just hopping in the sim and going for a ride but the information
was genuinely fascinating.
Once we finished getting to know the “Guppy,” our full-motion simulator, we broke into two groups of four. Four of us stayed in the classroom to do some “chair flying” on the classroom’s static cockpit display in preparation for the simulator while the other four headed to another room with a 737-800 flight training device to receive their high altitude endorsement training.
One of the great features of the ATOP course is the ability to earn your FAR 61.31(g) High Altitude Endorsement on a 737 FTD. The high altitude endorsement requires additional ground school time, which is completed on day two. The FTD is an impressive piece of equipment with a functioning mode control panel and the overhead panel, pedestal, and forward panels being displayed using touch screens.
Last month, I traveled to the American Airlines Flight Academy in Fort Worth, Texas for the Airline Training Orientation Program (ATOP) jet orientation course to try my hand at flying a Boeing 737-800 as a mere student pilot with around 30 hours.
ATOP’s orientation courses allow (almost) any FAA certificated pilot to “test drive” their dreams of flying a commercial jet and get a taste of what airline training is like. In order to attend the course, you must hold at least a Student Pilot Certificate, have at least 15 hours of flight time, and have an elementary understanding of ILS approaches.
The course isn’t for those looking to merely fly a simulator and includes an in-depth look at aircraft systems and what airline life is like. Participants can select either the Boeing 737-800 course held at the American Airlines Flight Academy in Fort Worth, Texas or the Airbus A320 course held at JetBlue University in Orlando, Fla.
The course is taught by Captain Wayne Phillips, an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Designated Pilot Examiner with a Boeing 737 type rating. Despite his stature in the aviation industry, having written articles in national aviation magazines and hosted workshops at some of the nation’s top-tier aviation colleges and flight schools, you’ll no doubt be referring to him as “Uncle Wayne” by the time the course ends.
The course includes a comprehensive tour of the pilot training center where the course is held, 10 hours of systems and procedures familiarization; two hours of cockpit management procedures using cockpit mockups and an ATOP “Mini-Manual” for either the 737 or A320 (depending on which course you select). Before you even step foot in the simulator, you will ideally have a general understanding of the systems and procedures regarding the aircraft you’ll be flying.
There are also some valuable takeaways for prospective airline pilots including an hour of loggable simulator time and an optional airline career and interview briefing. ATOP also gives the option to earn the FAR 61.31(g) “High Altitude Endorsement” depending on flight training device (FTD) availability when you take the course.
Signing up in September 2018 for the April 2019 ATOP course, I gave myself plenty of time to book travel and study up on the Boeing 737-800.
Preparing for My Jet Set
About 45 days before the course date, I received an email from Captain Wayne that included the Mini-Manual. Don’t let the name fool you, the manual is quite comprehensive and provides a great deal of information about the aircraft’s systems and procedures. You’ll also get an “ATOP Profile” which outlines what you’ll experience in the simulator both in the left and right seat to prepare you for your visit.While most pilots spend weeks learning about aircraft systems, we had two days, meaning prior knowledge was key to ensuring I hit the ground running in Dallas and didn’t waste any time. My preparation included reviewing the checklists included with the ATOP materials, researching the 737-800, and viewing some cockpit videos of 737-800 takeoffs and landings.
I also used the mobile flight simulator app Infinite Flight in conjunction with the ATOP Profile and checklists to try and get some familiarity with the workflow I would experience in the simulator. Desktop simulators such as Microsoft Flight Simulator X and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D also offer some insight into what to expect from the cockpit of a jet airliner, especially with highly-detailed paid software.
Day One
After months of anticipation, ATOP weekend finally arrived. We started bright and early on a Saturday and arrived at the American Airlines Flight Academy at 7:30 a.m. As we entered the flight academy, we passed under a sign that really set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
Once we finished getting to know the “Guppy,” our full-motion simulator, we broke into two groups of four. Four of us stayed in the classroom to do some “chair flying” on the classroom’s static cockpit display in preparation for the simulator while the other four headed to another room with a 737-800 flight training device to receive their high altitude endorsement training.
One of the great features of the ATOP course is the ability to earn your FAR 61.31(g) High Altitude Endorsement on a 737 FTD. The high altitude endorsement requires additional ground school time, which is completed on day two. The FTD is an impressive piece of equipment with a functioning mode control panel and the overhead panel, pedestal, and forward panels being displayed using touch screens.
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