Life as an Intern

Yea its been a while, but I have been busy with work and working on school work for the internship. I have to write a 10 page paper on what I have been doing during the internship and I am on page six and trying to figure out how to fill the next four pages. Life as an intern has been exciting two weeks ago we went to the Boeing wide-body factory in Everett, Washington. We had a VIP tour where we walked around the factory floor ducking around partially built planes. We also drove around the delivery ramp where we saw plane awaiting delivery. In fact we saw two Boeing 777 awaiting delivery to be used by Continental Airlines, though they would not let us take them back to Houston.
   Last week I got to walk around the airport putting new charts in the aircraft. It's really eire when you walk on to an empty aircraft early in the morning knowing that you could start it up and take a joy-ride. All we needed was someone to push the aircraft backwards.Though, this job was tough than it sounds because it was a lot of walking around from one side of the airport to the other side and back again but after that you would wait around for two hours before the next aircraft that needed a awitch landed. Toured Houston Tower and TRACON facility today, tower was awesome because you could see the entire airport from 350 ft. up. While we were at TRACON they made an aircraft "ident" so we could see what they see when we ident in the plane. Really was not what I expected kinda uneventful but funny cause we made some Continental crew ident for know reason.
  Well school starts in about three and a half weeks or so and I only have two and a half weeks more of this internship. My travel priveledges will last until the end of Spetember so hopefully I can get somewhere without missing to much school.


Safe Flight

Red Light District!

So this weekend I went to Europe for the first time, and where did I go in Europe but Amsterdam. Hoped on a plane friday afternoon and flew for 10 hours and landed in Scipol airport. I was on the ground for about 24 hours before it was time to head back. Amsterdam was really fun there were about as many bicycles as there were people in the city and roads had dedicated bicycle lanes with traffic lights and everything. Amsterdam is not as crazy as people think it is people aren't walking around every where high off their ass and not every window has a girl in lingerie looking out of. It is still crazy to see the coffee shops with the smell of canabis emitting from the shops and there are plenty around. Though, I am not going into detail about all that I did except for I saw Anne Franks house, Van Gough Museum was pretty interesting, and the Heineken tour was really fun.

All in All fun trip can't complain. this weekend maybe Chicago?

Safe Flight

As the Turbine Turns!

Life as an intern continues, I have just finished the training portion of the internship and starting tomorrow its back to a normal work schedule 0600- till whenever the boss leaves. Through training I got to spend 28 hours flying the 737-800 full flight simulator, learned how to operate the aircraft's flight management computer [FMC], and spent the past two days learning about ETOPs operations. The training was really exciting because it gave a first hand account on what I want to be doing the rest of my life, and this only makes me want to get there quicker.

So World Cup has been exciting not sad about USA not going very far but I really could care less about US soccer. I am glad its and all European final hopefully Germany vs. Netherlands would be a fun final, and hopefully I can be in Europe this weekend for the final. Also the Tour De France is on and its been a crazy one, though I am not disappointed by anything that has happened so far. I want Cadel Evans to win, or Shelck, and as long as Cavendish does not win the green jersey I would be happy.

Safe Flight

"TOGA, Flaps 15, Check Power..."

Right now I have reiderated to myself that flying airplanes is fun, and I know exactly what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. Since Monday I have been in training sessions in the full motion simulator or the 737-800. This is the best thing I have done in a long time and it is so much fun, and I personally think the larger the airplane gets the easier it is to fly. Flying a commercail jet I believe as for stick a rudder flying is a lot easier then flying light aircraft, because it is more stable maneuvering happens at a slower pace [ie you are not rolling as fast as you can in a light aircraft] so you can be more precise. The hard part about flying commercial jets are the "callouts," there are so many and the checklist are longer so that adds to what you have to know when flying.

The training has gone really well except for I am having trouble with the callouts, especially when stuff goes wrong like engine failure.  Once I get those down I think it will make things much easier.

As for the rest of my life well for now that is my life work is slow because the bosses want us to concentrate on are training and other then traveling I nothing much is going on. I here some airlines are hiring pilots which is a good sign I just wish I had enough hours to apply for them but hopefully this means in the next few yeas more airlines begin hiring again.

As for traveling I went to Toronto which was fun first time to Canada saw some stuff walked around. For this week as of now Chicago looks open so I may go there this weekend. Chicago has been on my list since the start so hopefully I get to go I really want authentic deep dish pizza [Uno's can't wait]. I will keep this posted with new stuff

Safe Flight

Flight Training....and Traveling

I am currently on a plane right now Flying from Houston to Toronto, Ontario. Don't worry I am not flying I am a passenger on this flight. I decided to go to Toronto last night at about 6 or so I really don't know what I am going to do but I will figure things out. I also went to Cleveland to have dinner with my friend a couple days and the week before that I went to Seattle. I also got first class tickets for Seattle and that was nice it was my first time flying first class so I enjoyed that trip. 


This past Monday I started the training process of the internship. We learned how to use Flight management computers [FMC] and the last couple of days we have been in a a flight training device and those are real fun especially the newer one cause we could see stuff. It was really awesome being in it cause it was actually like flying. Monday we will be in the full flight simulator and I am excited out of my mind, because this is as close as you can get to flying the real thing. I hope I do well I have been studying even though a lot of the other interns are unsure of if they are grading us or not. We have heard that when and if we apply later for a real job they will be reviewing are training results from the internship. Other than that I have not been really busy this week since our bosses want us to concentrate on training though as I am writing this I have just remembered that I have to go to work on Monday...


So thats been my life lately maybe I will see someone at an airport the benefits of working for an airline are great 5 round trip tickets in four weeks is not bad some think thats to much but I like being in the air. Oh and guess what I am sleeping in the airport now after an interesting day in Toronto and I have found internet so i post this now.


Safe Flight

Go to sleep late, Wake up Early

So its 7am in the morning and I have already been working for an hour, or at least I have been in the office for an hour. I am really tired right now but I guess its my own fault, I keep staying up late till about 11:00 pm midnight and I have to wake up at 5:30 am. The first couple of days it was easy but its adding up and for some reason I can't get myself to go to sleep at a reasonable time. So life being tired as hell continues

In other news life working for an airline is still fun, some of the other interns have started their flight training (or sim training) and I will start next week. It will be good to get back in the cockpit again even though its a simulator...Houston is not on my top 10 places to live its just so humid the air here is so thick its like soup. I am surprised I can't swim in it. I woke up and walked outside at 5:50 am and I was already unconfortable, luckily I work inside or I would be pissed off the entire day and go through about 3 shirts a day because they would be soaked in water.

The perks of working for an airline is great large corporations are the way to go when you get a job there are a lot of unseen benefits associated with large corporations that many don't realize. Well thats it I wish I could give out more information but I really do not want to step on any toes and have the Continental people going why are you giving out confidential information so.

Safe Flight.

First Week

Its been a week since I started the internship and I got to say it has been a blast. Everyday i am in work by at least 6 am and putting together the daily reports for yesterdays flights and the companies on-time performance. The work is not to hard and I will admit I have not had much to do. As for training all the interns have gotten their flight operations manuals (FOM) and other materials for flight training, and I have to say flying a big plane is a lot more complicated than flying a small plane but I guess that makes sense. I start training in two weeks so all my free time is studying flows for the 737, I am really excited to get flying in the simulator. This weekend my roommates and I decided to go to Boston...kind of a lost minute decision but we can afford that because it was free. We slept in the airport since we arrived in Boston at midnight and didn't feel like paying for a hotel woke up the next morning took the train to the motel dropped are stuff and walked around the city to see the sites. We went to M.I.T. cause my roommate is an engineer and we were there for about half a day we saw Harvard, Fenway park and faneuil hall where we ate at Cheers. Boston is a pretty easy city to get around just pay for a day pass for the "T" and you have your transportation. Most of the stuff you want to see is easily accessible using the "T". Thats all for now...

Safe Flight.

Travel Travel Travel

   I am traveling and getting settled into my new digs in Houston, TX. This is where I will be for the summer as an intern for Continental Airlines. That is all

Safe Flight.

And Safe!

     


   So a quick update I have finished my check-ride and now I am a multi and single commercial instrument pilot. So Thursday I drove back up to Prescott, AZ and the check-ride was scheduled for 0700. As for the flight I woke up at about 5 am and sat around preparing my mind for the flight. The actual flight was good I was really nervous because I new I had one chance and if I failed I would have to wait until the fall before I finished. I was even nervous when I was preflighting almost shaking and thinking I can't wait till I am done. After take-off I new I was good weather was really CAVOK and not much wind so it was smooth. I flew smooth and we started the different maneuvers and everything went well. Landings where probably the only maneuvers I had trouble with I was a little long on the landing but I passed so I am happy. Only problem I have know way to prove it because my instructor was out of town and application stuff I do not have my original license or my temporary but I should get it in about two or three weeks!!!! 


   Chelsea!!!!! I am a football fan and a big Chelsea F.C. fan (well as much as I can living in America). Chelsea has won the Premier League Championship and today they beat Portsmouth for the FA cup so super excited for all this going on. Also its summer time and that means its time to get back on the bicycle. Tour De France and World Cup this will be a busy summer.Anyways getting ready  to make the trip to Houston for the internship next week and packing and figuring out I will need for the summer.

Its Summer!!

Its summer and I am officially done with my junior year of school. It has been a hard year and I am definitely glad it is over. Though, there is some bad news I am still not f#@&ing done with flying yet. I had my flight scheduled for Sunday but the winds were gusting at 30 and once that happens the flight line is closed. So not flight and I had to drive home as well. Right now I am sitting at home trying to unpack and take care of a bunch of things before I am off to Houston. Though, tomorrow I will be on the road again back to Prescott, AZ so I can finish the check-ride. the flight is scheduled Friday morning and hopefully if I still have my "mojo" I will pass and then become a multi-engine commercial instrument pilot. This also means that I will be done with the required flight training to graduate with a degree in Aeronautical Science. 

Monday I flew to Houston, TX and spent the day touring the Continental facilities in which I will be working for the summer. It was exciting because I got to meet some of the other interns that I will be working with and some of the interns that are currently working who I will be replacing. As the intern coordinator, I will basically be the intern running the intern program for Continental Airlines. I will be in charge of setting up the training dates for all the interns [including myself] to receive 737 sim time as well as days to tour different facilities around the country. On a day to day basis I learned that I will be working in the Continental Headquarters in downtown Houston. I am a little disappointed that I will not be working at the airport but all is well. Though everyday I will be making daily reports for the flight operations, dispatch, as well as corporate officials. I will be in daily meetings with Flight operations, dispatch, FAA, and other officials about the days operations. I am excited because I will get an insiders view into the day to day operation of an airline. Also many people know but with Continental and United merging I will see what happens when two major airlines merge.

I do not know if I will be able to have detailed information in the blog but I will see what I can do. So looking forward to an exciting summer which maybe a little busier than I am use to but should be a fun one.

Safe Flight.

Disappointed and/or Frustrated

So...how are you doing? Well me not well it is Wednesday and I am a little disappointed and frustrated. So last week I was up for my check-ride well guess what...I am not done yet I finished the pre-check oral but the flight has been scheduled about three times and they all have been cancelled. Also had one scheduled today and I cancelled it cause of high winds, and to add to the problem I have to go home Sunday night. Why? because I have to be in Los Angeles so I can fly to Houston for the shadow day. So I am a bit anxious to get it over with but this adds to the anxiety of the check-ride. I only have a pre-check flight then I will be up for the real check-ride and that consist of a flight and oral. When I finish this stuff I will be a commercial instrument multi-engine rated pilot! Wish me luck cause I need it.


In other new Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University spring 2010 semester is basically over for me at least all my roommates are done for the semester but not me for some reason no matter what classes I take my finals always drag it out to the last day. Seriously, I think teachers say oh Sean is in my class well schedule the final for the last time possible so he has to stay. Oh so disappointed because some of my friends went to Tucson for a Cinco de Mayo party and the trip sounded like it would have been the best trip ever, but I have a final tomorrow  so I could not party tonight. So what did I do instead of partying in Tucson with some of my friends at University of Arizona, I stayed in the dorm slowly packing my things so that I can leave, studying for that last final, writing this blog post, getting distracted by the internet, and lastly video games so normal life of a college student I guess. Well that all I got but this time tomorrow one more semester in the books and only two more...hopefully HAHA.


The picture is one I took when the engine was off in the air. Before you freak out we have two engines and we were not in any danger.


Safe Flight

I'm Up!

Alright so I am in a better mood this week, even though, the past few days have been hell. So I just turned in my Marketing project that we have been working on the entire semester and especially the past couple of days for hours on. So I think i am a lot less stressed out. Though, I still have a lot of thing to finish up before the end of the summer...two projects to finish and studying for my finals. But next week it will be over and then I will be on my way back home.

Internship news this week is that I am going back to Houston for a shadow day where I will be following the current intern to actually see what I wil be doing for the summer. But I am just happy I get another free flight :D. Though, the shadow day isn't for another week and a half.

Flying news...I am up for my check ride! Finally I am really happy and I just want to get this done. This course has taken a lot longer then expected as well as a lot more $$$ then I expected. There is bad news though the course I am working on FA 323 has had a low pass rate so now my school requires student currently in the course to do a mock check-ride. So I had an oral yeterday and I passed so now I have my flight scheduled on friday and if I pass that then I get put up for another check-ride. Which I am not to happy about cause it means extra $$$ and added stress. But, what can you do just role with the punches.

Well I am got to get back to work and finish up a paper that is due tomorrow and then finals start on Saturday so...we will see. I just hope I pass the check-ride before I have to leave to go home.

Safe Flight

Um...

yea feeling kinda lazy so I am not gonna post but I will tell you I flew again and I am really freaking out because I am having so much trouble. More trouble then I have had before but yea like I said I am not really in the mood so maybe tomorrow...

Safe Flight

"That's Not Flying, that is just Falling with Style"

...So hows it going? Well me its pretty good and I am just chilling and flying life as a student continues...i guess. Well had a landing flight in the Piper Seminole and it was...well alright landings were firm but I didnt break the plane...so that is good right. Also flew yesterday and it went pretty bad I had an observer and I didn't have a very good flight. I dunno it had been a while since I had flown so I wasn't really in that flying grove. I wasn't really flying the airplane I kept getting distracted by checklist and I wasn't holding altitudes very well. It was just an off day but having an observer was fun. So I hope he learned about a lot of stuff...like if you could go on any flight to observe it was the best flight to be on. In the flight we did stalls, steep turns, as well as emergencies. In the emergency briefing actually feathered (turned off the engine) engine and we also did an instrument approach. He did get a little sick near the end of the flight but he did not throw up or anything so all is good. He is supposed to be a freshman next year so I hope he enjoys Embry-Riddle cause we know a lot of students do not.

Lets See...

So today is going to be a short post because I haven't been flying this week cause flying is expensive. So just school but I am going to start up tomorrow and hopefully the cash is enough to finish the course. In other news...I am still excited about the internship but I have to figure out where I am going to live in Houston. Um...also...yea I don't even know...I guess school is going well it's not as busy as it could be so...Went home over the weekend...and...yea. Ok I am out of ideas. Oh the picture I thought it was a cool picture.

Safe Flight.

Good News...

Ok Ok so it’s Friday and I am two days late...Oh well I know you guys were so worried about me. Anyways guess what my millions of followers...I got the Continental Internship. Yes I know crazy right so this summer starting in late May I get to live in Houston and work for Continental Airlines. Though, I do not get paid so...basically I am going to be poor, especially since I am going to need to pay for place to live. But I am not complaining because there are benefits to having the internship. First its an airline and since I am going to be considered an airline employee I get free plane tickets! So basically I get to fly anywhere that Continental flies for free. So I am currently trying to figure out all the places I want to go some places I have thought of so far are London, Chicago, New York, France...Just to name a few though I can only go for the weekend so places like France and London will be kind of hard to do but I don't care. Secondly, I am going to get some simulator experience for free which would be nice. Especially since Boeing 737 simulators cost like $500 per hour or some other ridiculous number that’s just really really expensive. Other news is I have friends who got the American Airlines internship, so we Riddle boys are all over the industry working for free. So I will keep you posted on the internship when I find out more news. So far I know when it starts and that I get to fly out to Houston again (for free) and spend a day with the interns that are currently there and see what I am actually going to be doing for the summer. So until next time.

Safe Flight

Flying, Flying, Flying.

And so it begins...This week has been pretty good, well so far at least. Thursday morning I boarded a plane bound for Houston and an interview for the Continental Flight Operations Internship. After we (I say we cause on of my friends from school was also interviewing) landed in Houston we met up with the intern coordinator and then walked down to the crew lounge. It was the first time I had been in a crew lounge and it would have made the trip, there were pilots all around resting and hanging out waiting for there next flight. The interview was with the chief pilot and went pretty quick though it had only lasted 20 minutes. After the interview it was straight to the gate and on the plane back to Los Angeles. I will find out sometime next week whether or not I get the internship, so I guess we wait and see.

Stayed in Los Angeles and really just rested until I had to make the long journey back to Prescott. Also I am reviewing for the multi upgrade currently and I flew earlier today. The flight went well though I was a little rusty because it had been a month or so since I had done some of the maneuvers we were practicing. I think I am pretty much ready for the check ride but still have about a couple weeks before my instructor will put me up. Flights have been pretty fun lately especially since I am feeling more and more comfortable in the aircraft. But...with every check-ride there is oral and that is a lot of random information that is really dry and just a whole lot of information that I am suppose to know in a moments notice. All in all it sssuuucccckkkksss. Life goes on though and I will learn everything sooner or later. I will write next week or maybe sooner if i get bored...so I guess you will have to wait and see.

Safe Flight

Cleared to Land 16R

Another week another post. I am in the middle of spring break for school and I have been using the time wisely. I flew Monday for the first time in two weeks and it was great to be back in the airplane. It was a long cross-country and by then end of the day I had flown 6.9 hours, having touched down at Santa Barbara (KSBA) and Van Nuys (KVNY).

The trip was pretty straight forward as I followed the same victor airway for the entire trip and only had to make on ten degree turn during cruise, on the way to Santa Barbara. Flying can become pretty boring and there was nothing really going on between Prescott and Palmldale. It was fun flying in the Socal area, its not everyday flying in Prescott that you get told of 737 and Md-80 traffic. It was also the first time I have flown over the ocean as I made a left base for runway 25 into KSBA as well as the lowest I have ever been in an aircraft (13' field elevation). From Santa Barbara to Van Nuys just flew one of the departure procedures and got vectored onto the ILS for 16R; it was also fun seeing jets being vectored above and around me as they proceeded me onto the ILS. Went under the hood for the steep ILS approach into Van Nuys, and made a soft but pretty long landing. My family came and we had a late lunch and stayed in Van Nuys for about two hours before we made are way back to the aircraft and make the trip back to Prescott. The entire trip back I was put under the hood for the 2.9 flight back during the night hours, and again that was a pretty boring flight and I could tell the controller in Los Angeles center were as bored as I was.

So now just reviewing for the check-ride, but traveling back home again first. Also interview for the Continental internship is coming up and I have been getting ready for that. Well that is all for this week, I will keep this posted.

Safe Flight

The Story

I have always wanted to start a Blog…well not really cause it took me like 2 years to finally start one. But I do not know how long I will keep posting but we will take it one post at a time. So here is a little about myself, and what I want from this blog.

My name is Sean Collins and I am from Los Angeles, CA, I am currently attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where I am studying Aeronautical Science which is just a fancy way of saying that I am training to be a pilot. This Blog is gonna be the story of how I get a job and start a career as a professional pilot. Personal stuff will probably come out during the duration of the Blog…

Well let the Blogging and Flying begin.

Right now I am currently working on the Muti-Commercial/Instrument upgrade. I am almost done and I should be doing my check-ride in about a month or so. Currently I am flying the Piper Seminole, and my last flight was on Tuesday March 2, 2010. It was my first flight over the Grand Canyon and as expected the canyon was BIG, it was cool and something you should do if you fly but….eh. I appreciate the beauty but I am not the type of person that gets very excited about such things. My next flight I will be to Van Nuys and Santa Barbara from Prescott. I was going to do this flight on the 5th, but it didnt happen due to icing conditions. So i will keep you posted I guess.

Safe Flight,

Sean Collins

What's all that White stuff Falling on the Ground

Position: Prescott, AZ

Altitude: Ground

Well...still no flying this week my instructor is busy with cross-countries with his other students so currently he has no time for me. But, I am not complaining cause a week off from flying is a welcome experience. Its not that I do not want to go flying...and I am not saying that my love of flying has gona the way of the dotto bird its just flying is not what I think it should be. Since I go to ERAU flying is school all my flying is for training purposes which make flying not fun.

Don't get me wrong flying is still fun its just everytime I get in an airplane its for a grade after the end of every flight my instructor grades my from start-up to shut-down and securing the aircraft. All this grading add a lot of pressure to flying. Before every flight I am worried about knowing everything I need to know and whether or not I am going to have a good flight. If i do really bad on a flight I have to do the entire flight over again which means paying for an extra flight that was unneeded, and when you are paying for you flight training that get extremely expensive.

But good news occuring this week is that I have been applying for internships with Clay Lacy in Van Nuys, Amerifight in Burbank, and Continental in Houston. I have an interview with Clay Lacy later this week, and next week I have an interview with conntinental. The Continental interview is in Houston and they are flying me out to Houston for the interview, so excited for those and perparing good answers so I can land one of these internships.

Another reason that I am not flying is the weather has been pretty bad all week with it peaking yesterday. So even if I was being scheduled this week I would not have flown regardless.

I will keep you guys posted!

Safe Flight.